According to reports, Elon Musk has once again surpassed Mark Zuckerberg to reclaim the title of the world’s third-richest individual, following a significant decline in Meta’s shares by 16% on Thursday. This sharp drop has led to Zuckerberg’s fortune plummeting by $18 billion, marking one of the largest single-day declines in stock value.
In contrast, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, has seen a notable increase in his wealth, gaining $5.8 billion during the same period. As a result, Musk’s fortune now stands at $184 billion, surpassing Zuckerberg’s current wealth of $157 billion.
The rivalry between these two billionaires is well-documented, with frequent online exchanges and even jests about a potential cage fight between them last year. Additionally, Zuckerberg’s recent launch of the social media app Threads in 2023, seen as a direct competitor to Musk’s X, further underscores their competitive relationship.
While Zuckerberg’s wealth is primarily tied to his stakes in Meta Platforms, Musk’s fortune is diversified across his holdings in Tesla, SpaceX, and X. Notably, Tesla’s stock prices have been on an upward trajectory following Musk’s announcement of plans to produce affordable vehicles starting this year, reversing a previous trend of decline.
As of now, Bernard Arnault, the chairman of LVMH, holds the title of the world’s richest individual, with a net worth of $231 billion, followed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who has a net worth of $195 billion. However, Musk’s consistent climb in wealth and his innovative ventures continue to position him as a formidable contender in the global billionaire rankings.
