Elon Musk has been named the wealthiest individual ever recorded, with an estimated net worth of $839 billion, according to the latest Forbes World’s Billionaires list released Tuesday.
Musk, who leads major companies including Tesla and SpaceX, topped the ranking for a second consecutive year as his fortune surged by roughly $500 billion over the past 12 months. The extraordinary increase was driven by rising stock valuations in the tech and space sectors.
The 2026 list, the 40th annual Forbes ranking, features a record 3,428 billionaires, whose combined wealth reached an unprecedented $20.1 trillion, up from $16.1 trillion a year ago.
Musk is the first individual in history to surpass the $800 billion mark, putting him on a path toward becoming the world’s first trillionaire, according to wealth analysts.
Following Musk, the world’s richest figures include Alphabet co‑founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, whose fortunes were estimated at $257 billion and $237 billion respectively. Other top names on the list include tech and business leaders from the United States, Europe and Asia.
Forbes said the surge in billionaire wealth reflects strong performance in technology, finance and investment sectors, even as global markets navigate economic uncertainty.