Elon Musk’s $63.5 Billion Blow: How the World’s Richest Man Lost More Than Ford, GM, and Toyota Combined—And Why He’s Still Untouchable

LOS ANGELES, CA — In a year when fortunes have been made and lost at dizzying speed, the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, has seen his net worth take a historic hit—one so staggering, it eclipses the entire value of some of the world’s most storied automotive giants. Yet, even after a jaw-dropping $63.5 billion decline, Musk stands atop the global wealth rankings, his fortune still towering over the next closest billionaire by a margin that defies belief.

A Billionaire’s Bad Day: The $152 Billion Meltdown

It was a day that sent shockwaves through Wall Street and Silicon Valley alike. On June 5, 2025, Tesla stock suffered its largest single-day market capitalization loss ever—a gut-wrenching $152 billion erased in hours. The catalyst? A very public, very ugly feud between Musk and former President Donald Trump, played out for millions on social media and cable news.

Investors panicked. Analysts gasped. The world watched as Elon Musk’s personal net worth plummeted from $368 billion to $335 billion in a single day—a $33 billion freefall that would have bankrupted most of the world’s billionaires.

But not Musk.

Still King of the Mountain

Despite the carnage, Musk remains not just the world’s richest person, but a financial colossus whose wealth dwarfs the likes of Mark Zuckerberg, the runner-up, by a staggering $124 billion. According to the latest Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Musk’s fortune sits at $369 billion—a sum so vast, it eclipses the combined value of four of the world’s largest automakers: Stellantis ($29.7B), Ford ($41.9B), General Motors ($47.4B), and even Toyota ($238.2B).

Add them together, and you get $357.2 billion. Musk could buy all four companies, and still have enough left over—$11.8 billion—to purchase a mid-sized tech unicorn or two.

How Did We Get Here?

Musk’s meteoric rise to the financial stratosphere has been fueled by his relentless drive, audacious vision, and a knack for turning science fiction into reality. His empire stretches across industries: electric vehicles (Tesla), reusable rockets (SpaceX), brain-computer interfaces (Neuralink), artificial intelligence (xAI), and even social media, with his acquisition of X (formerly Twitter).

Tesla, the crown jewel, remains the engine of Musk’s wealth. Despite a 15.9% year-to-date drop in its stock, the company is still valued at over $1 trillion. Its dominance in the U.S. and global electric vehicle markets is unmatched, and its innovations—from battery technology to autonomous driving—continue to set the pace for the industry.

But 2025 has not been kind to Musk. Tesla’s struggle with delivery figures and wavering demand, combined with the fallout from his feud with Trump, have rattled investors and fueled a relentless media frenzy.

The Feud That Shook the Markets

It began as a war of words—cryptic tweets, barbed comments at rallies, and behind-the-scenes maneuvering—before exploding into the public eye. Trump, never one to shy away from controversy, accused Musk of “destroying American jobs” and “playing God with technology.” Musk fired back, calling Trump “yesterday’s news” and doubling down on his vision for a future powered by clean energy and AI.

The market reacted with brutal efficiency. Tesla shares tumbled, wiping out $152 billion in value in a single day. For a brief moment, it looked as if Musk’s reign at the top of the billionaire leaderboard might be over.

But the story didn’t end there.

The Bounce Back

True to form, Musk rebounded. As the dust settled, Tesla’s stock began to recover, buoyed by renewed optimism around its upcoming robotaxi launch—a project Musk has called “the most important thing Tesla has ever done.” Meanwhile, his other ventures, particularly SpaceX and xAI, saw their valuations soar, offsetting some of the losses from Tesla.

Neuralink, Musk’s brain-machine interface company, announced successful human trials, sending shockwaves through the tech world and reminding investors that Musk’s ambitions extend far beyond electric cars.

The Numbers No One Can Ignore

Let’s put Musk’s wealth in perspective:

– Elon Musk (2025): $369 billion
– Mark Zuckerberg (2nd place): $245 billion

Musk’s net worth exceeds the combined market value of Stellantis, Ford, GM, and Toyota by $11.8 billion. If he felt like it, Musk could buy up these automotive icons—some of the most recognized brands in the world—and still have enough left to fund a Mars mission.

This is not just wealth. It’s a new kind of economic power—personal, unregulated, and larger than entire industries.

Why It Matters: More Than Just Money

Musk’s dominance isn’t just about zeros on a balance sheet. It’s about influence. With Tesla, he’s reshaped the global auto industry, forcing century-old companies to pivot to electric vehicles or risk extinction. With SpaceX, he’s reignited the space race, turning what was once the domain of governments into a playground for private enterprise.

His ventures into AI and neurotechnology are rewriting the rules of what’s possible—and raising urgent questions about the future of humanity itself.

The Road Ahead: Will Musk Hit $400 Billion Again?

In late 2024, Musk became the first person in history to cross the $400 billion net worth mark—a milestone that seemed unthinkable just a decade ago. Can he do it again? Analysts say yes, if Tesla’s robotaxi project delivers on its promise and the company’s stock rallies.

But the risks are real. Tesla faces increasing competition from Chinese EV makers, regulatory scrutiny in the U.S. and Europe, and the ever-present volatility of the tech sector. Musk’s own behavior—his penchant for controversy, his willingness to take on political adversaries—adds another layer of uncertainty.

The Man, The Myth, The Billionaire

Love him or loathe him, Elon Musk is unlike any billionaire who has come before. He’s brash, visionary, unpredictable—and utterly unafraid to risk it all. His $63.5 billion loss in 2025 would have destroyed lesser fortunes. For Musk, it’s a setback, not a defeat.

As he once tweeted, “When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor.”

For Musk, the odds have never mattered. The only question now is: How high can he climb—and how much further can he fall?

Stay tuned. The world is watching.