Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) CEO Elon Musk has seen his net worth surge in 2026 — but unlike past years, the jump isn’t coming from a rally in the EV maker’s stock. This time, the boost comes from a merger between two of his own companies.

SpaceX, xAI Merger Boosts Musk's Net Worth

Heading into 2026, the net worth of the word’s richest person was already so large that he could buy every MLB, NBA, NFL and NHL team with money left over.

With SpaceX and xAI moving toward a merger, Forbes has updated its estimate of Musk's wealth — declaring him the first person in history to surpass $800 billion.

Forbes now pegs Musk's net worth at $852 billion, up $84 billion following a combined valuation of $1.25 trillion for the two companies. Before the merger, Musk held roughly 42% of SpaceX, worth about $336 billion at its latest $800 billion valuation, and around 49% of xAI, valued at roughly $122 billion based on a $250 billion assessment.

The polarizing tech titan now owns around 43% of the combined company, according to Forbes, with $542 billion of his net worth coming from the SpaceX/xAI tie-up. He also owns around 12% of Tesla, which adds $178 billion to his wealth. Tesla stock options valued at $124 billion are also factored into Forbes' net worth calculations.

Forbes estimates that Larry Page, co-founder of Google, is the second richest person at $281 billion. Musk's wealth is $578 billion ahead of Page, also a new record.

What's Next For Elon Musk's Net Worth?

Musk's net worth has passed significant milestones over the past year. The Tesla CEO became the first person worth $500 billion, $600 billion, $700 billion and now $800 billion, all milestones accomplished since October 2025.

The EV maker’s move to shift FSD from a one‑time purchase to a subscription — along with plans to halt production of some vehicle models to prioritize Optimus Bot manufacturing — could signal Musk pushing toward those milestones.

If Tesla is able to hit some of the milestones lined up in the pay package, Musk could find himself a trillionaire in 2026.

While SpaceX and xAI are set to merge, there is still the potential for a SpaceX IPO in 2026. The highly anticipated event could see SpaceX valued at $1.5 trillion or higher, which would take Musk's wealth even higher.

Whether it's a SpaceX IPO or new milestones at Tesla, Musk's wealth appears poised to keep climbing through 2026 and beyond. Unless another billionaire makes an unexpected leap, he remains on track to become the world's first trillionaire — a matter of when, not if.

Image: Shutterstock