Elon Musk has just crossed an unprecedented financial threshold, becoming the first individual in recorded history to exceed a $700 billion net worth.
The surge came after the Delaware Supreme Court reinstated a massive Tesla compensation package earlier this week.
A lower court had voided the deal last year.
According to the Forbes billionaires index, Musk’s fortune jumped to roughly $749 billion after the ruling restored Tesla stock options currently valued at about $139 billion.
The decision reverses a January 2024 judgment that struck down Musk’s 2018 incentive plan on grounds the Chancery Court now stands accused of mishandling.
The milestone caps a remarkable week for Musk, whose net worth had already briefly passed $600 billion amid reports that his aerospace company, SpaceX, may pursue an initial public offering.
With the restored compensation package factored in, Musk now sits nearly $500 billion ahead of Google co-founder Larry Page, according to Forbes’ estimates.
Delaware Supreme Court Rebukes Lower Court, Restores Pay Plan
In a 49-page opinion, the Delaware Supreme Court ruled that Chancellor Kathaleen St. Jude McCormick’s January 2024 decision improperly rescinded Musk’s pay package and “treated him inequitably,” identifying what it described as significant analytical and procedural errors.
The high court reinstated the 2018 compensation plan in full and awarded Tesla nominal damages of $1.
McCormick had concluded last year that Tesla’s board was improperly influenced by Musk and that shareholders lacked adequate disclosures at the time of the vote.
She cited close personal and business ties between Musk and members of the compensation committee and said the plan lacked meaningful negotiation.
The Supreme Court disagreed, saying the Chancery Court overstated those concerns and failed to give proper weight to subsequent shareholder actions, including a second, later vote affirming Musk’s compensation plan.
Shareholders Reaffirmed Musk’s Compensation, Even Expanded It
The long-running litigation began with a 2019 lawsuit filed by Tesla shareholder Richard Tornetta.
Despite the challenge, Tesla shareholders in 2024 voted to reaffirm Musk’s pay package, then valued at roughly $44.9 billion.
In November, they went even further, approving a new compensation structure reportedly capable of reaching $1 trillion, the largest corporate pay framework ever proposed.
Investors have repeatedly signaled that they view Musk as essential to Tesla’s transformation from an electric vehicle manufacturer into an AI and robotics leader.
After 2024 Court Loss, Musk Pulled Tesla Out of Delaware
The legal fight also carried major corporate implications.
After McCormick’s ruling voided the package in early 2024, Musk condemned Delaware’s legal environment and initiated the move of Tesla’s state of incorporation to Texas.
“Change your state of incorporation out of Delaware before they lock the doors,” Musk wrote on X at the time.
He later urged companies to incorporate in Texas or Nevada if they wanted shareholders, not courts, to determine executive compensation.
Musk’s Expanding Empire
Musk owns roughly 12 percent of Tesla, which he first backed in 2004 and has led as CEO since 2008.
He also controls an estimated 42 percent of SpaceX, which reached a valuation of about $800 billion during a private tender offer in December 2025.
With the Supreme Court ruling now restoring the full 2018 compensation package, Musk’s wealth has entered territory not previously thought possible, marking a new chapter in both his corporate influence and the ongoing debate over executive compensation in high-growth tech companies.
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