Elon Musk Just Became The First Person Ever Worth $500 Billion
Forbes1 day
Musk Becomes First Person to Hit $500B Net Worth
Above: Elon Musk during a press conference in the White House Oval Office, on May 30, 2025. Image copyright: Allison Robbert/AFP/Getty Images
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
Elon Musk’s astronomical and rising fortune shows why a wealth tax is desperately needed. This level of wealth and accompanying power is poisonous to American democracy and society, exacerbating growing economic inequality. Only through redistributive policies can the U.S. hope to balance this lopsided system.
Pro-establishment narrative
Elon Musk is not on his way to becoming a trillionaire due to a rigged system, but rather because of his own hard work and ingenuity. Rather than a burden, this should be considered a blessing. After all, the Tesla boss managed to make his historic fortune by revolutionising transport and robotics, developing technology that benefits all.