Elon Musk's wealth has experienced significant fluctuations over the years, largely driven by the volatile nature of Tesla’s stock price and his investments in other ventures such as SpaceX and Twitter (now rebranded as X).

As of now, Musk's net worth reportedly stands at approximately $351 billion (five trillion, nine hundred and seventy-one billion rand), according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

However, this figure is subject to the unpredictable tides of the market.

In a stark illustration of this volatility, Musk reportedly lost more than $81 billion between January and February this year.

During recent trading sessions, Tesla's shares fell by 6.3%, closing at $328.50, marking the lowest share price since November 15.

Analysts at Oppenheimer, led by Colin Rusch, have expressed concerns regarding Musk's political engagements, warning that they may risk consumer backlash.

“Even if Tesla meets its June 2025 timeline for driverless cars in Texas, we see it as just one of several players in the autonomous technology space, suggesting increased competition on both price and performance," Rusch noted.

He further remarked, "While Tesla has shifted its focus to positioning itself as a leader in physical AI, Musk's recent bid for OpenAI appears to be a distraction from the core challenges facing Tesla. This bid, made at a 38% discount to OpenAI's October 2024 capital raise, is unlikely to spur meaningful discussions."

Rusch highlighted that the growing competition in the electric vehicle (EV) and autonomous vehicle (AV) markets poses increasing risks to Wall Street's estimates for Tesla.

He cautioned that Musk's political activities might resonate with certain audiences but could potentially alienate consumers and employees, particularly in the current political climate.

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In November 2021, Musk ascended to the title of the richest person in the world, with a net worth exceeding $300 billion, primarily fuelled by a surge in Tesla's stock price.

However, by January 2022, the Bloomberg Billionaires Index indicated a significant decline in his wealth, dropping below $200 billion for the first time since 2020 due to falling Tesla shares.

CNBC reported that Musk's net worth fluctuated around $200 billion, even dipping as low as $174 billion, largely influenced by declining tech stock prices and broader market conditions.

The year 2023 saw continued volatility in Musk’s wealth, with various financial outlets, including CNBC and Reuters, reporting that his net worth fluctuated between $200 billion and $250 billion, heavily dependent on Tesla's stock performance and developments at SpaceX and Twitter.

As of October 2023, both Forbes and Bloomberg reported Musk's wealth at approximately $230 billion, underscoring the ongoing volatility in tech stocks, particularly those linked to the electric vehicle and social media sectors.

The future of Musk's wealth remains uncertain, influenced by market dynamics and the unfolding challenges within his various enterprises.

IOL