Few names in the tech sphere are iconic or divisive as Elon Musk. Consistently a part of some of the most successful companies on the planet, Musk has been crucial in bringing companies like SpaceX, Tesla, and PayPal to life. Moreover, given his status as one of the richest men on the planet, just how much does Elon Musk make in a single day?
Following his acquisition of Twitter for $44 billion, Musk has embraced a lot of different avenues. All to continue to bring forth his signature innovative inquisitiveness. Additionally, the development of yet another revenue stream presents another opportunity for the billionaire to continue to solidify himself as the wealthiest person in the world.
The Bloomberg Billionaires Index shows Musk’s net worth at $172 billion. So, how much does Elon Musk, a man with that kind of wealth, make in a single day?
The Story of Musk
Surprisingly, Musk got his start developing video games. Specifically, through the development and creation of a game called Blastar that a 12-year-old Musk sold to PC and Office Magazine in 1984.
That would be the first step toward his undeniable success. Subsequently, following his early days in Pretoria, South Africa, Musk would move to California in 1995. Specifically to attend Stanford University.
It was there that Musk would co-found his first company, Zip2, alongside his brother. That development would be the first major acquisition of wealth for Musk when the company was sold to Compaq in 1999 for $307 million. However, that very year, Musk would co-found X.com, an online bank. Then, setting forth on his first truly game-changing endeavor.
X.com would eventually merge with Confinity to become PayPal at the start of the millennium. Subsequently, eBay would buy the incredible website for an astronomical $1.5 billion in 2002. It was creating the first of Musk’s revolutionary ideas and bringing an online payment platform to life that is still relevant two decades later.
Thereafter, Musk would continue to engage with and develop transcendent companies Firstly, in the same year he sold what would become PayPal, Musk began SpaceX in 2002 with an initial investment of $175.8 million. Alternatively, Musk would be an early investor in Tesla Motors. First purchasing shares in 2004, and eventually becoming CEO of the company in 2008.
Tesla would eventually develop into one of the premier sustainable automotive manufacturers on the planet. Companies like Nerualink, which started in 2016, and The Boring Company, which started in the same year, represented similar business developments that just widened his portfolio. Culminating in Musk’s decision to buy Twitter in 2022 for the previously stated $44 billion.
How Much Does Musk Make a Day?
In calculating Musk’s earnings on a specific day, it is essential to first note how closely his income is connected to Tesla stocks. Specifically, Musk’s wealth fluctuates as his Tesla shares do, with his net worth once leaping to $33.8 billion in a single day due to the price action of the automotive company.
The reason for this is because of a compensation agreement between Musk and Tesla executed in 2018. Specifically, Musk tied his future earnings to the performance of Tesla stock. Subsequently, when the company reaches a new milestone, it is awarded different stock options.
In 2020, when the first award for the agreement was paid out, he was able to purchase 1.69 million Tesla shares at prices below the market value. Thus, they were worth around $800 million.
All of that being said, in 2022, at the height of his wealth, Musk maintained a net worth of $273 billion. This means that Elon Musk would make an astronomical $432 million per day.
How Does He Do It?
Not just from Tesla stocks, Musk also makes considerable income from SpaceX. Specifically, the company is employed by various commercial and government entities to transport various items into space.
The figures for his worth are even more staggering when broken down into various other increments. Specifically, Musk makes approximately $22,500 in a single minute or $375 in a single second. Conversely, these numbers pale in comparison to the typical annual income of an average person. A person can earn around $51,000 to $70,000 a year, which translates to a calculation of $4,250 to $5,830 for a specific month.
Another interesting note is his ongoing feud with Jeff Bezos, as the two have routinely traded the top spot as the richest men in the world. Currently, Bezos has flipped Musk to retain the top spot. Mostly due to the Twitter investment, and a rather harsh underperformance of Tesla shares amidst that transitionary period.
However, there continue to be financial benefits in a host of Musk’s endeavors. Meaning that his wealth should continue to grow as SpaceX, Nerualink, and other projects continue to emerge.
Moreover, Musk has recently addressed a potential AI competitor to enter the avenue created by ChatGPT. A company that Musk had a hand in creating. How that fares should also continue to shift his wealth status upward.
How Much Does He Lose a Day?
In calculating how much Elon Musk makes in a single day, it is interesting to observe the alternative. Musk does hold the record for the largest income growth in a single day, but he also holds the counter record. Over two days, Teela shares fell, with Musk losing a record $50 million. It was the worst two-day drop and had been the largest since Bezos lost $36 billion in 2019.
Additionally, SpaceX, although tremendously successful, has proven to cost Musk at points. Specifically, an estimated $20 million was lost when 40 satellites were lost to a storm. There is no published record of the total cost, so the figure is simply an approximation.
Conclusion
Whether it be his work as the former CEO of Tesla, or his work with Twitter, Musk remains divisive but undeniably successful. Moreover, as he works to continue developing the social media platform into his envisioned Everything app, more success could be on the horizon.
Only time will truly tell, but the past two decades have shown that the billionaire has no shortage of revolutionary ideas. Through Nerualink and the continued development of SpaceX, he could retake the title of the richest person on the planet. Subsequently, this time may be for good.
Conversely, there remains the perspective that his continued gambel could hinder his wealth expansion. Specifically, his divisiveness has been known to cost him financially. Now, as Twitter continues to grow differing opinions on him, any potential growth should be in question.
Tesla stocks suffered due to the outspoken nature of Musk. Now, reeling from that, Twitter’s latest debacles could feed that narrative. However, his other endeavors could negate that. Subsequently continuing to catapult his name among the richest people on the planet.