Elon Musk Now Worth $230 Billion--As Much As Bill Gates & Warren Buffett Combined: Billionaire Race

[appalachiablue]

- CNBC, Oct. 15, 2021.

Elon Musk has entered rarified air in the world billionaire rankings. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO is not only currently the richest person in the world, but is now worth as much as fellow billionaires Bill Gates and Warren Buffett combined. The 50-year-old's net worth is $230 billion as of Friday morning, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Gates sits in fourth place with $130 billion and Buffett is No. 10 with $102 billion.

Both Gates and Buffett previously held the mantle of world's richest person. Musk first passed Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos to become the world's richest man in January with a net worth of $185 billion. Bezos had held the title since 2017. Musk has added more than $60 billion to his fortune this year thanks to the strong performance of Tesla stock as well as a recent share sale at SpaceX which valued the company at $100 billion.

The SpaceX deal added $11 billion to Musk's net worth, according to Bloomberg.

Bezos, who was recently the recipient of Musk's trolling when the Tesla executive tweeted a silver medal emoji at him, is still the second-wealthiest person on earth with a $191 billion net worth.

Of course, Gates and Buffett would be significantly closer to Musk in the wealth rankings were it not for the duo's philanthropic giving. Both have given away tens of billions of dollars to charitable causes over the years, while Musk has been criticized for not giving away more of his massive fortune.

Musk has previously said he prefers to remain anonymous when giving away money, and earlier this year asked Twitter users for "critical feedback" on ways he can donate. This year, Musk also pledged to give away $150 million — including a $100 million prize in a carbon removal contest — a figure that Recode estimates is larger than all his previous charitable giving...

- More,
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/elon-musk-is-now-worth-230-billion-as-much-as-bill-gates-and-warren-buffett-combined/ar-AAPzPxX

[cilla4progress]

1. Gaaack

And now I get my internet from him...

[jimfields33]

3. He's a miracle. He helped push the electric car business

Yes some manufacturers were doing some but Elon really brought electric car to the front of mainstream world. He’s done a lot for the world. His wealth like the other billionaires is tied up in his stock. He could sell a bunch to pay taxes. But how should that affect the economy? It’s a tough dilemma.

[viva la]

5. It doesn't hurt the economy to give lots and lots of money away-

The money could go to something other than a stock portfolio. Say he funds billions in climate research, or pays to have a billion trees planted. The money is doing more for the economy because it's circulating maybe.


And yeah, he could pay taxes on it like the rest of us do.

Too bad he and Grimes never married, because she might take her portion and be like McKenzie Scott (Bezos's ex), determinedly giving away as much as she can.

Traditionally it's the second generation that is most generous (as with the Rockefellers), but the riches come so fast and to such youngsters, they have to mentally shift, I suppose, from the acquisition to the charity mode, and that's a lot harder if you're still young and full of competitive juice.

But he could really show up Bezos by saying, "And I pay the most taxes!" That would show the Amazon guy up real good.

[Shermann]

6. +1...he managed to single-handedly move the needle on EV cars

History will look back on this as being more significant than the philanthropy of the time.

[Botany]

2. Gates and Buffett have given away tens of billions of dollars to charitable causes.

"Of course, Gates and Buffett would be significantly closer to Musk in the wealth rankings were it not for the duo's philanthropic giving. Both have given away tens of billions of dollars to charitable causes over the years, while Musk has been criticized for not giving away more of his massive fortune."

If Gates and Buffett had kept that money and invested it they would be equal to or have surpassed Musk.

[jimfields33]

4. Elon musk is 50. The other two are much much older and didn't start

Giving away money until they were much much older.

[arlyellowdog]

8. I'm sorry, I don't understand your point

[arlyellowdog]

7. Bill Gates said if they counted the money given away

Gates would be the richest by far.

[bucolic_frolic]

9. Obscene but he knows how the system works

Wish he'd make small business loans available to all .... 2 to 10k at low interest, maybe through one of these loan funding sites like Kiva

[Sibelius Fan]

10. That's equal to $688 per person in the USA.

[kimbutgar]

11. I don't like him and think he is an awful person

I’m rooting for Branson and Bezos more.

I want an electric car but will never buy a Tesla because he is such an evil pos.

[Harker]

12. I refuse to equate wealth with worth.

Just on principle.