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- Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk just became the world’s third-richest person, surpassing Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
- Musk’s fortune reached $ 115.4 billion (nearly R2 trillion) after a Tesla stock split sent the shares soaring. according to Bloomberg.
- By comparison, South Africa’s GDP was estimated at R5.1 trillion last year.
- Musk’s wealth has risen by $ 87.8 billion (R1.5 trillion) this year alone, but the South African-born businessman doesn’t seem to be spending generously – he recently tweeted that he wanted to sell “almost all” of his physical belongings, and that he “wouldn’t have House”.
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South African-born Elon Musk has just reached a new milestone: he became the third richest person in the world.
On Monday, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX saw his net worth reach $ 115.4 billion (almost R2 trillion), according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. He’s now richer than Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who is worth $ 110.8 billion, and is behind Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates in second place and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. at number one, whose fortune has exceeded 200,000 million dollars.
Musk’s net worth is now almost 40% the size of the South African economy last year, which was R5.1 trillion according to Statistics SA.
Musk’s wealth has exploded amid the coronavirus pandemic: According to Bloomberg, his fortune has grown by $ 87.8 billion this year alone. On Monday, Tesla’s stock split sent shares soaring as much as 12%, prompting Musk to rise on the Billionaires Index.
Despite his massive accumulation of wealth, Musk has frequently spoken of his disinterest in his own personal fortune. In May, Musk tweeted that he wanted to sell “almost all” of his physical belongings and would “be homeless.” Since then, it has reportedly agreed to sell four of its Los Angeles properties, which were listed for a total of $ 62.5 million, to a luxury real estate developer.
Earlier this year, Musk’s girlfriend, musician Grimes, defended his wealth in an interview with Rolling Stone, arguing that he reinvests the money to make the world a better place. Grimes said Musk puts his fortune “into R&D to improve the world” and “puts every ounce of his energy into everything that matters to him. It’s not like Musk is” buying yachts “with his billions, Grimes said. .
Musk doesn’t seem to spend as generously as other billionaire CEOs, and his Los Angeles real estate portfolio appears to be his biggest personal expense. Musk has signed the Giving Pledge, promising to donate most of his wealth during his lifetime or in his will.
Additional reports from Business Insider SA.
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