Elon Musk’s reign as the world’s richest person is under threat after his net worth plummeted by $148 billion since January 17, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The Tesla CEO’s fortune, which peaked at $486 billion in December 2024, has been significantly impacted by Tesla’s declining stock, falling sales in key markets, and investor concerns.
Musk isn’t alone in facing financial setbacks. Other billionaires, including Jeff Bezos, Sergey Brin, Mark Zuckerberg, and Bernard Arnault, have collectively lost $209 billion in the wake of Donald Trump’s second term as U.S. president. The stock market downturn, coupled with policy uncertainty, has contributed to these sharp declines.
Tesla’s struggles have been particularly severe, with sales in Germany plummeting by over 70% in early 2025 due to Musk’s controversial political stance. Meanwhile, shipments from China fell by 49%, marking the lowest level since July 2022. Investor sentiment has also weakened, erasing Tesla’s post-election gains.
Bezos, the founder of Amazon, has lost $29 billion as the company’s stock dropped 14% since Trump’s inauguration. Despite Amazon’s $1 million donation to Trump’s inauguration fund, market turbulence and shifting government policies have weighed on its valuation.
Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google parent Alphabet, has seen his net worth drop by $22 billion amid regulatory pressure from the U.S. Justice Department. Alphabet’s shares tumbled after missing quarterly revenue estimates, adding to the company’s ongoing antitrust challenges.
Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta Platforms initially surged in early 2025, but those gains have since evaporated, contributing to his $5 billion loss. Meanwhile, Bernard Arnault, head of LVMH, has also suffered a $5 billion hit as fears of U.S. tariffs on European luxury goods dented investor confidence.
The broader market has been volatile, with the S&P 500 falling 6.4% since Trump took office. Mass layoffs in government agencies and uncertainties over trade policies have created a turbulent environment for investors.
As the financial landscape continues to shift, Musk’s title as the world’s wealthiest person hangs in the balance, with competitors like Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and LVMH’s Bernard Arnault closely trailing behind.