Key Points
- Wealth Milestone: Musk’s net worth reached a staggering $852 billion following a major merger between SpaceX and his AI venture, xAI.
- Philosophical Reflection: Despite his record wealth, Musk posted on X that “money can’t buy happiness,” sparking global social media debate.
- Paris Raid: French police and Europol raided X’s Paris office on Tuesday, focusing on AI-generated deepfakes and illegal content.
- Legal Summons: Both Elon Musk and former CEO Linda Yaccarino have been summoned for a high-profile hearing in April 2026.
Elon Musk, the owner of Tesla, SpaceX, and X, has reached a financial milestone previously thought impossible, becoming the first individual to cross the $850 billion net worth threshold. According to the latest Forbes estimates, Musk’s wealth surged to $852 billion this week, largely fueled by an internal restructuring where SpaceX acquired his artificial intelligence firm, xAI.
The deal reportedly added $84 billion to Musk’s personal fortune in a single day, placing him in a wealth category that dwarfs historical figures like John D. Rockefeller and modern rivals such as Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates. However, the milestone was met with a somber note from the billionaire himself. Musk shared a post on X, accompanied by a sad emoji, stating, “Whoever said money can’t buy happiness truly knew what they were talking about.”
The SpaceX and xAI Synergy
The recent spike in Musk’s net worth is attributed to the soaring valuation of SpaceX, which has now become his most valuable asset. The merger with xAI is seen as a strategic move to integrate advanced AI capabilities into the Starlink and Starship ecosystems.
Financial analysts note that Musk’s path to the world’s first “trillionaire” is becoming increasingly clear. His record-breaking pay package, which was re-approved by Tesla shareholders in November, includes performance-based incentives that could push his total assets past $1 trillion if Tesla meets its ambitious autonomous driving and robotics targets over the next decade.
Raid on X’s Paris Headquarters
While his financial portfolio expands, Musk’s regulatory challenges in the European Union are reaching a boiling point. On Tuesday, investigators from France’s specialized cybercrime unit, supported by Europol, executed a surprise raid on the Paris offices of X.
The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed that the operation is part of an investigation launched in January 2025. The scope of the probe has reportedly been expanded to investigate the circulation of sexually explicit deepfakes and Holocaust denial content. A primary focus of the investigators is the role of Grok, the AI chatbot developed by xAI and integrated into the X platform, in generating or facilitating the spread of this prohibited content.
Impending Legal Hearing
Prosecutor Laure Beccuau stated that the search yielded significant evidence, and the investigation will now move into a testimonial phase. Both Elon Musk and former Chief Executive Linda Yaccarino have been officially summoned to appear at a judicial hearing in April.
Employees at the Paris office are also being questioned as witnesses to determine if the platform’s moderation policies were intentionally bypassed to facilitate AI-generated misinformation. As the European Union continues to tighten enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA), the outcome of this investigation could have profound implications for X’s ability to operate in the European market.
Despite the looming legal battle, Musk appears undeterred, continuing to push for rapid AI integration across his various companies while maintaining his status as the wealthiest individual in recorded history.
