What Happened to Elon Musk?

Elon Musk continues to be a dominant figure across multiple industries, with his ventures experiencing both significant advancements and persistent challenges as of early 2026. His personal wealth has reached unprecedented levels, with Forbes reporting his net worth at approximately $839 billion as of March 1, 2026, making him the first person to surpass $800 billion. Other reports place his net worth approaching $850 billion. This surge is largely attributed to the escalating valuations of SpaceX, Tesla, and his artificial intelligence startup, xAI.

Tesla's Evolution and Challenges: Tesla, under Musk's leadership, is undergoing a significant strategic pivot from primarily an EV manufacturer to a leader in physical AI, robotics, and energy infrastructure. While the company delivered approximately 1.81 million vehicles in 2024, deliveries saw a slight decline to 1.6 million in 2025, reflecting a broader 'EV Winter' in the automotive industry. The long-awaited Cybertruck began low-volume production in late 2023, with Musk initially stating that material production ramp-up would occur in 2025, aiming for roughly a quarter-million units annually by that year. However, by April 2025, Tesla reportedly scaled back Cybertruck production targets and moved some workers to the Model Y line, having delivered fewer than 50,000 units by March 2025. In a notable shift, Musk announced in January 2026 that production of the Model S and Model X, Tesla's oldest vehicles, would cease in the second quarter of 2026, with their California factory being repurposed for Optimus robot production. The company's in-house 4680 battery cells became its lowest-cost cells per kWh by the end of 2024, with Model Y 4680 reintegration live as of January 2026.

SpaceX's Ambitious Trajectory: SpaceX has continued its rapid pace of innovation and launches. In February 2026, SpaceX acquired xAI, Musk's AI venture, to form a vertically integrated innovation engine encompassing AI, rockets, space-based internet, and direct-to-mobile device communications. Starlink, SpaceX's satellite internet service, has seen impressive growth, reaching over 10 million subscribers by February 2026, up from 4.6 million at the end of 2024. SpaceX is reportedly gearing up for a potential initial public offering (IPO) in June 2026, which could value the company at over $1.75 trillion. Starship development continues, with major flight milestones for lunar missions, including long-duration flight tests and in-space propellant transfer, targeted for 2026 with the new Starship V3 architecture.

Neuralink's Human Trials and Expansion: Neuralink achieved a significant milestone in January 2024 by successfully implanting its brain-computer interface (BCI) device, Telepathy, into its first human patient, Noland Arbaugh, a quadriplegic. Arbaugh demonstrated the ability to control a computer cursor and play games using only his thoughts, reporting a significant improvement in his quality of life. By September 2025, Neuralink reported that 12 patients worldwide had successfully received the device. Musk announced in January 2026 that Neuralink plans to move into high-volume production of BCI devices and streamline surgical procedures, aiming for almost entirely automated implantation in 2026.

The Boring Company's Urban Tunnels: The Boring Company continues to expand its Vegas Loop system. As of March 2026, eight out of 104 proposed stations are operational, with a land easement approved for extending the tunnel system under the UNLV campus. The company is also a finalist in a US tender process to build an experimental tunnel in Tennessee to address urban traffic congestion. In February 2026, new bidding documents revealed plans for a twin-tunnel system to connect Universal Orlando Resort's north campus to Universal Epic Universe, with construction potentially taking 1.5 years once approvals are secured. The company also signed a construction contract with the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in late 2026 for a pilot phase of the Dubai Loop.

X (formerly Twitter) and Legal Scrutiny: X continues to be a platform under intense scrutiny. In March 2026, Elon Musk's legal team filed a motion for mistrial in an ongoing Twitter securities fraud class action lawsuit, arguing that he could not get a fair trial due to community animosity. This trial relates to allegations that Musk misled shareholders and tanked Twitter's stock price before his 2022 acquisition. The platform has seen fluctuations in user engagement and ad revenue, with a projected decline in worldwide ad revenue through 2026. X reported an uptick in EU users in the first half of 2025 but saw an 11 million drop in the latter half of the year. Despite these challenges, X is considered a critical communication channel for governments and enterprises in regions like the GCC & MENA in 2026.

Musk also faces a high-profile lawsuit against OpenAI, which he co-founded, with a jury trial scheduled for spring 2026. He accuses OpenAI of abandoning its founding mission to develop AI for humanity's benefit, a claim OpenAI denies.