When people think about extreme wealth, images of superyachts, private jets, and secluded islands usually come to mind. But with Elon Musk, those ideas barely scratch the surface.
Currently ranked as the richest person in the world, Elon Musk sits at the top of Forbes’ real-time billionaire list with an estimated net worth of around $722 billion. At this pace, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO is widely expected to become the world’s first trillionaire. With that level of wealth, the question becomes less what can’t he buy and more what could he realistically purchase?
The answer is: quite a lot—on a scale most people can hardly imagine.
According to Forbes, Musk’s fortune is so vast that it could theoretically be used to buy entire regions or industries within the United States. For example, the combined value of all residential properties in Hawaii is estimated at roughly $716 billion. In theory, Musk could afford to purchase every home across the Hawaiian Islands, making the idea of owning a single private island seem almost modest by comparison.
Another mind-boggling possibility is the U.S. car market. Musk has enough money to buy every new car sold in the United States in a single year—not that it would make financial sense, but the numbers suggest it’s possible.
Higher education is also within reach. The total value of the endowments held by Ivy League universities is estimated at around $200 billion, an amount well below Musk’s total net worth.
Looking beyond institutions, Musk could nearly afford an entire country—at least economically. Switzerland’s annual GDP comes in just under $900 billion, meaning Musk’s wealth could almost match the economic output of the alpine nation. Of course, Switzerland isn’t actually for sale.
His financial power also extends into traditional industries. Musk could theoretically acquire all three of the largest U.S. oil companies—ExxonMobil, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips—giving him massive influence in a sector he has often challenged through his work in clean energy.
Sports fans may find another comparison especially striking. Based on current valuations, Musk could buy every major professional sports league in the United States. The NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB together are valued at approximately $433.6 billion. Even after such a purchase, Musk would still have around $280 billion left over.
These comparisons highlight just how extraordinary modern wealth has become. Elon Musk’s fortune isn’t just large—it operates on a scale that challenges traditional ideas of money, ownership, and power in today’s world.
