On Thursday, November 6, 2025, shareholders approved a pay package of a trillion dollars for Tesla CEO Elon Musk , already the world’s richest person with a wealth of $500 billion.

Since Musk doesn’t take any salary, the package is a stock grant that will vest over the next 10 years, potentially giving him nearly 424 million additional Tesla shares.

When vested, these shares could be worth about $1 trillion , making Musk the first trillionaire in history.

THE EARLY YEARS: OIL AND AUTOMOBILES

The history of the world’s richest is not merely a tale of numbers but a narrative of human innovation, risk, and ambition.

Over the past century, the title of the world’s richest person has reflected the tides of economic innovation, geopolitical changes, and the evolution of industries funda

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