Elon Musk Is the World’s First Trillionaire. Disgusting

Elon Musk has officially broken the record for becoming the world’s first trillionaire. Online reactions have varied, with some congratulating Musk and others criticizing the obscene wealth he has amassed.

According to Bloomberg, Tesla and SpaceX founder became the world’s richest man in history after his net worth reached $1.1 trillion. SpaceX managed to raise $75 billion in an initial public offering (IPO) after its trading launch on Friday. When the market closed, Musk’s shares in SpaceX were worth $767.1 billion. He also held $53.8 billion in SpaceX options. Musk’s trillionaire status is further solidified by his holdings of $168 billion in Tesla shares and $116.4 billion in options.

“That’s what SpaceX is all about,” Musk said in his speech after the company’s IPO was announced. “It’s to take the fiction out of science fiction and create an inspiring, exciting future out of anyone.” He spoke about wanting to make space exploration a reality for individuals. It seems like a grand aspiration for humans in general. It’s why many countries have invested so many resources in understanding outer space.

But there are a myriad of problems on Earth left unsolved. Musk himself acknowledges it before shrugging it off.

“There are always problems on Earth. There are always things that we wish were better that we want to solve here on Earth, and we should solve them. But there also have to be things that get you excited about the future, that make you glad to wake up in the morning, because you can’t wait for what happens next,” Musk comments. But there were many social media users who were disgruntled by the message. Because how would it be possible for people to look forward to the future when people are struggling to get by amid inflationary pressures?

Social media discourse on Elon Musk’s trillionaire status

Some celebrated Musk’s success online. A user on X wrote, “I am filled with optimism at the fact that the world’s first trillionaire was made not by hedge funds or market manipulation, but by building the infrastructure to take America to the stars.”

But others weren’t pleased by Musk’s victory.

One comment on X sarcastically reads, “Capitalism is better than socialism because one man gets to be a trillionaire instead of everyone having healthcare.”

Someone else brought up Musk’s previous assault against USAID during his time in the Department of Government Efficiency. They wrote, “Can’t stop thinking about how Wall Street is celebrating Elon Musk becoming the world’s first trillionaire while he single-handedly eliminated humanitarian aid that will lead to the needless deaths of 4.5 million of the poorest children in the world in the next 4 years.”

Sen. Elizabeth Warren weighed in and called for action. She wrote on X, “Elon Musk just became the world’s first trillionaire. The typical American household would have to work more than 11 MILLION years to make Elon Musk’s level of wealth. We need a wealth tax.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders, who has been vocal against billionaires, also raised opposition to Musk’s newly gained status. He said on X, “Today, Elon Musk, a trillionaire, pays the same amount into Social Security as someone making $184,500. If we end that absurdity and lift the cap on taxable income, we can make Social Security solvent for 75 years and expand benefits by $2,400. My Social Security bill does that.”

A wage earner will never be a trillionaire

Detractors have made their stance clear. Innovation is not what they appear to oppose. Rather, much of the scrutiny Musk faces is the method in which he accumulated his wealth. The Independent alleged that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and its capabilities have been deeply affected after Musk’s DOGE cuts in 2025. Another report from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) alleged that Musk must have targeted the IRS to weaken its enforcement abilities to his benefit.

But putting aside the allegations, Musk has gutted several federal agencies crucial for health, education, and social security. The world is facing economic insecurity, largely due to President Donald Trump’s war on Iran—the same president Musk helped elect. And yet Musk, the man who has proudly led a crusade in the US government, has become the first trillionaire in human history.

(featured images: The Associated Press)

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