Elon Musk, the ever-controversial and headline-grabbing CEO of Tesla, has once again shattered records and expectations in the world of business and technology. On December 20, 2025, the Delaware Supreme Court reinstated Musk’s massive Tesla stock options package, valued at a staggering $139 billion, after it was previously voided by a lower court last year. The ruling, as reported by Reuters and Forbes, not only catapulted Musk’s net worth to an unprecedented $749 billion but also reignited debates about executive compensation, corporate governance, and the future direction of one of the world’s most influential companies.
This legal decision marks a dramatic reversal of fortune for Musk. Back in 2024, a Delaware court had struck down his 2018 pay package—then worth $56 billion—calling it “unfathomable” and raising questions about the Tesla board’s oversight. The Supreme Court’s new ruling, however, declared that the earlier decision was “improper and inequitable to Musk,” effectively restoring the compensation deal and, with it, Musk’s dominant hold over Tesla’s future.
It’s not just about the numbers. Musk’s restored pay package, combined with Tesla’s surging stock price and the renewed confidence of investors, has created a financial juggernaut. According to Forbes, Musk’s fortune now towers over that of Google co-founder Larry Page—the world’s second-richest person—by nearly $500 billion. That’s a wealth gap so vast it’s almost hard to comprehend. And Musk’s lead may widen even further: Tesla shareholders recently approved a new pay package that could be worth as much as $878 billion if the company meets ambitious performance targets.
Earlier in December, Musk achieved another first: he became the only person in history to surpass $600 billion in net worth. This milestone followed reports that SpaceX, Musk’s privately held aerospace venture, was likely to go public—a move that could unlock even more riches and cement his status as the world’s most valuable entrepreneur. As Tech’s Big Winners of 2025 (published December 21, 2025) highlighted, Musk’s achievements this year place him firmly alongside other tech titans like Google and ByteDance in shaping the industry’s trajectory.
But how did we get here? The road to this moment has been anything but smooth. The original 2018 compensation plan was designed to reward Musk for transforming Tesla from a niche electric vehicle manufacturer into a global leader in artificial intelligence and robotics. The deal, which required Musk to hit a series of daunting operational and market capitalization milestones, was described at the time as “the largest corporate pay package in history.” Yet, its sheer scale drew criticism from some investors and corporate governance experts, who argued it gave Musk too much power and set a dangerous precedent for executive rewards.
When the Delaware lower court voided the package in 2024, citing breaches of fiduciary duty by the Tesla board and Musk as the company’s largest shareholder, it sent shockwaves through the financial world. The decision also sparked a furious backlash from Musk himself, who argued that the ruling undermined shareholder democracy and risked driving innovative companies away from Delaware, long seen as America’s most business-friendly state.
The Supreme Court’s latest ruling, then, is about more than just Musk’s bank account. It’s a statement about the balance of power between visionary leaders and the boards meant to oversee them. The court found that rescinding the pay package was “improper and inequitable,” restoring not only Musk’s compensation but also, arguably, Delaware’s reputation as a haven for corporate giants. As a result, Musk now enjoys even greater control over Tesla’s direction—a prospect that both excites and worries observers, depending on whom you ask.
Investors, for the most part, appear to be firmly in Musk’s corner. In November 2025, Tesla shareholders overwhelmingly approved a new $1 trillion pay plan for Musk, reaffirming their faith in his ability to lead the company into a new era of growth. The approved plan, which dwarfs any other in corporate history, is contingent on Tesla hitting a series of aggressive targets—no small feat, but one that Musk has shown a knack for achieving against the odds. The plan’s potential value, if fully realized, could push Musk’s net worth into truly uncharted territory.
Not everyone is celebrating, however. The lawyers who challenged Musk’s pay package issued a statement after the Supreme Court’s decision, saying they were “proud to have participated in the historic verdict below, calling to account the Tesla board and its largest stockholder for their breaches of fiduciary duty.” They added that they were considering their next steps, hinting that the legal saga may not be entirely over. Critics of the ruling argue that it sets a risky precedent, weakening oversight and giving outsized influence to corporate leaders at the expense of checks and balances.
Yet, for now, Musk’s triumph is undeniable. His restored pay package and the shareholder-approved $1 trillion plan underscore the extraordinary faith that investors and the market have in his vision. Tesla’s evolution from an electric vehicle pioneer to a would-be AI and robotics powerhouse is a bet that many are willing to make—especially with Musk at the helm.
The broader tech landscape of 2025 has only amplified Musk’s stature. As noted in Tech’s Big Winners of 2025, this year has seen a handful of companies and leaders—Google, ByteDance, and Musk himself—emerge as the defining forces shaping the industry’s future. With SpaceX on the verge of a public offering and Tesla pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in clean energy and automation, Musk’s influence is unlikely to wane anytime soon.
All eyes will now be on Musk, Tesla, and the Delaware courts as the dust settles from this landmark decision. Will the reinstated pay package spur even greater innovation, or will it fuel new controversies over corporate governance and executive compensation? One thing’s for sure: in the ever-dramatic world of tech and business, Elon Musk remains the man to watch.
