• Elon Musk remains the world’s richest person with a net worth of $817 billion as of April 1, 2026
• The billionaire lost $22 billion in March due to global market downturns
• The SpaceX-xAI merger, valued at $1.25 trillion, briefly boosted his net worth to $852 billion earlier in the year

Elon Musk has retained his position as the world’s richest person despite a staggering $22 billion loss in March.

According to Forbes rankings released on Friday, April 3, Musk’s net worth stood at $817 billion as of April 1, 2026, maintaining a significant lead over other billionaires worldwide.

The drop in Musk’s fortune comes amid broader market downturns, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite each declining by nearly 5 percent during the month.

Analysts attribute the slump partly to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which rattled global markets.

Musk was among five of the world’s top 10 richest individuals who each lost at least $20 billion within the same period, highlighting the widespread impact of the market dip on global wealth.

A large portion of Musk’s wealth remains tied to his stakes in SpaceX and Tesla.

Earlier this year, SpaceX merged with his artificial intelligence and social media venture, xAI, in a deal valued at $1.25 trillion.

The merger briefly pushed his net worth to a record $852 billion before market fluctuations reversed some of those gains.

Despite the decline, Musk’s wealth still towers over his closest rival, Larry Page, whose net worth dropped by $20 billion to $237 billion.

Musk, 54, first claimed the title of the world’s richest person in September 2021 and has since alternated at the top.

He continues to lead SpaceX as CEO and serve as chairman of Tesla, while maintaining a dominant presence across the tech, AI, and space industries.

Even amid ongoing market volatility, Musk’s position underscores the enduring value of his business empire and his unmatched standing in the global wealth hierarchy.

Top 10 richest people (April 1, 2026)

1. Elon Musk — $817B

2. Larry Page — $237B

3. Jeff Bezos — $223B

4. Sergey Brin — $219B

5. Mark Zuckerberg — $196B

6. Larry Ellison — $189B

7. Jensen Huang — $151B

8. Michael Dell — $143.1B

9. Rob Walton — $142.6B

10. Bernard Arnault — $142.5B