Net Worth and Ranking
Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, has a net worth of roughly 138 billion USD, placing him among the top richest people globally as of the latest Forbes real-time billionaires list. His wealth is largely tied to Cascade Investment holdings and significant public and private stakes outside Microsoft. Bill Gates Forbes profile tracks his portfolio and gives updated estimates.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has a net worth of roughly 250 billion USD according to the same Forbes real-time tracking, making him the richest person in the world by most current rankings. His wealth is heavily concentrated in Tesla stock and SpaceX valuation, with additional stakes in xAI and other ventures. Elon Musk Forbes profile provides details on his holdings and market-linked net worth changes.
Major Companies and Roles
Microsoft and Philanthropy
Bill Gates co-founded Microsoft in 1975 and served as CEO until 2000, then as chairman and chief software architect before stepping back from day-to-day roles. He now focuses on the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the largest private charitable foundation, with assets around 70 billion USD and a focus on global health, education, and climate innovation. Microsoft official site outlines the company's current leadership and structure.
Tesla, SpaceX, and Other Ventures
Elon Musk co-founded PayPal, then founded SpaceX in 2002 and led Tesla's IPO in 2010 as CEO and product architect. He also leads xAI, owns X (formerly Twitter), and oversees Neuralink and The Boring Company. Tesla is the world's most valuable automaker by market capitalization, while SpaceX is valued at over 350 billion USD in recent private funding rounds. Tesla official site provides current vehicle and energy product details and corporate information.
Philanthropy and Public Policy
Bill Gates has given more than 60 billion USD through the Gates Foundation, focusing on infectious disease eradication, agricultural development, and education access in low-income countries. The foundation also invests in climate-related R&D and clean energy technologies, aligning with Gates's public statements on decarbonization. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation official site publishes annual letters, financials, and grant data.
Elon Musk's philanthropy includes the Musk Foundation, which has funded renewable energy projects, space exploration research, and disaster relief, though his giving is smaller in scale compared to Gates's foundation. Musk has also engaged in public policy debates on AI regulation, free speech, and energy transition, often via social media and corporate announcements. SEC EDGAR filings for Musk-linked entities show major equity holdings and ownership changes.