Forbes Real-Time Billionaires and Bloomberg listed Elon Musk at ~$1.3 / $1.27 trillion, with Larry Page (second) at ~$314 billion → ratio ≈ 4.04X richer.
Bill Gates never reached 4X. He dominated the top spot for many years (roughly 13 consecutive years from ~1995–2007 per Forbes). The gap was smaller. In 1999, the ratio over Buffet was 2.5X. His ratios generally stayed in the 1.5–2.5X range during his dominant years.
John D. Rockefeller probably did for some years around his peak (roughly 1910s–early 1920s or so). 1913 about ~$900 million (nearly 3% of U.S. GDP that year). Elon is at 4% of US GDP today.
Some sources put his absolute peak higher or note he became America’s first billionaire around 1916. Rockefeller era (~1900–1930s): Likely a handful of years (or more) when his lead was large enough (possibly 3–5X+ at peaks). Andrew Carnegie was number 2 most of the time when Rockefeller was dominant.
If the projections for AI and space happen, then Elon could go to 10X the wealth of second place.
Charles Ergen CEO of Echostar has 51% of 2.2% so about 1.1% of SpaceX.
Peter Thiel has about 30% of 3.5% or 1.1% of SpaceX via Founders Fund.
Larry Ellison has 1.5% of Tesla and that could become 0.5-0.7% of combined SpaceX-Tesla.
Antonio Gracias has about 1% of SpaceX via his fund Valor.
Larry Page has 3% of Google’s 6% of SpaceX or about 0.18%.
Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.
Known for identifying cutting edge technologies, he is currently a Co-Founder of a startup and fundraiser for high potential early-stage companies. He is the Head of Research for Allocations for deep technology investments and an Angel Investor at Space Angels.
A frequent speaker at corporations, he has been a TEDx speaker, a Singularity University speaker and guest at numerous interviews for radio and podcasts. He is open to public speaking and advising engagements.
