Elon Musk Net Worth Drops 18% as Tesla Struggles and Gates Gives Away Billions

Elon Musk’s net worth has fallen by $75 billion in 2025, leaving it at $357 billion, a sharp contrast to the AI-driven wealth gains seen by other top billionaires [1]. This significant loss comes amid a challenging year for Tesla, including declining sales, political tensions with former U.S. President Donald Trump, and widespread acts of vandalism against the brand in the U.S. and Europe [1]. Meanwhile, despite suffering a similar financial reduction, Bill Gates is not a victim of market forces but a donor of his wealth [1]. His net worth dropped from $175 billion to $124 billion in a single day due to a recalculated figure by Bloomberg, reflecting his ongoing commitment to philanthropy [1]. Gates has pledged to give away nearly all his wealth over the next 20 years through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, with the goal of completely winding down the organization by 2045 [1].

Musk’s losses are largely driven by an 18% drop in Tesla’s stock value year to date, a decline in global sales, and a lack of sufficient growth from other business areas such as energy storage and services [1]. The company’s second-quarter revenue fell by low double digits, and net profits dropped 17% to $1.17 billion, reflecting a significant slowdown in performance compared to previous years [1]. Additionally, Tesla became a focal point for political protests against Musk’s increasingly close relationship with Trump, with incidents of property damage and even Molotov cocktails and gunfire reported at company locations in the U.S. and abroad [1].

The contrast between Musk and Gates is striking. While both have seen a decline in their net worth, Gates’ approach is deliberate and structured, with a clear timeline for the distribution of his wealth [1]. His commitment to philanthropy is not just a personal endeavor but a call to action for other billionaires and governments to contribute to global challenges such as health, education, and poverty [1]. In comparison, Musk remains heavily exposed to the volatility of high-risk ventures, with his net worth fluctuating in direct response to the performance of Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter) [1]. This divergence highlights a broader debate about the role of extreme wealth in society—whether it should be retained and expanded or redistributed for collective benefit [1].

Musk’s current net worth is now the lowest it has been in several years, but he remains the richest person in the world [1]. Meanwhile, Gates continues his mission with a long-term vision that prioritizes global impact over personal wealth. As their paths diverge—one driven by market forces, the other by purpose—each represents a different philosophy on how to manage vast wealth in an unpredictable world [1].