Beyond Rockefeller: Polymarket Traders Bet SpaceX IPO Will Make Elon Musk The Richest Human In History And First Trillionaire
Daragh Thomas
Mon, February 9, 2026 at 1:31 PM EST
3 min read
In this article:
As of February 2026, Elon Musk's net worth has already surged past $800 billion following the blockbuster merger of SpaceX and xAI. Now, all eyes are on the rumored mid-2026 SpaceX IPO.
Polymarket odds for Elon Musk trillionaire before 2027 have risen to 72%. Those for SpaceX IPO before 2027 is at 86%.
How A SpaceX IPO Creates A Trillionaire
SpaceX is currently valued at roughly $1 trillion following its merger with xAI. However, analysts expect a public offering to seek a valuation closer to $1.5 trillion, fueled by the near-monopoly of Starlink and the successful Starship flight cadences.
Musk owns approximately 42% of SpaceX, so a successful IPO could see Musk easily clear the Trillionaire hurdle.
Don't Miss:
-
Missed Nvidia and Tesla? RAD Intel Could Be the Next AI Powerhouse — Just $0.85 a Share
-
Deloitte's #1 Fastest-Growing Software Company Lets Users Earn Money Just by Scrolling — Accredited Investors Can Still Get In at $0.50/Share.
Ground Breaking Tesla Pay Package
Even if the SpaceX IPO doesn’t quite push him over the finish line, Musk has a massive safety net in his newly approved 2025 Tesla pay package. This “Mars-shot” deal grants him up to additional shares tied to aggressive milestones, including a $8.5 trillion Tesla valuation and the deployment of 1 million humanoid robots, and could be worth nearly $1 trillion on its own if he makes all of the targets.
Records To break
1. The “Share of GDP” Record: John D. Rockefeller
In 1937, Standard Oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller died with a fortune that represented approximately 1.5% of US GDP. But at his peak, in 1913, his $900m fortune represented 3% of US GDP. For nearly a century, this has been the gold standard for economic “might.”
At $852 billion, Musk accounts for 2.7% of US GDP. Hitting the $1 trillion mark would push his wealth to roughly 3.2% of US GDP. At that point, Musk would officially be more powerful relative to the American economy than the most successful oil baron of the Gilded Age.
See Also: It’s no wonder Jeff Bezos holds over $250 million in art — this alternative asset has outpaced the S&P 500 since 1995, delivering an average annual return of 11.4%. Here’s how everyday investors are getting started.
2. The “Inflation-Adjusted” Record: Mansa Musa
Mansa Musa, the 14th-century emperor of Mali who controlled half the world’s gold supply, has long been considered the richest person in history. He is said to have crashed Egypt’s economy by being too generous on a religious pilgrimage.
Historians admit his wealth is “incomparable” and impossible to calculate, but if SpaceX completes its potential $1.5 trillion IPO, we can finally say Elon’s surpassed Mansa Musa—not just in documented wealth, but in scope. A 14th-century emperor controlled half of one planet’s gold, a 21st-century entrepreneur is building the infrastructure to access the resources of an entire solar system.
Story Continues
Read Next:
-
Why Billionaires Like Warren Buffett Prefer Real Assets Over Speculation—Institutional Real Estate Is Now Accessible to Individuals
-
Americans With a Financial Plan Can 4X Their Wealth — Get Your Personalized Plan from a CFP Pro
Image: Shutterstock
Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market.
Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga:
This article Beyond Rockefeller: Polymarket Traders Bet SpaceX IPO Will Make Elon Musk The Richest Human In History And First Trillionaire originally appeared on Benzinga.com
View Comments