The fortune of Elon Muskthe richest man in the world, has reached a new milestone. According to recent calculations by Bloomberg, the tycoon’s assets amount to 439.2 billion dollars (about 418.5 billion euros), a figure that exceeds the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Denmark, estimated at about 400 billion dollars. This meteoric growth in his wealth is due, in large part, to the record valuation of his companies, such as Tesla, SpaceX and his most recent venture, xAI.
If Musk decided to spend his immense fortune, what things could he buy? Here we explore ten examples that illustrate the purchasing power of a person with wealth equivalent to the GDP of a developed country.
1. Buy whole Denmark
With $400 billion, Musk could theoretically purchase Denmark’s annual GDP. This would involve financing all the goods and services produced by the country in one year, from infrastructure to the health sector. Although, of course, it does not include the value of its land, culture and history.
2. Fund the manned mission to Mars
Musk’s dream of colonizing Mars with SpaceX has an estimated price tag of $100 billion to establish the first sustainable base. With his fortune, he could not only finance this project, but create multiple settlements on the red planet.
3. Buy the 10 most valuable football clubs in the world
With his wealth, Musk could acquire the most valuable soccer teams, including Real Madrid, Manchester United and FC Barcelona, whose combined value is about $50 billion. And there would still be money left over to renovate stadiums and sign the most expensive stars.
4. Eradicate extreme poverty in the world over several years
According to UN estimates, ending extreme global poverty would cost around $140 billion a year. With his fortune, Musk could finance this goal for three years, improving the living conditions of millions of people.
5. Buy the largest technology companies in the world
With $400 billion, Musk could acquire giants like Meta (valued at $730 billion) or combine investments to buy companies like Netflix, Spotify, Twitter (again), and many more.
6. Finance the construction of a futuristic megacity
A self-sufficient city like NEOM, Saudi Arabia’s ambitious project in the desert, has an estimated cost of $500 billion. Musk could replicate something similar anywhere in the world and turn it into a center of innovation and technology.
7. Buy a small country
While the countries are not for sale, some territories with smaller economies have a GDP well below Musk’s fortune. For example, Malta (17 billion dollars of GDP) or Iceland (28 billion).
8. Fund the global education system
UNESCO estimates that closing the educational gap in developing countries would cost about $210 billion a year. Musk could fund this goal for at least two years, transforming the lives of millions of students in the process.
9. Become an owner of the film industry (entire)
Hollywood and the entire global film industry generate about $100 billion a year. Musk could buy the largest studios, streaming platforms and even finance blockbusters to his liking.
10. Invest in the cure for climate change
According to studies, transforming the world towards a sustainable, low-emission economy could require an annual investment of $400 billion until 2050. Although his fortune would not cover everything, it could finance key technologies such as carbon capture, renewable energy and large-scale reforestation .
What would Musk do with his fortune?
Although these examples are hypothetical, Elon Musk is already using much of his wealth to pursue ambitious goals: from the transition to sustainable energy with Tesla to space exploration with SpaceX and artificial intelligence research with xAI.
However, his fortune also sparks debates about economic inequality and the role of billionaires in addressing global problems. With wealth growing faster than many national economies, the question is not just what Musk can buy, but how he could use his fortune to impact the world in a meaningful way.
Whatever your choice, the magnitude of your wealth is a reminder of the immense economic power that individuals can concentrate in the modern era.
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