In one of the most turbulent periods of his career, Elon Musk is experiencing a clear fall in his personal wealth and his public perception. Once once the richest man in the world was with a fortune that has reached more than 400 billion dollars, the Tesla and Spacex CEO has seen 134.7 billion dollars disappear from his inheritance in just a few months. This investment not only reflects the change in the feeling of Wall Street, but also the complex intersections between politics, brand and global economy.
On Monday, April 7, Musk’s fortune decreased by another 4.4 billion dollars, which brought its current assets to 297.8 billion dollars, according to the Bloomberg billionaire index. It has been the first time since November that its wealth has dropped below the symbolic threshold of 300 billion dollars, and losses do not show signs of arrest.
To contextualize: the man who has once reached the upper part of the list of richer people in the world, mainly driven by the confidence of investors in Tesla’s technological growth, now faces his darker days, not only financially, but also reputationally.
The immediate catalyst of this erosion of wealth lies in the reaction of the market to the new wave of duties imposed by President Donald Trump, a protectionist economic measure that sent shock waves through sectors that, ironically, had been strengthened by Trump’s rise to power. Tesla, who once benefited from the feeling in favor of companies during the Trump administration, is now caught in the crossfire of global commercial tensions. The actions of the electric car giant have passed more than 50% by the maximum records reached in mid -December, dragging Musk’s wealth with her.
The largest markets have not been saved. The collapse of Monday saw a total of $ 271 billion of the Bloomberg billionaire index, which makes it the third day worse in the history of the index. Musk was the sixth great loser of the day, but the tendency of recent weeks has made him one of the most prominent financial victims of 2025 so far.
The decrease in Musk’s fortune is not only the result of macroeconomic fluctuations, but it is also a consequence of its increasingly polarizing public image and its close connection with the policies and rhetoric of the Trump era. After being one of Trump’s technological advisors in view during his presidency, Musk became a symbolic and literal objective of protests. While his influence accelerated the debates in national production and innovation, he also positioned Tesla, once a symbol of environmental progress, as a divisive political emblem.
This had concrete consequences. In recent months, there has been an increase in vandalism against Tesla exhibition rooms, and social networks have documented cases of Tesla owners who actively separate from the brand, some come to eliminate the Tesla logo of their cars. Meanwhile, potential buyers seem more and more cautious of the idea of being associated with what they perceive as Musk’s political inclination.
This marks a clear change for a company that once enjoyed an almost universal recognition between progressive technologists and ecological consumers. The problems facing Tesla are now related to the perception in terms of production. The manufacturer of electric vehicles, which has dominated the innovation and performance market during most of the last decade, is now under siege on several fronts: the growing competition of traditional producers, increasingly severe regulations in global markets and a CEO whose personality continues to dominate the first pages, often for wrong reasons.
Musk’s tendency to make sudden statements on social networks, to participate in political disputes or deduce critics has alienated a growing portion of consumers who once saw him as a visionary. The Musk brand, which once amplified the value of Tesla, is now seen more and more as a risk.
And it is not just public perception. Investors are also becoming cautious. Tesla’s evaluation has been based for a long time on an optimistic vision of the future: the belief that it was not only an automotive company, but a technological company capable of annoying multiple sectors. This narrative is becoming more difficult to keep in front of concrete problems, such as supply chain interruptions, the increase in duties and growing challenges of PR.
The musk did not remain silent in the face of difficulties. During the weekend, he expressed his support for a “zero duties” system between the United States and Europe, supporting what has called a real “free trade zone.” His brother and member of the Tesla Council, Kimbal Musk, went further, labeling Trump’s duties as a “structural and permanent tax on the US consumer.”
“Even if you will succeed in bringing jobs at home through the customs tax, prices will remain high,” Kimbal said in a public statement. “We are simply not so good to do everything.”
These comments highlight a growing tension within Musk’s orbit: how to reconcile the patriotic production objectives with economic reality. Tasks are apparently designed to protect US industries, but in practice, production costs are increasing, slowing down innovation and putting companies such as Tesla under additional pressure that depend on global supply chains and international demand.
The question now is whether this is a short -term correction, or the beginning of a longer decrease. The musk recovered from adversity before. From an initial skepticism on the path of Tesla to the almost collapse of Spacex, he has made his career a continuous demonstration that doubts have been unfounded. But this time, obstacles are more complex: geopolitical turbulence, consumer reactions, regulatory difficulties and a competitive evolution panorama that no longer guarantees Tesla a first movement advantage.
There is also the issue of Musk’s attention. With his divided time between Tesla, Spacex, Neuralink and several other projects, not to mention his frequent incursions into social networks, questions remain about what Tesla needs a leadership focused on a moment of existential challenge.
Elon Musk is not new in drama: financial, political or personal. But the scope and speed of this current decrease are extraordinary, even according to their standards. A loss of 134.7 billion dollars would be enough to end any other person. For Musk, it’s a moment of accounts.
What remains to be seen is whether you can rewrite fiction once again, restore the confidence of investors and consumers, and guide Tesla through this turbulent chapter. Otherwise, the electric dream that has helped activate could continue to disappear.
