Alice Walton and Elon Musk represent two titans of wealth from very different sectors, with 2025 marking a groundbreaking year for each.
Walton, the world’s richest woman, has joined the elite centibillionaire club with a net worth of $106 billion, propelled by gains in Walmart, Inc. (NYSE:WMT) shares.
Musk made history as the first person to reach a $500 billion net worth in 2025, his holdings riding on the explosive ascent of Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) and his other ventures.​
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Alice Walton – World's Richest Woman
Alice Walton is intrinsically linked to Walmart, inheriting her fortune as the daughter of founder Sam Walton.
Despite periodic reductions in her direct holdings, she remains a major shareholder, with the Walton family controlling about 48% of Walmart's outstanding shares as of May 2025.
Her wealth is tightly correlated with Walmart's stock performance. Walmart’s stock experienced remarkable gains in 2025, posting a 19.24% year-to-date return through Oct.17, building on a strong 70% increase in 2024.
The increase in Walmart's share price has pushed Walton's personal fortune over the $100 billion mark to around $106 billion, according to Forbes.
Elon Musk – World's Richest Man
Musk's net worth is built on his outsized ownership of Tesla, with approximately 75% of his wealth sourced from TSLA stock and complemented by sizable stakes in SpaceX and other companies.
Tesla shares are up 82% over the past six months, but following a rocky start to 2025, the stock is only up 8% year-to-date. Musk continues to be the largest individual shareholder in Tesla.​
According to Forbes, Musk passed the $500 billion mark in October, positioning him as the world's richest man and half-way to becoming the first-ever trillionaire.
The Takeaway
While both Walton and Musk benefit from large stock positions, Musk's record-breaking $500 billion fortune is nearly fivefold Walton's $106 billion.
The comparison highlights not only the sheer scale of contemporary wealth, but also the contrasting paths--one rooted in legacy retail, the other in disruptive tech--by which the richest individuals capitalize on stock market booms to redefine global wealth leadership.
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