Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla
A historical comparison has shown that billionaire Elon Musk holds a share of the US GDP that surpasses that of oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller. 
According to calculations by Harvard Business School, Rockefeller’s wealth in 1937 was about $1.4 billion, which at the time represented 1.5% of the US GDP.
Meanwhile, Musk’s current fortune—estimated at around $500 billion—represents more than 1.6% of the US GDP, which stood at $30.49 trillion in the second quarter of this year. This slightly exceeds Rockefeller’s share, according to MarketWatch.
Rockefeller made his wealth through Standard Oil, which dominated the oil industry in the early 20th century, while the bulk of Musk’s wealth comes from the electric vehicle sector and technologies related to clean energy.
Analysts believe the comparison between the two men reflects major shifts in the sources of American wealth—from oil and fossil fuels to innovation in renewable energy and technology.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla
A historical comparison has shown that billionaire Elon Musk holds a share of the US GDP that surpasses that of oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller.
According to calculations by Harvard Business School, Rockefeller’s wealth in 1937 was about $1.4 billion, which at the time represented 1.5% of the US GDP.
Meanwhile, Musk’s current fortune—estimated at around $500 billion—represents more than 1.6% of the US GDP, which stood at $30.49 trillion in the second quarter of this year. This slightly exceeds Rockefeller’s share, according to MarketWatch.
Rockefeller made his wealth through Standard Oil, which dominated the oil industry in the early 20th century, while the bulk of Musk’s wealth comes from the electric vehicle sector and technologies related to clean energy.
Analysts believe the comparison between the two men reflects major shifts in the sources of American wealth—from oil and fossil fuels to innovation in renewable energy and technology.
