The wealth Elon Musk has gained this year is higher than what Warren Buffett is currently worth. Tesla's stock has quadrupled in 2020 on the back of splits and the possibility of inclusion into the S&P 500 Index. Tesla's Battery Day has excited investors, too. Tesla CEO Elon Musk is now worth $108 billion. Year-to-date, Musk’s net worth has grown by a whopping $80.7 billion, making him the largest wealth gainer in 2020. Musk’s gain is higher than Warren Buffett's entire net worth of $80.5 billion. [caption id="attachment_287891" align="aligncenter" width="579"] Only six billionaires in the world have a net worth that exceeds what Elon Musk has gained this year! | Source: Bloomberg[/caption] What’s Driving the Surge in Elon Musk’s Wealth? Most of Elon Musk’s wealth is concentrated in Tesla, where his stake now stands at 20.8%. Tesla stock's extraordinary price surge drives this year’s wealth gain. Just this year, Tesla’s stock has surged over 400%, from $85 a share (after adjusting for the recent split) to over $400. [caption id="attachment_287890" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Tesla's stock has enjoyed an incredible run this year and has quadrupled in price. | Source: Yahoo Finance[/caption] The stock surge is partly attributed to Tesla reporting four consecutive quarters of profitability. This raised the prospects of Tesla being included in the S&P 500 Index, a fact which would have required institutional investors to invest in the electric carmaker’s stock. Tesla’s stock surge has also been driven by the introduction of new models and the building of manufacturing plants. Tesla Battery Day Additionally, the rapid rise in Musk's wealth comes amid high expectations that Tesla will announce groundbreaking developments during the EV maker’s highly anticipated Battery Day. The event, which will take place alongside Tesla’s annual shareholder meeting, could unveil advancements in battery technology. Such developments could improve the price, range, and lifespan of electric cars, boosting Tesla's prospects. These developments have been gleaned from Musk’s tweets and public statements over the last few months. During the most recent earnings call, Musk pleaded with miners to extract more nickel--a commodity used in manufacturing battery cells. Musk Tries to Manage Battery Day Expectations Musk hinted recently that a battery with double the energy storage capacity is on the way. All these developments would make electric cars more affordable and more practical. This would wipe out the current advantages internal combustion engines have over electric vehicles. [caption id="attachment_287888" align="aligncenter" width="593"] Elon Musk is trying to taper surging expectations for Battery Day, noting the long road ahead before advancements in battery technology can be thoroughly enjoyed. | Source: @elonmusk/Twitter[/caption] Ahead of the event, Musk seemed to taper expectations. He tweeted that it would take Tesla at least 24 months before the new technological advancements announced on Battery Day would be fully implemented. Disclaimer: The author holds no investment position in any of the above-mentioned securities.
