In what TechCrunch is calling an absolute tragedy, Elon Musk is no longer a trillionaire. Yes, you read that right: the billionaire entrepreneur has slipped back to mere several-hundred-billionaire status, according to Bloomberg's Billionaires Index.
The fall from grace happened faster than a Falcon 9 rocket launch. When SpaceX went public earlier this month, Musk briefly became the world's first trillionaire—a moment he marked with what TechCrunch describes as an "awkward" fist-pump celebration while his supporters cheered.
But then reality struck. Stock prices fluctuate, and Musk's fortune fluctuated right along with SpaceX's trading performance. One minute he's on top of the world, the next he's back where he started: crushing it financially, but not crushing it hard enough to hit that magic trillion-dollar mark.
TechCrunch's take on the whole situation is deliciously tongue-in-cheek. The publication questioned how Musk will "support his legion of offspring" and whether he can even afford to keep expanding his already considerable brood, given his public advocacy for larger families.
The outlet even offered sympathy—along with unsolicited life advice. "We wish him the best as he navigates this trying time," TechCrunch wrote. "And, Elon, if you need a good rice and beans recipe, or some tips on how to win big at the thrift store, we can point you in the right direction."
So while Musk is still obscenely wealthy by any rational standard, the brief flirtation with trillionaire status has come and gone. Better luck next quarter, Elon.
