SpaceX’s Success Catapulted Musk To The Top Of The World’s Richest

New success for Elon Musk’s company SpaceX has once again shot the owner of Tesla to the top spot in the ranking of the richest people in the world. Musk returned to the top spot after his artificial intelligence startup xAI raised $6 billion in a funding round, but within hours he lost his crown to Bernard Arnault.

KEY FACTS

A little over $3 billion. That is the difference between Elon Musk and Bernard Arnault, who occupy the first two positions in the ranking of the richest people in the world.
The Tesla owner briefly lost the crown he regained just about a week ago but has regained his position after his space company SpaceX scored a resounding success on its fourth consecutive Starship test.
The goal was to bring the upper part of the rocket back into the atmosphere in a controlled manner and then detach it in the Indian Ocean.
For the first time, all elements of a new orbital transport system have returned to Earth after flight, after the rocket failed to survive the high temperatures of re-entry on its previous attempt just a few months ago.
The success of SpaceX has brought Musk enough income that, according to Forbes, his wealth is currently equal to 210.2 billion dollars. The owner of Louis Vuitton, Bernard Arnault, can boast of a fortune of 207.5 billion dollars.

KEY STORY

The mission is a key step for future astronaut trips to Mars. Musk and his company SpaceX are working on a fast orbital rocket system that would be the first in the world.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

The challenge is precisely the speed and altitude at which the Starship ascends, resulting in high temperatures when it re-enters the atmosphere.

If SpaceX engineers succeed in perfecting the Starship, it will be revolutionary. The 33 engines at its core produce 74 meganewtons of thrust. For comparison, NASA’s Space Launch System produces 39 meganewtons when it takes off from the pad, and that’s over 20% higher.

This capability, along with the altitude that can launch more than a hundred tons into orbit at once, will radically reduce the cost of space activity and make new types of activities possible.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

Bitcoin Surges 23% In A Week As Investor Optimism Returns

by News Editor

August 21, 2026

Bitcoin was on track for a weekly gain of around 23% on Friday as a series of positive macroeconomic and policy developments boosted investor sentiment.

The cryptocurrency was trading about 6% higher at roughly $77,000, up from around $62,800 at the start of the week. Crypto-related stocks also rallied, with Coinbase and Circle gaining more than 9%, while Strategy rose 7%.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Macro Factors Fuel Rally

Bitcoin’s latest surge began Wednesday after Treasury yields fell sharply following a major intervention by the U.S. Treasury in the bond market. Lower yields eased pressure on risk assets and helped trigger a broader move into cryptocurrencies.

The rally was further amplified by a major short squeeze. Around $2.7 billion in crypto short positions were liquidated, according to CoinGlass.

Max Stuedlein, head of Partnerships at Sygnum APAC, said the move reflected an alignment of macroeconomic and policy catalysts, including the Treasury’s decision to increase buybacks of longer-dated government debt.

Clarity Act Boosts Sentiment

Investor confidence improved further on Thursday as the White House and crypto industry leaders made a final push to advance the Clarity Act in the coming weeks.

The legislation is widely viewed as a potential catalyst for the crypto market, although its chances of passing remain relatively limited.

Despite the rally, bitcoin remains well below its 2026 high of $94,820 reached in January and its all-time high of $126,198, set last October.

Analysts See More Volatility Ahead

Lucy Gazmararian, founder and managing partner at Token Bay Capital, said the crypto market may be approaching the end of its bear cycle.

She expects bitcoin could experience one more decline of around 20% before the market turns, pointing to historical cycles and the recent liquidation of heavily leveraged short positions.

Gazmararian also described bitcoin as a long-term hedge against monetary debasement, while warning that its short-term price remains highly volatile and driven by market cycles.

Breaking news