Everything is “exploding” in front of Elon Musk

In just three months, Elon Musk has lost more than $134 billion and faced a series of setbacks, from politics to business. From a bad bet on the Wisconsin election to a record drop in Tesla sales, the billionaire is facing unprecedented challenges.

What’s got Elon Musk in trouble?

Elon Musk has suffered a series of significant setbacks in recent years. First, a $ 20 million bet on a pro-Donald Trump candidate in Wisconsin — a gamble that went awry. Soon after, Tesla reported its biggest sales decline in history, down 13% in the first quarter, while its biggest rival saw its revenue increase 60% in the same period.

Not stopping there, a Politico article cited insiders of the MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement who said Musk was no longer welcome in Washington. The White House denied the report, calling it “junk news,” and Musk denied it on social media. However, the US government confirmed that Musk’s role as a special government employee would end in May or June.

Tesla’s stock price has fallen sharply in recent times, causing Musk to lose more than 25% of his total assets since January.

Elon Musk’s fortune fell below $300 billion for the first time since November 2024, as the ripple effects of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs hit even those closest to him.

Mr. Musk lost $4.4 billion on April 7 after Tesla shares continued to plunge, bringing his total fortune to $297.8 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Previously, he lost 31 billion USD in just two days on April 3 and 4. Since the beginning of 2025, Mr. Musk’s total asset loss has reached 134.7 billion USD.

Although he is still the richest person in the world with a fortune of nearly $300 billion, the gap with the second-placed person, Jeff Bezos , has narrowed significantly.

Tesla’s struggles are directly related to Musk’s image. He is not only the CEO but also the company’s largest individual shareholder. Musk’s support for the far right has hurt Tesla’s brand among its traditional customer base—environmentalists and those living in coastal states. Meanwhile, efforts to attract customers from conservative states—who have little interest in electric vehicles—have not been as effective as expected.

What lesson for Elon Musk?

Musk has tried many ways to revive Tesla, but to no avail. Appearing with Trump at the White House to promote Tesla cars was seen as an act of desperation. Calling on people to buy Tesla stock or suggesting the FBI label Tesla saboteurs as “domestic terrorists” has also not helped.

Musk’s image took a further hit after the Wisconsin incident. He tried to influence the election by wearing a giant cheese hat at a Green Bay rally and handing out two $1 million checks to voters. Not only was the move legally challenged, it also failed to help his candidate win. As a result, liberals retained a 4-3 majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Despite his immense wealth, Elon Musk is learning that money can’t buy everything. Tesla’s continued sales decline is a reminder that customers have choices, and they can “vote” with their wallets. Musk is in the most difficult time since becoming the world’s richest person, and his future — and Tesla’s — will depend on how he handles the current challenges.