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Tesla’s Elon Musk passes rival Mark Zuckerberg in net worth
Tesla’s meteoric surge in stock price has put CEO Elon Musk ahead of Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg on the Richest in the World list. The two men have a tumultuous relationship that has resulted in a rivalry, and it all started in 2016 when SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket blew up, destroying a Facebook satellite.
Musk is now the third-richest person in the world after Tesla stock (NASDAQ: TSLA) split on August 31, 2020. The surge has increased the company’s shares by 9.89%, or $43.83 at the time of writing.
Bloomberg reports that as of 11:25 am EST, Musk is worth $111.3 billion, which is $800 million richer than Zuckerberg.
Tesla’s stock has surged more than 475% this year, adding over $76 billion to Musk’s fortune. Meanwhile, the CEO continues to advance his entities forward, including Tesla’s electric vehicles and SpaceX’s rockets and satellite projects.
However, the latter company is apart of where the relationship between the two billionaires went awry. In 2016, Musk’s SpaceX was performing a pre-launch test for the Falcon 9 rocket. The test proved to be a failure as a fire caused the rocket to ignite a massive fireball. SpaceX’s rocket wasn’t the only thing to catch fire, as Zuckerberg’s Internet.org satellite was destroyed in the accident, and Zuckerberg was not a happy camper.
-->In a Facebook post from the former Harvard student who spent his summers in Silicon Valley coding the largest social media platform in the world, Zuckerberg voiced his discontent. He stated that he was “deeply disappointed” that “SpaceX’s launch failure destroyed our satellite.”
Musk apologized, and SpaceX provided a free launch for Zuckerberg to make up for the failure. He also stated that “I think they had some insurance.”
Ever since then, the two men have not been able to settle their differences, and Elon and “Zuck” have traded barbs toward each other for several years. Zuckerberg has hazed Elon for his fear of artificial intelligence, which Musk states can pose a threat to the human race. Elon, on the contrary, has encouraged people to get rid of their Facebook accounts, stating that the social media platform “sucks.”
Musk even deleted Tesla and SpaceX’s official Facebook accounts.
Whether the two men will ever become friends is unknown.
Musk has surged toward the top spot of the Billionaires list, but he is still far off from Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, who has a net worth of about $200 billion. Tesla’s increase in value on Wall Street has added money to Elon’s pockets, but material possessions are not of importance to him. This was evident after he sold his houses earlier this year.
“Don’t need the cash,” Musk said when someone asked if he needed money. “Devoting myself to Mars and Earth. Possession just weigh you down.”
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News
Tesla continues growing its Cybercab production team with new job listings
Both positions are based in Gigafactory Texas, the site of the Cybercab’s initial production.
Tesla continues to build out its workforce for the upcoming Cybercab, with two new job listings for quality inspectors for the autonomous two-seater being listed in the company’s official Careers website.
Both positions are based in Gigafactory Texas, the site of the Cybercab’s initial production.
New Cybercab listings
Tesla recently added openings for “Quality Inspector, Cybercab” and “Quality Inspector, Cybercab – Incoming Quality” on its Careers website. The roles involve detailed inspections of Cybercab components using precision tools such as calipers, micrometers, and gauges, among others. Candidates must also identify non-conformances, document findings in Tesla’s quality management system and collaborate with production teams to resolve issues swiftly.
Overall, these new Cybercab-related roles highlight Tesla’s emphasis on precision for the two-seater’s innovative features, such as its inductive charging setup, which is not available on any Tesla consumer vehicle today. If any, the Cybercab’s Quality Inspectors will likely be operating in uncharted territory as the vehicle is being produced using Tesla’s new Unboxed process. Elon Musk has also noted that the Cybercab’s production line will resemble a high-speed consumer electronics line instead of a conventional automotive line.
Recent Cybercab Design Evolutions
Since its October 2024 unveiling, the Cybercab has undergone several refinements visible in recent prototypes, enhancing aerodynamics and manufacturability ahead of production. The tail design now rises slightly for better airflow, with a shortened rear body panel and repositioned red reflectors farther from the wheel arches.
-->Front-end updates include segmented daytime running lights, actual turn signals and a sharper splitter, while side repeater cameras have shifted forward for improved visibility. Tesla has also enlarged door panels for easier ingress and egress, swapped to unpainted tires without extended covers and adjusted the B-pillar forward and lower, likely to foster a more open cabin feel.
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Tesla starts laying the groundwork for FSD tests in Austria
The job opening comes as the company pushes regulatory approvals and data collection in new European markets.
Tesla seems to be ramping its efforts to hire key personnel for FSD’s eventual expansion in Europe. This was hinted at in a new job listing for a vehicle operator role in Vienna, Austria.
The job opening comes as the company pushes regulatory approvals and data collection in new European markets.
Vienna’s vehicle operator role
Tesla posted the job for “Fahrer (Vehicle Operator) (m/w/d)” in its Vienna office on its Careers website, seeking candidates to drive and monitor test vehicles as part of the Autopilot and AI team. The role involves collecting real-world driving data to refine Full Self-Driving systems for the country’s local roads. Responsibilities include operating vehicles in urban and highway environments, documenting system performance, among other tasks.
Applicants need a valid Austrian driver’s license and at least two years of driving experience. Fluency in English is essential, along with a familiarity with driver assist systems. Tesla noted that the position offers a minimum annual gross salary of EUR 32,000, though relevant professional experience and qualifications will be taken into account. Similar to other Tesla roles, the position also offers TSLA stock as an incentive.
Tesla’s FSD Push in Europe
Tesla’s FSD efforts in Europe have accelerated in recent months, with significant progress in Spain serving as a key milestone. In July 2025, Spain’s Directorate-General for Traffic launched the ES-AV framework to standardize automated vehicle testing, authorizing Tesla for nationwide FSD trials with 19 vehicles under Phase 3, which allows optional onboard safety operators and remote monitoring.
-->The program, running through November 2027, aims to position Spain as a leader in the field, as DGT stated: “The program is designed to complement and enhance oversight, regulation, research, and transparency efforts, as well as to support innovation and advancements in automotive technology and industry.”
Beyond Spain, Tesla has conducted FSD demonstrations in Germany, France and Italy for consumers, while pursuing national approval in the Netherlands for early 2026.
News
Tesla Semi factory looks almost complete during Thanksgiving weekend
Based on recent drone videos, the Tesla Semi factory looks practically ready to start operations.
It appears that the Tesla Semi factory near Giga Nevada is already hard at work preparing for the initial production of the Class 8 all-electric truck. This was, at least, hinted at in a recent drone flyover of the facility from a longtime watcher.
The Tesla Semi factory after Thanksgiving
Drone operator and Tesla Semi advocate @HinrichsZane recently shared some footage he captured of the upcoming facility during the Thanksgiving weekend. Based on his video, it appears that Tesla gave its employees in the area the weekend off. One thing is evident from the video, however, and that is the fact that the Tesla Semi factory looks practically ready to start operations.
The Tesla Semi watcher did point out that the electric vehicle maker is still busy bringing in production equipment into the facility itself. Once these are installed, it would not be surprising if initial production of the Tesla Semi begins.
A new Tesla Semi
The upcoming completion of the Tesla Semi factory near Gigafactory Nevada seems all but inevitable in the coming months. What would be especially interesting, however, would be the vehicles that would be produced on the site. During Elon Musk’s presentation at the 2025 Annual Shareholder Meeting, a glimpse of the production Tesla Semi was shown, and it looks quite a bit different than the Class 8 all-electric truck’s classic appearance.
As could be seen in the graphic from the CEO’s presentation, the updated Tesla Semi will feature slim lightbar headlights similar to the new Tesla Model Y, Cybertruck, and the Cybercab. Tesla also teased a number of aerodynamic improvements that increased the truck’s efficiency to 1.7 kWh per mile. Extended camera units, seemingly for FSD, could also be seen in the graphic.
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Tesla continues growing its Cybercab production team with new job listings
Tesla starts laying the groundwork for FSD tests in Austria
