Tesla CEO Elon Musk took to social media on December 27 to express deep concern over reports that China will limit silver exports from January. He noted that silver is critical for solar panels, electronics soldering and automotive sensors, warning that any supply squeeze could ripple through manufacturing chains. Global silver inventories have already tightened, with physical holdings in major ETFs down 12% year-to-date. Analysts estimate that China accounts for nearly 35% of tracked silver exports, meaning a cutback could spark further price volatility and force Tesla to hedge or secure alternative sources to sustain its EV and energy storage output.

In 2025, Musk’s net worth surged by $205 billion, reaching an estimated $638 billion—outpacing the combined wealth increases of Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin. This gain reflects Tesla’s continuing market leadership and investor confidence, driven by record deliveries and the ramp-up of Gigafactories in Texas and Berlin. For context, Page added $101 billion and Brin $92.5 billion this year. Tesla’s strong brand, advanced battery tech and software monetization have translated into a valuation premium in the EV sector, reinforcing the company’s ability to fund R&D and ambitious production targets without dilutive capital raises.

On September 12, Elon Musk invested $1 billion of personal funds to buy Tesla shares at an average level well below current market traded ranges. By late December, that stake had delivered an unrealized gain of roughly $200 million over 106 days, underscoring Tesla’s resilience despite near-term production hiccups. This purchase followed board approval of a landmark long-term incentive plan designed to align Musk’s pay with aggressive revenue, profit and market-cap milestones. The open-market buy is viewed by many investors as a clear testament to confidence in Tesla’s outlook, from ramping Cybertruck lines to full self-driving software rollout.

Third-quarter filings reveal that several major funds increased Tesla positions significantly. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its stake by 14.1%, ending the period with 14,540 shares, while Cwm LLC added 22,757 shares to reach 374,543 shares. Norges Bank initiated a multi-billion-dollar position, and Kingstone Capital Partners Texas boosted its holdings by over 580,000% to above 6.4 million shares. Overall, institutional ownership stands at 66.2%, reflecting a growing consensus that Tesla remains the leading EV and energy-storage innovator, with exposure to secular trends in electrification, AI-enabled driving systems and renewable integration.