Hmm, according to this calculator [1], Rockefeller's net worth of $1.4B in 1937 would be worth $28B today.

Elon's is around $240B, so it sounds like 10x the amount.

Even by different calculations, it seems like an order of magnitude is a big difference.

By GDP, they are both worth around 1% of the US GDP, but the US GDP is many times what it was then, particularly post-WWII.

Musk's buying power seems significantly more than Rockefeller's by any metric.

1. https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/

I think Rockefeller probably wins when the contest is 'fraction of available wealth captured'. The world is far richer today than it was in his days. We have wealthier people, even inflation adjusted, but I don't think we've had any one since who owned so much of what existed.

Tesla is also a worldwide company and trading around the world is significantly faster and easier than in Rockefeller's days.

Your figures are clearly correct. I accepted what an article said without checking into it myself. Thanks for doing the work I should have done.