In the fast-paced world of billionaires and tech titans, few names evoke as much awe and controversy as Elon Musk. The CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI isn’t just a businessman—he’s a visionary reshaping humanity’s future, from electric cars revolutionizing transportation to rockets aiming for Mars colonization. But behind the headlines of record-breaking deals, political intrigue, and viral tweets lies a man whose weekly earnings could fund entire nations. Yet, astonishingly, amid this whirlwind of wealth accumulation, Musk consistently carves out one precious day each weekend to do something profoundly simple and human: bond with his young son through playful, quality time activities like playing video games or horsing around. It’s a ritual that humanizes the world’s richest person, reminding us that even titans have hearts—and priorities beyond the bottom line.

Let’s start with the mind-boggling numbers that make Musk’s life seem like something out of a sci-fi novel. As of August 2025, Elon Musk’s net worth hovers around a staggering $381 billion, according to reliable estimates from financial trackers like Bloomberg Billionaires Index. But net worth isn’t static; it’s a living, breathing entity fueled by stock fluctuations, company valuations, and market whims. Musk’s fortune is predominantly tied to his stakes in Tesla (where he holds about 13% of shares) and SpaceX (around 54%), with additional billions from Neuralink, The Boring Company, and xAI. In recent years, Tesla’s stock has surged amid EV adoption booms and AI integrations, while SpaceX’s Starship successes have propelled valuations skyward.

So, how much does this translate to weekly? Buckle up, because the figures are astronomical. Based on annualized projections from sources like Paywizard.org, Musk’s effective “salary” equates to roughly $147 billion annually—breaking down to an eye-popping $2.8 billion per week. That’s not a typo: $2,826,923,076.92 every seven days, or about $403 million daily. Other estimates vary slightly; for instance, Moneyzine pegs his daily earnings at $39.4 million based on earlier net worth figures, but with his fortune ballooning to over $400 billion in some 2025 reports (Forbes and Finance Monthly cite peaks at $401 billion and $486 billion in late 2024), the weekly haul could easily exceed $3-5 billion during bullish market weeks. Imagine: in the time it takes most people to binge-watch a Netflix series, Musk’s wealth grows by amounts that could solve global hunger crises or fund moon missions.

These earnings aren’t from a traditional paycheck—Musk famously takes a $1 salary from Tesla to minimize taxes—but from equity gains. When Tesla’s shares jumped 20% in a single quarter last year, Musk pocketed billions overnight. SpaceX’s latest funding rounds valued the company at $350 billion, adding tens of billions to his ledger. Even xAI, his AI venture, hit a $50 billion valuation in 2024, with Musk owning 54%. In 2025 alone, despite Tesla’s “rough quarters” as Musk himself admitted in a July earnings call (where net income dipped 16%), his overall wealth surged due to diversified bets. You’d need to work 3.5 million years at an average $115,000 salary to match his current net worth, as Yahoo Finance calculated. It’s wealth on a scale that’s hard to fathom—enough to buy a small country weekly, yet Musk lives relatively modestly, eschewing yachts for work marathons.

But here’s where the story takes a heartwarming turn: despite this relentless pursuit of innovation and riches, Elon Musk religiously dedicates one day each weekend—often Sundays—to unplugging from the chaos and focusing on his son. Specifically, he spends quality time engaging in fun, low-key activities with his youngest boy, X Æ A-XII (affectionately called “Lil X” or simply “X”), born in May 2020 to musician Grimes. This isn’t just occasional; it’s a consistent ritual, as revealed in various interviews and public glimpses. Musk has shared that he tries to wrap up work early for family dinners and then dives into playing computer games with his sons, a habit that echoes his own childhood love for gaming.

Picture this: the man who tweets about colonizing Mars and battling AI doomsdays transforms into a doting dad, controller in hand, battling virtual foes alongside his four-year-old. In a 2015 Quora response (still relevant today), Musk described his family routine: “He tries to come home early for family dinners with me and the kids and maybe play some computer games with the boys.” Fast-forward to 2025, and this hasn’t changed much, even as his family has grown (Musk has 11 known children from various relationships). With X, it’s particularly poignant—Musk often carries him on his shoulders during public appearances, a move some speculate is for security (as discussed on Reddit’s ChangeMyView), but others see as pure paternal affection.

Recent anecdotes paint vivid pictures of these weekends. In February 2025, X stole the spotlight at a White House press conference, climbing onto Musk’s shoulders and causing adorable chaos in the Oval Office, as captured in CNN videos and TODAY reports. Grimes, X’s mother, expressed mixed feelings about the publicity, but Musk beamed with pride. Just a month later, in March, father and son boarded Marine One for a weekend getaway to Mar-a-Lago, blending family time with political schmoozing alongside President Trump (Reddit’s EnoughMuskSpam chronicled the event). But it’s the private moments that shine: a May 2025 TikTok from C-SPAN showed Musk recounting a “fun moment” where horsing around with X resulted in a black eye for dad—proof of their playful roughhousing.

These weekends aren’t lavish extravaganzas; they’re grounded in simplicity. Musk, a self-proclaimed gamer, bonds over titles like Diablo IV or classic strategy games, teaching X about coding and tech in the process. “I want my kids to understand the world,” Musk once said in a WIRED interview, where global editorial director Katie Drummond analyzed his public projections with X by his side. Amid 2025’s political whirlwind—Musk’s close ties to Trump, including Oval Office visits and stage appearances at rallies (FOX 5 News footage from January)—these father-son days serve as a reset. Even during high-stakes events, like X joining Musk on Trump’s stage, the underlying theme is bonding.

Why does this matter? In a year where Musk’s schedule is packed—overseeing Tesla’s Robotaxi launches, SpaceX’s Artemis missions, and xAI’s Grok advancements—his commitment to family underscores a deeper philosophy. Musk has spoken openly about population decline and the importance of procreation, fathering children via IVF and surrogacy. Yet, with X, it’s personal; the boy often travels with him, from factory tours to international trips. Critics on platforms like TikTok (Jimmy Fallon’s parody of X climbing on shoulders went viral with 768K likes) poke fun, but fans admire the vulnerability. It’s a stark contrast to his workaholic image: 80-100 hour weeks, sleeping on factory floors, as detailed in biographies.

Psychologically, this ritual grounds Musk. Experts suggest such routines combat burnout; for a man whose tweets can swing markets (remember the 2021 Dogecoin frenzy?), unplugging with X provides balance. In 2025, as Tesla faces competition from Chinese EV makers and SpaceX eyes Starship’s first crewed Mars prep, Musk’s wealth fluctuates wildly—gaining $50 billion in a month, losing $20 billion the next. Yet, weekends remain sacred. “Family is everything,” he echoed in a rare personal post, aligning with his ex-partner Talulah Riley’s accounts of his softer side.

Of course, Musk’s life isn’t without controversy. His relationships have been turbulent—divorces, custody battles with Grimes over X’s upbringing—and his political shifts (from Democrat to Trump ally) draw ire. Public appearances with X have sparked debates: is it genuine bonding or a shield against threats, as Reddit theorizes? Grimes publicly voiced discomfort with X’s Oval Office antics, highlighting co-parenting tensions. Still, Musk persists, blending fatherhood with fame.

As we wrap up, consider this: in a week where Musk might earn enough to buy multiple Fortune 500 companies, he chooses joy over jet-setting. Playing games, horsing around, or simply being present with X isn’t just a break—it’s a legacy. For a man building empires across stars, these moments remind us: true wealth isn’t in billions, but in bonds. Will Musk’s ritual inspire other moguls? Only time—and perhaps a tweet—will tell. But one thing’s clear: you truly can’t imagine his weekly windfall, yet his dad duties steal the show.