Elon Musk Fires Back At AOC After 'Billionaire Conman' Remark

Tesla CEO jokes he's a 'trillionaire' as his net worth continues to surge

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk fired back at comments from U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who called him a "billionaire conman" during a congressional hearing. Musk jokingly responded by upgrading his title to "*trillionaire" as his net worth has climbed to over $660 billion, driven by the success of his companies.

Why it matters

The exchange between Musk and AOC highlights the ongoing debate around wealth inequality and the role of billionaires in society. Musk's wealth has surged in recent years, fueled by the growth of Tesla and the anticipated SpaceX IPO, raising questions about the concentration of wealth and power among tech entrepreneurs.

The details

Musk was responding to an edited video of AOC's comments from a 2025 congressional hearing, during which she criticized his leadership of Dogecoin and argued he profited from government subsidies despite limited expertise. Musk, who left Dogecoin in May 2025, fired back by jokingly upgrading his title to "*trillionaire" as his net worth, currently at $662 billion, continues to climb. Analysts point to the anticipated SpaceX IPO, with a potential $1.75 trillion valuation, as a major driver of Musk's wealth trajectory.

  • Musk left Dogecoin in May 2025.
  • AOC's comments were made during a 2025 congressional hearing.

The players

Elon Musk

CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, whose net worth has surged to over $660 billion, making him one of the wealthiest individuals in the world.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC)

U.S. Representative from New York who criticized Musk during a congressional hearing, calling him a "billionaire conman".

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

The takeaway

This exchange highlights the ongoing debate around wealth inequality and the role of billionaires in society, with Musk's wealth continuing to surge despite criticism from political figures like AOC. The anticipated SpaceX IPO could further solidify Musk's status as one of the wealthiest individuals in the world.