https://docs.google.com/document/d/135uL-ht9WZVa8AV1w7dZlDdzLsBo4BmSchK2MEFP2eU/edit?usp=drivesdk

After a turbulent start to the year, Tesla shares have gained on improved investor sentiment as Musk’s focus returned to his companies

Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Wednesday became the first person ever to achieve a net worth of US$500 billion, propelled by a rebound in the electric-vehicle company’s shares and surging valuations of his other start-ups this year.

His net worth stood at US$500.1 billion as of 4.15pm US Eastern time, according to Forbes’ billionaires index.

Musk’s fortunes are tied closely to Tesla, where he held a more than 12.4 per cent stake as of September 15. The stock has risen more than 14 per cent so far this year and closed 3.3 per cent higher on Wednesday, adding more than US$6 billion to Musk’s net worth.

Death of Jane Goodall

Capital Group says Global dividend payouts hit a record high in the first half of the year, driven by a weak US dollar that boosted shareholder returns denominated in euros and Japanese yen, according to Capital Group.Dividends from the world’s 1,600 most valuable publicly traded companies rose 7.7 per cent year on year to US$1.14 trillion, according to a report on Tuesday from the asset-management firm, which oversees US$3 trillion in assets. The firms analysed represented 85 per cent of global market capitalisation.