A Minute of Musk's Income Equals Years of Work for Millions of People

SadaNews Economy - While millions around the world toil for long hours in exhausting jobs that barely meet their basic needs, a few exceptionally wealthy individuals on the other side of the spectrum live in a completely different reality. They need only one minute to earn profits that exceed what an average person makes in years of continuous work. It is a stark paradox between two worlds: one desperately chasing a livelihood, and another where money flows endlessly.

This shocking comparison opens a broader discussion about the widening gap in wealth distribution globally.

Elon Musk.. $155,000 a Minute

According to Forbes (September 2025), American billionaire Elon Musk tops the list of the wealthy with a fortune estimated at around $342 billion. With his annual income calculated, Musk earns approximately $9.3 million per hour, which translates to $155,000 per minute.

A Stark Comparison with the Arab Citizen

The numbers reveal a shocking gap: In Egypt, the per capita share of annual GDP does not exceed $3,338, which is about $9.1 a day. This means that one minute of Musk's income is equivalent to 16,946 days of work for an Egyptian citizen, or more than 46 years of continuous work.

In Morocco, the average annual income per person is $3,993, or about $10.9 a day, making one minute of Musk's income equal to 14,167 days of work for a Moroccan citizen, approximately 38 years of labor.

In Saudi Arabia, the situation is somewhat better, with the average annual income reaching $35,057, or nearly $96 a day. Despite this higher level compared to other Arab countries, one minute of Musk's income is equivalent to 1,614 days of work for a Saudi citizen, which is over four and a half years, according to the World Bank after reviewing the per capita GDP data for 2024.

The Picture in Europe

Even in advanced economies, the comparison remains stark. In France, where the average individual annual income is $46,150 ($126 a day), one minute of Musk's income equals 1,226 days of work, or about three and a half years.

In Italy, with an annual per capita income of around $40,226 ($110 a day), one minute of Musk's income is worth 1,406 days of work.

In Germany, the highest in our list with an annual per capita income of $55,800 ($153 a day), one minute of Musk's income equals 1,014 days of work, or nearly three years.

Other Rich Individuals on the List

The situation is not limited to Musk alone. According to Forbes, Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, has a net worth of around $216 billion, while Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, reaches $215 billion. Their income per minute is estimated between $57,000 and $59,000, equivalent to years of work for an average citizen, according to the Forbes Billionaires List 2025.

The Expanding Gap in Wealth Distribution

This is not just about striking numerical comparisons, but it reflects a deeper reality: the accelerating concentration of wealth in the hands of a tiny few versus the widening expanse of poverty globally. According to the World Bank (2024), over 700 million people live on less than $2.15 a day.

In contrast, billionaires like Musk, Zuckerberg, and Bezos accumulate astronomical fortunes in mere seconds— a scene that embodies the structural imbalance in the global economic system.

One Minute Reveals the Huge Gap

Just one minute is enough to reveal everything: billions of people living on a daily income that barely meets their basic needs, while a group of wealthy individuals earns in a minute what equates to decades of hard work for others.

This paradox raises a fundamental question for policymakers and economists: Where is the world heading with this accelerating imbalance in wealth distribution?