If Elon Musk had a dollar for every bold prophecy he’s made, he’d likely have enough to establish a colony on Mars. Back in October 2022, on Tesla’s earnings call, Elon Musk made an audacious statement. He asserted,

“I see a potential path for Tesla to be worth more than Apple and Saudi Aramco combined.”

This declaration caused bewilderment and suspicion across the financial community, to which Wall Street pundits were left rubbing their eyes in wonder. Jump forward to 2025, and Tesla’s valuation has soared above $1 trillion. After all, Musk has never been one to play it safe and make modest assertions, be it colonizing Mars or transforming transport. Almost three years later, with Tesla shares demonstrating strength and revival, investors might be wondering whether Musk’s prophecy actually appears to be true.

Tesla’s Market Revival

As of May 2025, the market capitalization of Tesla is around $1.10 trillion, marking a sharp bounce back from its 2022 low, when it was around $700 billion. This return to the trillion-dollar club indicates not just market confidence but Tesla’s strategic advancements and brand strength in a troubled global economy.

Even though it has been facing increased EV competition, especially from BYD, which is currently leading global EV sales, Tesla has continued to be the best-known electric car brand. Nevertheless, intense competition and declining sales in key markets such as China and Europe have posed daunting challenges.

Tesla’s Vision to outdo Apple and Aramco by reaching $5 trillion

To make Musk’s forecast a reality, Tesla would have to surpass the combined worth of Apple and Saudi Aramco, two of the world’s most highly valued companies. As of mid-2025, Apple stands at about $3.10 trillion, and Saudi Aramco holds a valuation of about $2 trillion. That’s a collective market cap of approximately $5.1 trillion, which is over four times Tesla’s present worth. Needless to say, that’s a steep hill to ascend. Although the math isn’t yet on Tesla’s side, Musk’s forecast isn’t entirely unlikely when viewed in the perspective of Tesla’s long-term pipeline of innovations.

Future of Tesla Robotaxis

Tesla’s most highly awaited future product is arguably its fleet of autonomous taxis, a notion Musk has repeatedly hyped as one of the backbones of Tesla’s future. If these robotaxis become fully deployed, they may;

  • Disrupt the global rideshare market, which is worth hundreds of billions.
  • Create recurring revenue with reduced labor and operating expenses.
  • Create a scalable and highly lucrative business model.

There are still considerable challenges to overcome, including regulatory and competition from more developed players such as Waymo (owned by Alphabet).

Robotics and Optimus, a Source of High Revenue

Another of Musk’s creations, the humanoid robot Optimus, might unlock huge new revenue streams. Tasked with doing repetitive and physically demanding jobs, Optimus might transform industries such as Manufacturing, Logistics, Healthcare, Elderly care, along with Retail and warehousing. The international robotics market is expected to hit tens of billions over the next few years. If Tesla can commercialize Optimus successfully, it could open up a whole new vertical with the potential to shoot its valuation into the market.

Musk’s Track Record

Elon Musk’s record is filled with ambitious promises, most of which appeared impossible until they no longer did. SpaceX is now launching rockets at scale, Starlink is providing the world internet across continents, and Tesla has made electric cars seem cool, fast, and profitable. His grand predictions are more motivational fuel than precision timelines, but that doesn’t render them as irrelevant. As Musk has demonstrated time and again, what begins as science fiction is apt to become reality.

Musk’s Bold Vision

Tesla is far from surpassing Apple and Aramco together, but the company is still innovating at a speed unheard of in the conventional auto business. With autonomous driving, robotics, or energy products, Tesla is setting itself up for a future much beyond automobiles. If Musk intends to modify Tesla into a new class of tech-industrial titan, he’s halfway there already. The path to a $5 trillion+ valuation is riddled with risk, competition, and regulatory hurdles, but it is not impossible.

Elon Musk’s 2022 declaration wasn’t a forecast; it was a challenge. It challenged investors, rivals, and even regulators to rethink what Tesla might become. Though the company remains far behind Apple and Aramco in raw market cap, its ongoing development into AI, robotics, energy, and autonomous transportation means it’s not playing the same game, rather, it’s attempting to redefine the rules itself. It is not wise to underestimate Musk, as it has proven folly in the past.

For Tesla to outclass two of the most valuable and established companies in human history, it needs to not just reign over current industries but create new ones altogether. It’s a bold vision, but then again, boldness is Musk’s default mode. It’s currently one of the bravest money predictions ever uttered, and in typical Musk style, crazy enough to become true someday.