Tesla shares soared 15% on Wednesday, adding roughly $15 billion in paper value to Musk's net worth. The electric vehicle maker faces headwinds in the global market from China-based competitors, declining European sales and consumers' growing distaste for his political views.
But with Musk cozying up to Trump, and the president-elect promising to slash the types of regulations that Musk abhors, Wall Street is betting Tesla, on balance, will be a beneficiary.