Elon Musk’s September 2025 purchase of Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) shares has generated a substantial paper gain as the stock rallied into year-end.

Musk entered the position on September 12, 2025, buying Tesla shares at an average price of about $395.94. The transaction totaled roughly $1 billion, marking one of his largest open-market purchases of Tesla stock in recent years and a rare instance of the chief executive adding to his stake with personal capital.

As of December 28, 2025, Tesla shares were trading near $475.19, placing Musk’s position up about 20% from the entry level. Based on the disclosed investment size, the stake is now valued at approximately $1.2 billion, translating to an unrealized profit of around $200 million over a holding period of 106 days.

After initial strength in September and October, shares dipped sharply in November amid broader market swings and company-specific concerns, before rebounding strongly into December.

The recovery pushed Tesla to some of its highest levels of the year, lifting returns on Musk’s position well above interim lows.

Tesla stock 2025 run

Overall, TSLA shares had a roller-coaster run in 2025. Shares initially slumped as Musk shifted attention toward government work and Tesla faced weakening global sales.

Sentiment began to turn in April when Musk announced he would step back from his Washington role, easing concerns about leadership focus and triggering a sharp rally.

Momentum strengthened in May after the US and China reached an initial tariff truce, improving the outlook for Tesla’s supply chain and international demand. 

At the same time, investor confidence was further reinforced after Tesla’s board moved to secure Musk’s long-term leadership through a proposed mega compensation package of $1 trillion, followed days later by Musk’s own $1 billion stock purchase, a clear signal of conviction in the company’s valuation and prospects.

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