Elon Musk is losing a huge chunk of his fortune and facing fresh scrutiny over his government ties, which is bad news for him but could matter for taxpayers.

• Musk's net worth dropped about $48 billion in a single stretch, roughly 5% of his wealth, though he's still worth hundreds of billions.
• SpaceX stock is down around 10% over the past month, and more declines could follow if investigations into his government contracts ramp up after the midterms.
• Critics say Musk gets huge returns on political donations through government contracts, which raises questions about bribery laws for federal contractors.
• Separately, a now-banned social media post detailing his complicated co-parenting arrangements with multiple women and 14+ kids went viral, and Musk pushed back but didn't deny the broader picture.
• A defamation lawsuit tied to Trump and the Wall Street Journal over an Epstein-related letter was also dismissed, adding to a pattern of legal setbacks for Musk's circle.

Outlook: Expect more pressure on Musk's companies and government deals as investigations and scrutiny increase after the midterms.