Donald Trump's return to the White House might also prove to be a win for one of his most visible supporters: Elon Musk.

The world's richest man spent election night in Florida with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort as returns came in. "The people of America gave @realDonaldTrump a crystal clear mandate for change tonight," Mr Musk wrote on the social media platform X as Trump's victory began to appear all but certain.

And at his victory speech at the Palm Beach Convention Center, Trump spent several minutes praising Mr Musk and recounting the successful landing of a rocket manufactured by one of Mr Musk's companies, SpaceX.

Mr Musk threw his support behind the Republican almost immediately after the assassination attempt on Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania in July.