What is it?

Elon Musk is a businessman and public official known for his leadership of several high-profile technology companies, including Tesla, SpaceX, X (formerly Twitter), and xAI. Born in South Africa in 1971, Musk emigrated to Canada and later the United States, where he became a citizen. He is one of the wealthiest people in the world, with a net worth estimated at $788 billion as of May 2026.

Musk co-founded the software company Zip2 in 1995, which was sold in 1999. He then co-founded X.com, an online payment company that later became PayPal, which was acquired by eBay in 2002. That same year, he founded SpaceX, a space technology company that has pioneered reusable rockets and commercial spaceflight. In 2004, he joined Tesla as an early investor and became its CEO in 2008, leading the company to become a leader in electric vehicles.

In 2015, Musk co-founded OpenAI, an artificial intelligence research organization, but later left due to disagreements. In 2022, he acquired Twitter for $44 billion and rebranded it as X in 2023. He also founded Neuralink in 2016, a neurotechnology company, and the Boring Company in 2017, which focuses on tunneling. In 2025, Tesla approved a $1 trillion pay package for Musk, contingent on meeting specific goals.

Musk has been a supporter of global far-right politics and was the largest donor in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, supporting Donald Trump. After Trump's inauguration in January 2025, Musk served as Senior Advisor to the President and de facto head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). He left the administration in May 2025 after a public feud with Trump.

Musk's political activities and statements have made him a polarizing figure. He has been criticized for spreading misinformation, promoting conspiracy theories, and making antisemitic, racist, and transphobic comments. His acquisition of Twitter led to increased hate speech and misinformation on the platform. His role in the Trump administration also attracted backlash, particularly regarding DOGE.

Key Facts

Elon Musk was born on June 28, 1971, in Pretoria, South Africa.
He holds South African, Canadian, and American citizenship.
Musk taught himself computer programming at age 10 and sold his first video game, Blastar, at age 12.
He earned bachelor's degrees in physics and economics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1997.
Musk co-founded Zip2 in 1995, which was sold for $307 million in 1999.
He co-founded X.com in 1999, which became PayPal and was acquired by eBay for $1.5 billion in 2002.
Musk founded SpaceX in 2002 and became its CEO and chief engineer.
He joined Tesla in 2004 and became CEO in 2008, leading the company's electric vehicle revolution.
Musk co-founded OpenAI in 2015 but left in 2018; he later founded xAI in 2023.
He acquired Twitter in 2022 for $44 billion and rebranded it as X in 2023.
Musk served as Senior Advisor to President Donald Trump in 2025 and led the Department of Government Efficiency.
As of May 2026, Forbes estimates Musk's net worth at $788 billion.

Full Explanation

Early Career and PayPal

After dropping out of Stanford University in 1995, Musk co-founded Zip2 with his brother Kimbal. Zip2 provided online city guide software for newspapers. In 1999, Compaq acquired Zip2 for $307 million, netting Musk $22 million. He then co-founded X.com, an online payment company. X.com merged with Confinity in 2000 to form PayPal, which focused on money transfers. eBay acquired PayPal in 2002 for $1.5 billion, and Musk received $165 million from the sale.

SpaceX and Tesla

In 2002, Musk founded SpaceX with the goal of reducing space transportation costs and enabling Mars colonization. SpaceX developed the Falcon 1, Falcon 9, and Falcon Heavy rockets, as well as the Dragon spacecraft. The company achieved the first privately funded liquid-fueled rocket to reach orbit in 2008 and the first private company to send a spacecraft to the International Space Station in 2012. SpaceX also pioneered reusable rocket technology, landing and reusing first-stage boosters.

Musk joined Tesla in 2004 as an early investor and became chairman. After the financial crisis of 2008, he became CEO and led the company to produce the Roadster, Model S, Model X, Model 3, and Cybertruck. Tesla became the world's most valuable automaker and a leader in electric vehicles and battery technology.

Other Ventures and Controversies

Musk co-founded Neuralink in 2016 to develop brain-computer interfaces, and the Boring Company in 2017 to build tunnels for transportation. In 2022, he acquired Twitter, implementing significant changes including mass layoffs, rebranding to X, and altering content moderation policies. This led to increased hate speech and misinformation, causing advertiser exodus and user backlash.

Musk's political involvement grew in the 2020s. He supported far-right figures and parties globally, and donated heavily to Donald Trump's 2024 campaign. After Trump's victory, Musk served as Senior Advisor and head of DOGE, a department aimed at reducing government waste. His tenure was marked by controversy, including conflicts with other officials and public backlash over DOGE's actions. He left the administration in May 2025.

History

Elon Musk was born into a wealthy family in Pretoria, South Africa. His father, Errol Musk, was an engineer and property developer, and his mother, Maye Musk, was a model and dietitian. After his parents divorced, Musk lived with his father, a decision he later regretted. He attended several schools, where he was bullied, and taught himself programming at age 10. He sold his first game, Blastar, at age 12.

To avoid South Africa's mandatory military service, Musk emigrated to Canada in 1989 using his mother's Canadian citizenship. He attended Queen's University in Ontario before transferring to the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned degrees in physics and economics. After graduation, he moved to California to pursue business ventures.

Musk co-founded Zip2 in 1995, which was sold in 1999. He then co-founded X.com, which became PayPal. After eBay acquired PayPal in 2002, Musk founded SpaceX. In 2004, he joined Tesla, becoming CEO in 2008. Under his leadership, Tesla revolutionized the electric vehicle industry. Musk also founded Neuralink in 2016 and the Boring Company in 2017.

In 2022, Musk acquired Twitter for $44 billion, taking it private. He rebranded it as X in 2023 and implemented significant changes, including a subscription model and reduced content moderation. His political involvement escalated in the 2020s, culminating in his role in the Trump administration in 2025. After leaving the administration, he returned to managing his companies.

Why it matters

Elon Musk has had a profound impact on multiple industries, including electric vehicles, space exploration, and social media. His companies have pushed technological boundaries, such as SpaceX's reusable rockets and Tesla's electric cars, which have accelerated the transition to sustainable energy. His acquisition of Twitter and rebranding to X has reshaped online discourse, raising questions about free speech and content moderation.

Musk's political influence, particularly his support for far-right causes and his role in the Trump administration, has made him a central figure in global politics. His actions have sparked debates about the power of billionaires in democracy and the ethics of government efficiency initiatives. His controversial statements and policies have also contributed to polarization.

Understanding Musk is essential for grasping the intersection of technology, business, and politics in the 21st century. His ventures continue to shape the future of transportation, communication, and space exploration, while his political activities influence policy and public opinion. Musk remains a figure of both admiration and criticism, reflecting broader societal tensions.