Elon Musk

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Elon Reeve MuskTemplate:Efn (born June 28, 1971) is a businessman and entrepreneur known for his leadership of Tesla, SpaceX, Twitter, and xAI. Musk has been the wealthiest person in the world since 2021; Template:As of Forbes estimates his net worth to be around $500 billion.

Born into a wealthy family in Pretoria, South Africa, Musk emigrated in 1989 to Canada; his Canadian citizenship is congenital, his mother having been born there. He received bachelor's degrees in 1997 from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, United States, before moving to California to pursue business ventures. In 1995, Musk co-founded the software company Zip2. Following its sale in 1999, he co-founded X.com, an online payment company that later merged to form PayPal, which was acquired by eBay in 2002. That year, Musk also became an American citizen.

In 2002, Musk founded the space technology company SpaceX, becoming its CEO and chief engineer; the company has since led innovations in reusable rockets and commercial spaceflight. Musk joined the automaker Tesla as an early investor in 2004 and became its CEO and product architect in 2008; it has since become a leader in electric vehicles. In 2015, he co-founded OpenAI to advance artificial intelligence (AI) research, but later left; growing discontent with the organization's direction and their leadership in the AI boom in the 2020s led him to establish xAI. In 2022, he acquired the social network Twitter, implementing significant changes, and rebranding it as X in 2023. His other businesses include the neurotechnology company Neuralink, which he co-founded in 2016, and the tunneling company the Boring Company, which he founded in 2017. In November 2025, a Tesla pay package worth $1 trillion for Musk was approved, which he is to receive over 10 years if he meets specific goals.

Musk is a supporter of global far-right figures, causes, and political parties. He was the largest donor in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, where he supported Donald Trump. After Trump was inaugurated as president in early 2025, Musk served as Senior Advisor to the President and as the de facto head of DOGE. After a public feud with Trump, Musk left the Trump administration and returned to managing his companies.

Musk's political activities, views, and statements have made him a polarizing figure. Musk has been criticized for COVID-19 misinformation, promoting conspiracy theories, and affirming antisemitic, racist, and transphobic comments. His acquisition of Twitter was controversial due to a subsequent increase in hate speech and the spread of misinformation on the service. His role in the second Trump administration attracted considerable public backlash, particularly in response to DOGE.

Early life

Template:See also Elon Reeve Musk was born on June 28, 1971, in Pretoria, South Africa's administrative capital.<ref name="Eligon-2022" /><ref>Vance (2017), pp. 25, 31.</ref> He is of British and Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry.<ref name="sjmn20140411">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His mother, Maye (Template:Nee), is a model and dietitian born in Saskatchewan, Canada, and raised in South Africa.<ref name="Biog">Template:Triangulation, discussion of his family starts around the 15th minute</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Usborne-2018">Template:Cite news</ref> Musk therefore holds both South African and Canadian citizenship from birth.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His father, Errol Musk, is a South African electromechanical engineer, pilot, sailor, consultant, emerald dealer, and property developer, who partly owned a rental lodge at Timbavati Private Nature Reserve.<ref name="Isaacson">Isaacson (2023), p. 23.</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="NewYorker2009">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="Smith">Template:Cite news</ref>

His maternal grandfather, Joshua N. Haldeman, who died in a plane crash when Elon was a toddler, was an American-born Canadian chiropractor, aviator and political activist in the Technocracy movement<ref>Vance (2017), pp. 26–30.</ref><ref name=":8">Isaacson (2023), p. 16.</ref> who moved to South Africa in 1950.<ref name="McGreal">Template:Cite web</ref>

Elon has a younger brother, Kimbal, a younger sister, Tosca, and four paternal half-siblings.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Usborne-2018" /><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Musk was baptized as a child in the Anglican Church of Southern Africa.<ref name="Higgins2024">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Rees2024">Template:Cite news</ref> Despite both Elon and Errol previously stating that Errol was a part owner of a Zambian emerald mine,<ref name="Smith" /> in 2023, Errol recounted that the deal he made was to receive "a portion of the emeralds produced at three small mines".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Errol was elected to the Pretoria City Council as a representative of the anti-apartheid Progressive Party and has said that his children shared their father's dislike of apartheid.<ref name="Eligon-2022">Template:Cite news</ref>

After his parents divorced in 1979, Elon, aged around 9, chose to live with his father because Errol Musk had an Encyclopædia Britannica and a computer.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="sjmn20140411" /><ref name="Isaacson" /> Elon later regretted his decision and became estranged from his father.<ref name="rollingstone20171115">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Elon has recounted trips to a wilderness school that he described as a "paramilitary Lord of the Flies" where "bullying was a virtue" and children were encouraged to fight over rations.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In one incident, after an altercation with a fellow pupil, Elon was thrown down concrete steps and beaten severely, leading to him being hospitalized for his injuries.<ref name="Isaacson23">Isaacson (2023), pp. 2–3.</ref> Elon described his father berating him after he was discharged from the hospital.<ref name="Isaacson23" /> Errol denied berating Elon and claimed, "The [other] boy had just lost his father to suicide, and Elon had called him stupid. Elon had a tendency to call people stupid. How could I possibly blame that child?"<ref name="Bhaimiya">Template:Cite news</ref>

Elon was an enthusiastic reader of books, and had attributed his success in part to having read The Lord of the Rings, the Foundation series, and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.<ref name="NewYorker2009" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> At age ten, he developed an interest in computing and video games, teaching himself how to program from the VIC-20 user manual.<ref name="Vance">Vance (2017), p. 38.</ref> At age twelve, Elon sold his BASIC-based game Blastar to PC and Office Technology magazine for approximately $500 (Template:Inflation).<ref name="play">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Belfiore (2007), pp. 166–195.</ref>

Education

An ornate school building

Musk graduated from Pretoria Boys High School in South Africa.

Musk attended Waterkloof House Preparatory School, Bryanston High School, and then Pretoria Boys High School, where he graduated.<ref name="slate20191204">Template:Cite news</ref> Musk was a decent but unexceptional student, earning a 61/100 in Afrikaans and a B on his senior math certification.<ref>Isaacson (2023), p. 26.</ref> Musk applied for a Canadian passport through his Canadian-born mother to avoid South Africa's mandatory military service,<ref name="arrived" /><ref>Vance (2017), p. 44. Musk's opportunity to flee arrived with a change in the law that allowed Maye to pass her Canadian citizenship to her children.</ref> which would have forced him to participate in the apartheid regime,<ref name="Eligon-2022" /> as well as to ease his path to immigration to the United States.<ref name="Esquire">Template:Cite news</ref> While waiting for his application to be processed, he attended the University of Pretoria for five months.<ref>Vance (2017), pp. 43–44. What rarely gets mentioned is that Musk attended the University of Pretoria for five months before heading off on his grand adventure. ... Musk characterized the time at university as just something to do while he awaited his Canadian documentation.</ref>

Musk arrived in Canada in June 1989, connected with a second cousin in Saskatchewan,<ref>Vance (2017), p. 45. After a 1,900-mile bus ride, he ended up in Swift Current, a town of fifteen thousand people. Musk called a second cousin out of the blue from the bus station and hitched a ride to his house.</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and worked odd jobs, including at a farm and a lumber mill.<ref>Vance (2017), p. 46. Musk spent the next year working a series of odd jobs around Canada. He tended vegetables and shoved out grain bins at a cousin's farm located in the tiny town of Waldeck. ... He inquired about the job with the best wage, which turned out to be a gig cleaning the boiler room of a lumber mill for eighteen dollars an hour.</ref> In 1990, he entered Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario.<ref>Vance (2017), pp. 46–47. Elon ended up enrolling at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, in 1989.</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Two years later, he transferred to the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied until 1995.<ref name=":6" /> Although Musk has said that he earned his degrees in 1995, the University of Pennsylvania did not award them until 1997 – a Bachelor of Arts in physics and a Bachelor of Science in economics from the university's Wharton School.<ref name="Vance368">Vance (2017), p. 368. Musk produced a document for me dated June 22, 2009, that came from Judith Haccou, the director of graduate admissions in the office of the registrar at Stanford University. It read, "As per special request from my colleagues in the School of Engineering, I have searched Stanford's admission data base and acknowledge that you applied and were admitted to the graduate program in Material Science Engineering in 1995. Since you did not enroll, Stanford is not able to issue you an official certification document." Musk also had an explanation for the weird timing on his degrees from Penn. "I had a History and an English credit that I agreed with Penn that I would do at Stanford," he said. "The I put Stanford on deferment. Later, Penn's requirements changed so that you don't need the English and History credit. So they awarded me the degree in '97 when it was clear I was not going to go to grad school, and their requirement was no longer there."</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="VanceA1">Vance (2017), Appendix 1. I called Penn's registrar and verified these findings. Copies of Musk's records show that he received a dual degree in economics and physics in May 1997. O'Reilly also subpoenaed the registrar's office at Stanford to verify Musk's admittance in 1995 for his doctorate work in physics. "Based on the information you provided, we are unable to locate a record in our office for Elon Musk," wrote the director of graduate admissions.</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He reportedly hosted large, ticketed house parties to help pay for tuition, and wrote a business plan for an electronic book-scanning service similar to Google Books.<ref name="ironman">Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1994, Musk held two internships in Silicon Valley: one at energy storage startup Pinnacle Research Institute, which investigated electrolytic supercapacitors for energy storage, and another at Palo Alto–based startup Rocket Science Games.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1995, he was accepted to a graduate program in materials science at Stanford University, but did not enroll.<ref name="VanceA1" /><ref name="Vance368" /><ref name="Sacchetti1026" /> Musk decided to join the Internet boom of the 1990s, applying for a job at Netscape, to which he reportedly never received a response.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="arrived">Template:Cite news</ref> The Washington Post reported that Musk lacked legal authorization to remain and work in the United States after failing to enroll at Stanford.<ref name="Sacchetti1026">Template:Cite news</ref> In response, Musk said he was allowed to work at that time and that his student visa transitioned to an H1-B. According to numerous former business associates and shareholders, Musk said he was on a student visa at the time.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Business career

Zip2

In 1995, Musk, his brother Kimbal, and Greg Kouri founded the web software company Zip2 with funding from a group of angel investors.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> They housed the venture at a small rented office in Palo Alto.<ref name="shower" /> Replying to Rolling Stone, Musk denounced the notion that they started their company with funds borrowed from Errol Musk,<ref name="rollingstone20171115" /> but in a tweet, he recognized that his father contributed 10% of a later funding round.<ref name="twitterzip2">Template:Cite tweet</ref> The company developed and marketed an Internet city guide for the newspaper publishing industry, with maps, directions, and yellow pages.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

According to Musk, "The website was up during the day and I was coding it at night, seven days a week, all the time."<ref name="shower" /> The Musk brothers obtained contracts with The New York Times and the Chicago Tribune,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and persuaded the board of directors to abandon plans for a merger with CitySearch.<ref>Kidder (2013), pp. 224–228.</ref> Musk's attempts to become CEO were thwarted by the board.<ref>Vance (2017), p. 67.</ref> Compaq acquired Zip2 for $307 million in cash in February 1999 (Template:Inflation),<ref>Vance (2017), p. 14.</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and Musk received $22 million (Template:Inflation) for his 7-percent share.<ref name="Vance109">Vance (2017), p. 109.</ref>

X.com and PayPal

In 1999, Musk co-founded X.com, an online financial services and e-mail payment company.<ref>Vance (2017), p. 78.</ref> The startup was one of the first federally insured online banks, and, in its initial months of operation, over 200,000 customers joined the service.<ref>Vance (2017), p. 84.</ref> The company's investors regarded Musk as inexperienced and replaced him with Intuit CEO Bill Harris by the end of the year.<ref name="vance86">Vance (2017), p. 86.</ref> The following year, X.com merged with online bank Confinity to avoid competition.<ref name="shower">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="vance86" /><ref>Jackson (2004), pp. 40, 69, 130, 163.</ref> Founded by Max Levchin and Peter Thiel,<ref>Vance (2017), p. 85.</ref> Confinity had its own money-transfer service, PayPal, which was more popular than X.com's service.<ref>Vance (2017), pp. 85–86.</ref>

Within the merged company, Musk returned as CEO. Musk's preference for Microsoft software over Unix created a rift in the company and caused Thiel to resign.<ref>Vance (2017), pp. 86–87.</ref> Due to resulting technological issues and lack of a cohesive business model, the board ousted Musk and replaced him with Thiel in 2000.<ref>Vance (2017), pp. 87–88.</ref>Template:Efn Under Thiel, the company focused on the PayPal service and was renamed PayPal in 2001.<ref name="vance89" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2002, PayPal was acquired by eBay for $1.5 billion (Template:Inflation) in stock, of which Musk—the largest shareholder with 11.72% of shares—received $175.8 million (Template:Inflation).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Vance (2017), pp. 116.</ref> In 2017, Musk purchased the domain X.com from PayPal for an undisclosed amount, stating that it had sentimental value.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

SpaceX

File:SpaceX CEO Elon Musk visits N&NC and AFSPC (190416-F-ZZ999-006) (cropped).jpg

Musk explains Starship capabilities to leaders of North American Aerospace Defense Command, U.S. Northern Command, and Air Force Space Command in 2019.

In 2001, Musk became involved with the nonprofit Mars Society and discussed funding plans to place a growth-chamber for plants on Mars.<ref>Vance (2017), pp. 99, 102–103.</ref> Seeking a way to launch the greenhouse payloads into space, Musk made two unsuccessful trips to Moscow to purchase intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) from Russian companies NPO Lavochkin and Kosmotras. Musk instead decided to start a company to build affordable rockets.<ref name="Vance-2015">Template:Cite news</ref> With $100 million of his early fortune,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> (Template:Inflation) Musk founded SpaceX in May 2002 and became the company's CEO and Chief Engineer.<ref>Template:Citation</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

SpaceX attempted its first launch of the Falcon 1 rocket in 2006.Template:Sfnp Although the rocket failed to reach Earth orbit, it was awarded a Commercial Orbital Transportation Services program contract from NASA, then led by Mike Griffin.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> After two more failed attempts that nearly caused Musk to go bankrupt,Template:Sfnp SpaceX succeeded in launching the Falcon 1 into orbit in 2008.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Later that year, SpaceX received a $1.6 billion NASA contract (Template:Inflation) for Falcon 9-launched Dragon spacecraft flights to the International Space Station (ISS), replacing the Space Shuttle after its 2011 retirement.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2012, the Dragon vehicle docked with the ISS, a first for a commercial spacecraft.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Working towards its goal of reusable rockets, in 2015 SpaceX successfully landed the first stage of a Falcon 9 on a land platform.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Later landings were achieved on autonomous spaceport drone ships, an ocean-based recovery platform.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2018, SpaceX launched the Falcon Heavy; the inaugural mission carried Musk's personal Tesla Roadster as a dummy payload.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Since 2019,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> SpaceX has been developing Starship, a reusable, super heavy-lift launch vehicle intended to replace the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy.<ref name="Roulette-2022">Template:Cite news</ref> In 2020, SpaceX launched its first crewed flight, the Demo-2, becoming the first private company to place astronauts into orbit and dock a crewed spacecraft with the ISS.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2024, NASA awarded SpaceX an $843 million (Template:Inflation) contract to deorbit the ISS at the end of its lifespan.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Starlink

File:Starlink Mission (47926144123).jpg

50 Starlink satellites shortly before deployment to low Earth orbit, 2019

In 2015, SpaceX began development of the Starlink constellation of low Earth orbit satellites to provide satellite Internet access.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After the launch of prototype satellites in 2018, the first large constellation was deployed in May 2019.<ref name="NYT-20190601">Template:Cite news</ref> Template:As of, over 7,600 Starlink satellites are operational,<ref name="sn2674441">Template:Cite web</ref> comprising 65% of all operational Earth satellites.<ref name="d933">Template:Cite web</ref> The total cost of the decade-long project to design, build, and deploy the constellation was estimated by SpaceX in 2020 to be $10 billion (Template:Inflation).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>Template:Efn

During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Musk provided free Starlink service to Ukraine, permitting Internet access and communication at a yearly cost to SpaceX of $400 million (Template:Inflation).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="CNN 2022-10-13">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, Musk refused to block Russian state media on Starlink.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2023, Musk denied Ukraine's request to activate Starlink over Crimea to aid an attack against the Russian navy, citing fears of a nuclear response.<ref name="Copp 2023 b431">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Tesla

Musks stands, arms crossed and grinning, before a Tesla Model S

Musk next to a Tesla Model S, 2011

Tesla, Inc., originally Tesla Motors, was incorporated in July 2003 by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning. Both men played active roles in the company's early development prior to Musk's involvement.<ref name="timelinefacts">Template:Cite news</ref> Musk led the Series A round of investment in February 2004; he invested $6.35 million (Template:Inflation), became the majority shareholder, and joined Tesla's board of directors as chairman.<ref>Vance (2017), pp. 153–154.</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Musk took an active role within the company and oversaw Roadster product design, but was not deeply involved in day-to-day business operations.<ref>Vance (2017), p. 159.</ref> Following a series of escalating conflicts in 2007 and the 2008 financial crisis, Eberhard was ousted from the firm.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Page needed<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Musk assumed leadership of the company as CEO and product architect in 2008.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A 2009 lawsuit settlement with Eberhard designated Musk as a Tesla co-founder, along with Tarpenning and two others.<ref name="CNET">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="FastCompany">Template:Cite web</ref>

Tesla began delivery of the Roadster, an electric sports car, in 2008. With sales of about 2,500 vehicles, it was the first mass production all-electric car to use lithium-ion battery cells.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Under Musk, Tesla has since launched several well-selling electric vehicles, including the four-door sedan Model S (2012), the crossover Model X (2015), the mass-market sedan Model 3 (2017), the crossover Model Y (2020), and the pickup truck Cybertruck (2023).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Krisher 2023">Template:Cite news</ref>

In May 2020, Musk resigned as chairman of the board as part of the settlement of a lawsuit from the SEC over him tweeting that funding had been "secured" for potentially taking Tesla private.<ref name="Goldstein_27-9-18" /><ref name=":7" />

The company has also constructed multiple lithium-ion battery and electric vehicle factories, called Gigafactories.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Since its initial public offering in 2010,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Tesla stock has risen significantly; it became the most valuable carmaker in summer 2020,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and it entered the S&P 500 later that year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In October 2021, it reached a market capitalization of $1 trillion (Template:Inflation), the sixth company in U.S. history to do so.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

SolarCity and Tesla Energy

Musk provided the initial concept and financial capital for SolarCity, which his cousins Lyndon and Peter Rive founded in 2006.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> By 2013, SolarCity was the second largest provider of solar power systems in the United States.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2014, Musk promoted the idea of SolarCity building an advanced production facility in Buffalo, New York, triple the size of the largest solar plant in the United States.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Construction of the factory started in 2014 and was completed in 2017. It operated as a joint venture with Panasonic until early 2020.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Tesla acquired SolarCity for $2 billion in 2016 (Template:Inflation) and merged it with its battery unit to create Tesla Energy. The deal's announcement resulted in a more than 10% drop in Tesla's stock price; at the time, SolarCity was facing liquidity issues.<ref name=":5" /> Multiple shareholder groups filed a lawsuit against Musk and Tesla's directors, stating that the purchase of SolarCity was done solely to benefit Musk and came at the expense of Tesla and its shareholders.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Tesla directors settled the lawsuit in January 2020, leaving Musk the sole remaining defendant.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Two years later, the court ruled in Musk's favor.<ref name=":5">Template:Cite news</ref>

Neuralink

Musk standing next to bulky medical equipment on a stage

Musk discussing a Neuralink device during a live demonstration in 2020

In 2016, Musk co-founded Neuralink, a neurotechnology startup, with an investment of $100 million.<ref name="sew">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="neuraverge" /> Neuralink aims to integrate the human brain with artificial intelligence (AI) by creating devices that are embedded in the brain. Such technology could enhance memory or allow the devices to communicate with software.<ref name="neuraverge">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The company also hopes to develop devices to treat neurological conditions like spinal cord injuries.<ref name="pig">Template:Cite news</ref> In 2022, Neuralink announced that clinical trials would begin by the end of the year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In September 2023, the Food and Drug Administration approved Neuralink to initiate six-year human trials.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Neuralink has conducted animal testing on macaques at the University of California, Davis. In 2021, the company released a video in which a macaque played the video game Pong via a Neuralink implant. The company's animal trials—which have caused the deaths of some monkeys—have led to claims of animal cruelty. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine has alleged that Neuralink violated the Animal Welfare Act.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Employees have complained that pressure from Musk to accelerate development has led to botched experiments and unnecessary animal deaths. In 2022, a federal probe was launched into possible animal welfare violations by Neuralink.<ref name="botched monkeys">Template:Cite news</ref>Template:Update inline

The Boring Company

Musk speaks to a crowd of journalists. Behind him is a lighted tunnel.

Musk during the 2018 inauguration of the Boring test tunnel in Hawthorne, California

In 2017, Musk founded the Boring Company to construct tunnels; he also revealed plans for specialized, underground, high-occupancy vehicles that could travel up to Template:Convert and thus circumvent above-ground traffic in major cities.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="cnndogecoin">Template:Cite news</ref> Early in 2017, the company began discussions with regulatory bodies and initiated construction of a Template:Convert wide, Template:Convert long, and Template:Convert deep "test trench" on the premises of SpaceX's offices, as that required no permits.<ref name="boring">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

The Los Angeles tunnel, less than Template:Convert in length, debuted to journalists in 2018. It used Tesla Model Xs and was reported to be a rough ride while traveling at suboptimal speeds.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Two tunnel projects announced in 2018, in Chicago and West Los Angeles, have been canceled.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A tunnel beneath the Las Vegas Convention Center was completed in early 2021.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Local officials have approved further expansions of the tunnel system.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

X Corp.

Template:Tweet In early 2017, Musk expressed interest in buying Twitter and had questioned the platform's commitment to freedom of speech.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> By 2022, Musk had reached 9.2% stake in the company,<ref name="elder">Template:Cite news</ref> making him the largest shareholder.<ref name="Bloomberg4.14.22">Template:Cite news</ref>Template:Efn Musk later agreed to a deal that would appoint him to Twitter's board of directors and prohibit him from acquiring more than 14.9% of the company.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Days later, Musk made a $43 billion offer to buy Twitter.<ref name="Bloomberg4.14.22" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> By the end of April Musk had successfully concluded his bid for approximately $44 billion.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> This included approximately $12.5 billion in loans and $21 billion in equity financing.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Having backtracked on his initial decision,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Musk bought the company on October 27, 2022.<ref name="deal closed">Template:Cite news</ref>

Immediately after the acquisition, Musk fired several top Twitter executives including CEO Parag Agrawal;<ref name="deal closed" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Musk became the CEO instead.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Under Elon Musk, Twitter instituted monthly subscriptions for a "blue check",<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Binoy-2022">Template:Cite news</ref> and laid off a significant portion of the company's staff.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Musk lessened content moderation and hate speech also increased on the platform after his takeover.<ref name="Knight-2022">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="independent2023">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Wapo">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In late 2022, Musk released internal documents relating to Twitter's moderation of Hunter Biden's laptop controversy in the lead-up to the 2020 presidential election.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Musk also promised to step down as CEO after a Twitter poll,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and five months later, Musk stepped down as CEO and transitioned his role to executive chairman and chief technology officer (CTO).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Despite Musk stepping down as CEO, X continues to struggle with challenges such as viral misinformation,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> hate speech, and antisemitism controversies.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Musk has been accused of trying to silence some of his critics such as Twitch streamer Asmongold, who criticized him during one of his streams.<ref name="free-speech">Template:Multiref2</ref> Musk has been accused of removing their accounts' blue checkmarks, which hinders visibility and is considered a form of shadow banning,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> or suspending their accounts without justification.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Other activities

Hyperloop

A long white tube about 10 feet in diameter

A tube part of the 2017 Hyperloop pod competition, sponsored by SpaceX

In August 2013, Musk announced plans for a version of a vactrain, and assigned engineers from SpaceX and Tesla to design a transport system between Greater Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area, at an estimated cost of $6 billion.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Later that year, Musk unveiled the concept, dubbed the Hyperloop,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> intended to make travel cheaper than any other mode of transport for such long distances.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

OpenAI and xAI

In December 2015, Musk co-founded OpenAI, a not-for-profit artificial intelligence (AI) research company aiming to develop artificial general intelligence, intended to be safe and beneficial to humanity.<ref name="NYT_AI">Template:Cite news</ref> Musk pledged $1 billion of funding to the company,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and initially gave $50 million.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2018, Musk left the OpenAI board.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Since 2018, OpenAI has made significant advances in machine learning.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In July 2023, Musk launched the artificial intelligence company xAI, which aims to develop a generative AI program that competes with existing offerings like OpenAI's ChatGPT. Musk obtained funding from investors in SpaceX and Tesla,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> and xAI hired engineers from Google and OpenAI.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Private jet

Musk uses a private jet owned by Falcon Landing LLC, a SpaceX-linked company, and acquired a second jet in August 2020.<ref name="flight">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His heavy use of the jets and the consequent fossil fuel usage have received criticism.<ref name="flight" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Musk's flight usage is tracked on social media through ElonJet.<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref><ref name="WP">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Sky">Template:Cite news</ref> In December 2022, Musk banned the ElonJet account on Twitter, and made temporary bans on the accounts of journalists that posted stories regarding the incident, including Donie O'Sullivan, Keith Olbermann, and journalists from The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, and The Intercept.<ref name="Taylor-2022">Template:Cite news</ref>

Politics

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Musk with then-president-elect Donald Trump in November 2024

Musk is an outlier among business leaders who typically avoid partisan political advocacy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Musk was a registered independent voter when he lived in California.<ref name="NBCNewsMail">Template:Cite news</ref> Historically, he has donated to both Democrats and Republicans,<ref name="huffingtonpost.com">Template:Cite news</ref> many of whom serve in states in which he has a vested interest.<ref name="Peters-2022">Template:Cite news</ref> Since 2022, his political contributions have mostly supported Republicans, with his first vote for a Republican going to Mayra Flores in the 2022 Texas's 34th congressional district special election.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2024, he started supporting international far-right political parties, activists, and causes,<ref name="Far-right=2025">Template:Multiref2</ref> and has shared misinformation<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and numerous conspiracy theories.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Since 2024, his views have been generally described as right-wing.<ref>Template:Multiref2</ref>

Musk supported Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012,<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref> Hillary Clinton in 2016, Joe Biden in 2020,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and Donald Trump in 2024.<ref name=":1">Template:Multiref2</ref> In the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries, Musk endorsed candidate Andrew Yang and expressed support for Yang's proposed universal basic income,<ref name="bloomberg.com">Template:Cite news</ref> and endorsed Kanye West's 2020 presidential campaign.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 2021, Musk publicly expressed opposition to the Build Back Better Act, a $3.5 trillion legislative package endorsed by Joe Biden that ultimately failed to pass due to unanimous opposition from congressional Republicans and several Democrats.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2022, Musk said he would start supporting Republican Party candidates,<ref name=":2">Template:Multiref2</ref> and gave over $50 million to Citizens for Sanity, a conservative political action committee.<ref name="mattioli">Template:Cite news</ref> In 2023, he supported Republican Ron DeSantis for the 2024 U.S. presidential election, giving $10 million to his campaign,<ref name="mattioli" /> and hosted DeSantis's campaign announcement on a Twitter Spaces event.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="WaPoDesantis">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> From June 2023 to January 2024, Musk hosted a bipartisan set of X Spaces with Republican and Democratic candidates, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr.,<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> Vivek Ramaswamy,<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> and Dean Phillips.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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Musk at a 2024 gathering with Trump and other political leaders

By early 2024, Musk had become a vocal and financial supporter of Donald Trump.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In July 2024, minutes after the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, Musk endorsed him for president saying; "I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="fucked">Template:Cite news</ref> During the presidential campaign, Musk joined Trump on stage at a campaign rally,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and during the campaign promoted conspiracy theories and falsehoods about Democrats, election fraud<ref name="Meyer 11012024">Template:Cite news</ref> and immigration, in support of Trump.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Musk was the largest individual donor of the 2024 election.<ref name="Thadani 12062024">Template:Cite news</ref> In 2025, Musk contributed $19 million to the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, hoping to influence the state's future redistricting efforts and its regulations governing car manufacturers and dealers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2023, Musk said he shunned the World Economic Forum because it was boring. The organization commented that they had not invited him since 2015.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He has participated in Dialog, dubbed "Tech Bilderberg" and organized by Peter Thiel and Auren Hoffman, though.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Musk's international political actions and comments have come under increasing scrutiny and criticism, especially from the governments and leaders of France, Germany, Norway, Spain and the United Kingdom, particularly due to his position in the U.S. government as well as ownership of X.<ref name="Times">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="European">Template:Multiref2</ref><ref name="AfD">Template:Multiref2</ref> An NBC News analysis found he had boosted far-right political movements to cut immigration and curtail regulation of business in at least 18 countries on six continents since 2023.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In October 2025, former vice-president Kamala Harris commented that it was a mistake from the Democratic site to not invite Musk to a White House electric vehicle event organized in August 2021 and featuring executives from General Motors, Ford and Stellantis, despite Tesla being "the major American manufacturer of extraordinary innovation in this space." Fortune remarked that this was a nod to United Auto Workers and organized labor. Harris said presidents should put aside political loyalties when it came to recognizing innovation, and guessed that the non-invitation impacted Musk's perspective. Fortune noted that, at the time, Musk did appear upset, criticizing Biden's administration as "not the friendliest administration."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Salute at Trump's second inauguration

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Musk giving a gesture at the second inauguration of Donald Trump before saying "My heart goes out to you. It is thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured."<ref name="cpdxzjw9p47o">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="nx-s1-5269719">Template:Cite news</ref>

During his speech after the second inauguration of Donald Trump, Musk twice made a gesture interpreted by many as a Nazi or a fascist Roman salute.Template:Efn He thumped his right hand over his heart, fingers spread wide, and then extended his right arm out, emphatically, at an upward angle, palm down and fingers together. He then repeated the gesture to the crowd behind him. As he finished the gestures, he said to the crowd, "My heart goes out to you. It is thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured."<ref name="cpdxzjw9p47o" /><ref name="nx-s1-5269719" />

It was widely condemned as an intentional Nazi salute in Germany,<ref name="Bennhold-2025">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Multiple references:

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• Template:Cite web</ref> where making such gestures is illegal.<ref name="rbb24.de">Template:Cite web</ref> The Anti-Defamation League said it was not a Nazi salute,<ref name=":12">Template:Cite web</ref> but other Jewish organizations disagreed and condemned the salute.<ref name=":82">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":9">Template:Cite web</ref> American public opinion was divided on partisan lines as to whether it was a fascist salute.<ref name=":10">Template:Cite web</ref> Musk dismissed the accusations of Nazi sympathies, deriding them as "dirty tricks" and a "tired" attack.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Fortinsky-2025a">Template:Cite news</ref> Neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups celebrated it as a Nazi salute.<ref name="Condon-2025">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":12" /> Multiple European political parties demanded that Musk be banned from entering their countries.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Department of Government Efficiency

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Elon Musk wielding a chainsaw at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in 2025, imitating a publicity stunt used by Javier Milei symbolic of efficiency, federal mass layoffs and tax cutting

The concept of DOGE emerged in a discussion between Musk and Donald Trump, and in August 2024, Trump committed to giving Musk an advisory role, with Musk accepting the offer.<ref name="Shepardson">Template:Cite news</ref> In November and December 2024, Musk suggested that the organization could help to cut the U.S. federal budget, consolidate the number of federal agencies,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and eliminate the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and that its final stage would be "deleting itself".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In January 2025, the organization was created by executive order, and Musk was designated a "special government employee".<ref name="MD2">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Ngo 1212025">Template:Cite news</ref> Musk is leading the organization and is a senior advisor to the president,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> although his official role is not clear.<ref name="Wolf2">Template:Cite news</ref> In sworn statement during a lawsuit, the director of the White House Office of Administration stated that Musk "is not an employee of the U.S. DOGE Service or U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization", "is not the U.S. DOGE Service administrator", and has "no actual or formal authority to make government decisions himself".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Trump said two days later that he had put Musk in charge of DOGE.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A federal judge has ruled that Musk acts as the de facto leader of DOGE.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

File:President Trump Participates in a Press Conference with Elon Musk.webm

Elon Musk participating in a press conference with Donald Trump shortly before his departure from DOGE

Musk's role in the second Trump administration, particularly in response to DOGE, has attracted public backlash. He was criticized for his treatment of federal government employees,<ref name="nyt-young-aides-25">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="nyt-swan-musk-feb-25">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="wp-zs-25">Template:Cite news</ref> including his influence over the mass layoffs of the federal workforce.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He has prioritized secrecy within the organization<ref name="The New York Times">Template:Cite news</ref> and has accused others of violating privacy laws.<ref name="MD2"/> A Senate report alleged that Musk could avoid up to $2 billion in legal liability as a result of DOGE's actions.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In May 2025, Bill Gates accused Musk of "killing the world's poorest children" through his cuts to USAID,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> which modeling by Boston University estimated had resulted in 300,000 deaths by this time, most of them of children.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> By November 2025, the estimated death toll had increased to 400,000 children and 200,000 adults.<ref name="usaid-shutdown">Template:Cite news</ref>

Musk announced on May 28, 2025, that he would depart from the Trump administration as planned when the special government employee's 130 day deadline expired,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> with a White House official confirming that Musk's offboarding from the Trump administration was already underway.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His departure was officially confirmed during a joint Oval Office press conference with Trump on May 30, 2025.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Feud with Donald Trump

Template:Tweet After leaving office, Musk criticized the Trump administration's Big Beautiful Bill, calling it a "disgusting abomination" due to its provisions increasing the deficit.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A feud began between Musk and Trump, with its most notable event being Musk alleging Trump had ties to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on X (formerly Twitter) on June 5, 2025.<ref name="Epstein1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Epstein2">Template:Cite web</ref> Trump responded on Truth Social stating that Musk went "CRAZY" after the "EV Mandate" was purportedly taken away and threatened to cut Musk's government contracts.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn Musk then called for a third Trump impeachment.Template:Sfn The next day, Trump stated that he did not wish to reconcile with Musk, and added that Musk would face "very serious consequences" if he funds Democratic candidates.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On June 11, Musk publicly apologized for the tweets against Trump, saying they "went too far."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Views

Template:Tweet Rejecting the conservative label,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Musk has described himself as a political moderate, even as his views have become more right-wing over time.<ref name="Right-wing">Template:Multiref2</ref> His views have been characterized as libertarian and far-right,<ref name="Libertarian">Template:Multiref2</ref><ref name="Far-right">Template:Multiref2</ref> and after his involvement in European politics, they have received criticism from world leaders such as Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz.<ref name="olaf">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Henley-2025">Template:Multiref2</ref>

Within the context of American politics, Musk supported Democratic candidates up until 2022, at which point he voted for a Republican for the first time.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" /> He has stated support for universal basic income,<ref name="uni2">Template:Cite news</ref> gun rights,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> freedom of speech,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> a tax on carbon emissions,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and H-1B visas.<ref name="CBS News-2024">Template:Cite news</ref> Musk has expressed concern about issues such as artificial intelligence (AI)<ref name="wp2015">Template:Cite news</ref> and climate change,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and has been a critic of wealth tax,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> short-selling,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and government subsidies.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> An immigrant himself, Musk has been accused of being anti-immigration, and regularly blames immigration policies for illegal immigration.<ref name="Fearmongering">Template:Cite news</ref> He is also a pronatalist who believes population decline is the biggest threat to civilization,<ref name="Pronatlist">Template:Multiref2</ref> and identifies as a cultural Christian.<ref name="O'Mahony2024">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Musk has long been an advocate for space colonization, especially the colonization of Mars. He has repeatedly pushed for humanity colonizing Mars, in order to become an interplanetary species and lower the risks of human extinction.<ref name="SpaceX">Template:Cite web</ref>

Musk has promoted conspiracy theories and made controversial statements that have led to accusations of racism, sexism, antisemitism,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Truth">Template:Multiref2</ref> transphobia,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> disseminating disinformation, and support of white pride.<ref name="Proud">Template:Multiref2</ref><ref name="Derbyshire-2025">Template:Cite news</ref> While describing himself as a "pro-Semite",<ref name="CNBC160523">Template:Cite news</ref> his comments regarding George Soros and Jewish communities have been condemned by the Anti-Defamation League and the Biden White House.<ref name="Condemned">Template:Multiref2</ref> Musk was criticized during the COVID-19 pandemic for making unfounded epidemiological claims,<ref name="kolodny-2020a">Template:Cite news</ref> defying COVID-19 lockdowns restrictions,<ref name=":3">Template:Cite news</ref> and supporting the Canada convoy protest against vaccine mandates.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He has amplified false claims of white genocide in South Africa.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

International relations

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Musk with Israeli president Isaac Herzog, November 2023

Musk has been critical of Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip during the Gaza war,<ref name="Robertson-20232">Template:Cite news</ref> praised China's economic and climate goals,<ref name="He-20212">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Choi-20192">Template:Cite news</ref> suggested that Taiwan and China should resolve cross-strait relations,<ref name="Liang-20222">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Khalaf-20222">Template:Cite news</ref> and was described as having a close relationship with the Chinese government.<ref name="He-20212" /><ref name="Choi-20192" />

In Europe, Musk expressed support for Ukraine in 2022 during the Russian invasion, recommended referendums and peace deals on the annexed Russia-occupied territories,<ref name="Oshin-20222">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Wilson-20222">Template:Cite news</ref> and supported the far-right Alternative for Germany in Germany in 2024.<ref name="Gold-20242">Template:Cite web</ref> Regarding British politics, Musk blamed the 2024 UK riots on mass migration and open borders,<ref name="Gregory-20242">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="BBC News-2024a2">Template:Cite web</ref> criticized Prime Minister Keir Starmer for what he described as a "two-tier" policing system,<ref name="The Independent-20242">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="The Daily Telegraph-20242">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="BBC News-2024a2" /> and was subsequently attacked as being responsible for spreading misinformation and amplifying the far-right.<ref name="BBC News2">Template:Cite news</ref> He has also voiced his support for far-right activist Tommy Robinson and pledged electoral support for Reform UK.<ref name="BBC News-20252">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Turvill-20242">Template:Cite web</ref>

Legal affairs

In 2018, Musk was sued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for a tweet stating that funding had been secured for potentially taking Tesla private.<ref name="Goldstein_27-9-18">Template:Cite news</ref>Template:Efn The securities fraud lawsuit characterized the tweet as false, misleading, and damaging to investors, and sought to bar Musk from serving as CEO of publicly traded companies.<ref name="Goldstein_27-9-18" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="OkaneLopatto18">Template:Cite news</ref> Two days later, Musk settled with the SEC, without admitting or denying the SEC's allegations. As a result, Musk and Tesla were fined $20 million each, and Musk was forced to step down for three years as Tesla chairman but was able to remain as CEO.<ref name=":7">Template:Cite news</ref> Shareholders filed a lawsuit over the tweet,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and in February 2023, a jury found Musk and Tesla not liable.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Musk has stated in interviews that he does not regret posting the tweet that triggered the SEC investigation.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2019, Musk stated in a tweet that Tesla would build half a million cars that year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The SEC reacted by asking a court to hold him in contempt for violating the terms of the 2018 settlement agreement. A joint agreement between Musk and the SEC eventually clarified the previous agreement details,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> including a list of topics about which Musk needed preclearance.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2020, a judge blocked a lawsuit that claimed a tweet by Musk regarding Tesla stock price ("too high imo") violated the agreement.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)-released records showed that the SEC concluded Musk had subsequently violated the agreement twice by tweeting regarding "Tesla's solar roof production volumes and its stock price".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In October 2023, the SEC sued Musk over his refusal to testify a third time in an investigation into whether he violated federal law by purchasing Twitter stock in 2022.<ref name="Brodkin-2023">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Regulator sues Musk to force testimony in X probe-2023">Template:Cite news</ref> In February 2024, Judge Laurel Beeler ruled that Musk must testify again.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In January 2025, the SEC filed a lawsuit against Musk for securities violations related to his purchase of Twitter.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In January 2024, Delaware judge Kathaleen McCormick ruled in a 2018 lawsuit that Musk's $55 billion pay package from Tesla be rescinded.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> McCormick called the compensation granted by the company's board "an unfathomable sum" that was unfair to shareholders.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Personal life

Musk became a U.S. citizen in 2002.<ref name=":6">Template:Cite news</ref> From the early 2000s until late 2020, Musk resided in California, where both Tesla and SpaceX were founded.<ref name="bloomberg20201208">Template:Cite news</ref> He then relocated to Cameron County, Texas,<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> saying that California had become "complacent" about its economic success.<ref name="bloomberg20201208" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

While hosting Saturday Night Live in 2021, Musk stated that he has Asperger syndrome (now merged with autism spectrum disorder).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Isaacson (2023), p. 18.</ref> When asked about his experience growing up with Asperger's syndrome in a TED2022 conference in Vancouver, Musk stated that "the social cues were not intuitive ... I would just tend to take things very literally ... but then that turned out to be wrong — [people were not] simply saying exactly what they mean, there's all sorts of other things that are meant, and [it] took me a while to figure that out."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Musk suffers from back pain and has undergone several spine-related surgeries, including a disc replacement.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2000, he contracted a severe case of malaria while on vacation in South Africa.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Musk has stated he uses doctor-prescribed ketamine for occasional depression and that he doses "a small amount once every other week or something like that";<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> since January 2024, some media outlets have reported that he takes ketamine, marijuana, LSD, ecstasy, mushrooms, cocaine and other drugs. Musk at first refused to comment on his alleged drug use, before responding that he had not tested positive for drugs, and that if drugs somehow improved his productivity, "I would definitely take them!".<ref>Multiple sources:

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• Money, Drugs, Elon Musk and Tesla's Board, The Wall Street Journal.
• Elon Musk Criticizes WSJ Reporting on His Use of Illegal Drugs Template:Webarchive, The Wall Street Journal.
• Elon Musk Used LSD, Cocaine; Gave Slurred Speech At SpaceX Event: Report Template:Webarchive, NDTV.
• Elon Musk uses LSD, cocaine, ecstasy, mushrooms: WSJ Template:Webarchive, Bloomberg Television.</ref> The New York Times' investigations revealed Musk's overuse of ketamine and numerous other drugs, as well as strained family relationships and concerns from close associates who have become troubled by his public behavior as he became more involved in political activities and government work.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> According to The Washington Post, President Trump described Musk as "a big-time drug addict".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Through his own label Emo G Records, Musk released a rap track, "RIP Harambe", on SoundCloud in March 2019.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="Fitzgerald">Template:Cite news</ref> The following year, he released an EDM track, "Don't Doubt Ur Vibe", featuring his own lyrics and vocals.<ref name="Etherington">Template:Cite news</ref>

Musk plays video games, which he stated has a "'restoring effect' that helps his 'mental calibration'".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Some games he plays include Quake, Diablo IV, Elden Ring, and Polytopia.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Musk once claimed to be one of the world's top video game players but has since admitted to "account boosting", or cheating by hiring outside services to achieve top player rankings.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name= "Gizmodo Paying" >Template:Cite web</ref> Musk has justified the boosting by claiming that all top accounts do it so he has to as well to remain competitive.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name= "Gizmodo Paying" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2024 and 2025, Musk criticized the video game Assassin's Creed Shadows and its creator Ubisoft for "woke" content.<ref name= "PC Gamer Ratio" >Template:Cite web</ref> Musk posted to X that "DEI kills art" and specified the inclusion of the historical figure Yasuke in the Assassin's Creed game as offensive; he also called the game "terrible". Ubisoft responded by saying that Musk's comments were "just feeding hatred" and that they were focused on producing a game not pushing politics.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Relationships and children

File:X Æ A-Xii, Elon Musk and Donald Trump in the Oval Office - P20250207DT-0103 (54320797642).jpg

Musk with his son, X Æ A-Xii, in the Oval Office, February 11, 2025

Musk has fathered at least 14 children, one of whom died as an infant.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The Wall Street Journal reported in 2025 that sources close to Musk suggest that the "true number of Musk's children is much higher than publicly known".<ref name="Mattioli 16APR2025">Template:Cite web</ref> He had six children with his first wife, Canadian author Justine Wilson, who he met while attending Queen's University in Ontario, Canada; they married in 2000.<ref name="Streisand-2015">Template:Cite news</ref> In 2002, their first child Nevada Musk died of sudden infant death syndrome at the age of 10 weeks.<ref name="sids">Vance (2017), p. 117.</ref> After his death, the couple used in vitro fertilization (IVF) to continue their family;<ref name="holywoodlife2021">Template:Cite news</ref> they had twins in 2004, followed by triplets in 2006.<ref name="holywoodlife2021" /> The couple divorced in 2008 and have shared custody of their children.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The elder twin he had with Wilson came out as a trans woman and, in 2022, officially changed her name to Vivian Jenna Wilson,<ref name="06-23-22">Template:Cite news</ref> adopting her mother's surname because she no longer wished to be associated with Musk.<ref name="06-23-22" />

Musk began dating English actress Talulah Riley in 2008.<ref>Vance (2017), pp. 193–195.</ref> They married two years later at Dornoch Cathedral in Scotland.<ref name="marriage">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2012, the couple divorced, then remarried the following year.<ref name="talulah" /> After briefly filing for divorce in 2014,<ref name="talulah">Template:Cite news</ref> Musk finalized a second divorce from Riley in 2016.<ref>Vance (2017), p. 372.</ref> Musk then dated the American actress Amber Heard for several months in 2017;<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> he had reportedly been "pursuing" her since 2012.<ref name="hollywood">Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2018, Musk and Canadian musician Grimes confirmed they were dating.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Grimes and Musk have three children, born in 2020, 2021, and 2022.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Musk and Grimes originally gave their eldest child the name "X Æ A-12", which would have violated California regulations as it contained characters that are not in the modern English alphabet;<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> the names registered on the birth certificate are "X" as a first name, "Æ A-Xii" as a middle name, and "Musk" as a last name.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="xaea-xii.cnet">Template:Cite news</ref> They received criticism for choosing a name perceived to be impractical and difficult to pronounce;<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Musk has said the intended pronunciation is "X Ash A Twelve".<ref name="xaea-xii.cnet" /> Their second child was born via surrogacy.<ref name="GrimesVanityFair2022">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Despite the pregnancy, Musk confirmed reports that the couple were "semi-separated" in September 2021; in an interview with Time in December 2021, he said he was single.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In October 2023, Grimes sued Musk over parental rights and custody of X Æ A-Xii.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Elon Musk has taken X Æ A-Xii to multiple official events in Washington, D.C. during Trump's second term in office.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Also in July 2022, The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk allegedly had an affair with Nicole Shanahan, the wife of Google co-founder Sergey Brin, in 2021, leading to their divorce the following year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Musk denied the report.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Musk also had a relationship with Australian actress Natasha Bassett, who has been described as "an occasional girlfriend".Template:Sfn In October 2024, The New York Times reported Musk bought a Texas compound for his children and their mothers,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> though Musk denied having done so.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Musk also has four children with Shivon Zilis, director of operations and special projects at Neuralink: twins born via IVF in 2021, a child born in 2024 via surrogacy and a child born in 2025.<ref name="Zilis">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="NYTTAU">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="WhoIs">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Musk allegedly had a child with author Ashley St. Clair in 2024.<ref name="Mattioli 16APR2025"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On February 14, 2025, Ashley St. Clair, an influencer and author, posted on X claiming to have given birth to Musk's son Romulus five months earlier, which media outlets reported as Musk's supposed thirteenth child.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On February 22, 2025, it was reported that St Clair had filed for sole custody of her five-month-old son and for Musk to be recognised as the child's father.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On March 31, 2025, Musk wrote that, while he was unsure if he was the father of St. Clair's child, he had paid St. Clair $2.5 million and would continue paying her $500,000 per year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Later reporting from the Wall Street Journal indicated that $1 million of these payments to St. Clair was structured as a loan.<ref name="Mattioli 16APR2025" />

Wealth

Musk Foundation

Musk is president of the Musk Foundation he founded in 2001,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="musklandia">Template:Cite news</ref> whose stated purpose is to provide solar-power energy systems in disaster areas, with an interest in human space exploration, pediatrics, renewable energy, and "safe artificial intelligence".<ref name="Harris-2019">Template:Cite news</ref> From 2002 to 2018, the foundation donated nearly half of its $25 million directly to Musk's OpenAI.<ref name="vox">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The foundation's assets reached $9.4 billion by the end of 2021, but it only dispensed $160 million to charities that year.<ref name=":4">Template:Cite news</ref>

The Musk Foundation has been criticized for its "self-serving"<ref name=":4" /> donations to efforts close to Musk's family and companies,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> as well as its low payout ratio.<ref name=":4" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2021, after Musk challenged World Food Programme director David Beasley to draft a plan to use money of Musk's that Beasley said could contribute to ending world hunger,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Musk instead donated the $6 billion in question to his own foundation even after Beasley's plan showed that the money could feed 42 million people for a year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":4" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Public image

Although his ventures have been highly influential within their separate industries starting in the 2000s, Musk only became a public figure in the early 2010s. He has been described as an eccentric who makes spontaneous and impactful decisions, while also often making controversial statements, contrary to other billionaires who prefer reclusiveness to protect their businesses. Musk's actions and his expressed views have made him a polarizing figure.<ref name="Trouble">Template:Cite web</ref> Biographer Ashlee Vance described people's opinions of Musk as polarized due to his "part philosopher, part troll" persona on Twitter.<ref name="celebrity">Template:Cite news</ref> He has drawn denouncement for using his platform to mock the self-selection of personal pronouns,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> while also receiving praise for bringing international attention to matters like British survivors of grooming gangs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Musk has been described as an American oligarch due to his extensive influence over public discourse, social media, industry, politics, and government policy.<ref>Template:Multiref2</ref> After Trump's re-election, Musk's influence and actions during the transition period and the second presidency of Donald Trump led some to call him "President Musk", the "actual president-elect", "shadow president" or "co-president".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Accolades

Musk wearing a medal

Musk receiving the Order of Defence Merit from the Brazilian Armed Forces in 2022<ref name="Costa2022">Template:Cite news</ref>

Awards for his contributions to the development of the Falcon rockets include the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics George Low Transportation Award in 2008,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the Template:Lang Gold Space Medal in 2010,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the Royal Aeronautical Society Gold Medal in 2012.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2015, he received an honorary doctorate in engineering and technology from Yale University<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Honorary Membership.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Musk was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 2018.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>Template:Efn In 2022, Musk was elected to the National Academy of Engineering.<ref name="lat20141214">Template:Cite web</ref>

Time has listed Musk as one of the most influential people in the world in 2010,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> 2013,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> 2018,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> and 2021.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Musk was selected as TimeTemplate:'s "Person of the Year" for 2021. Then Time editor-in-chief Edward Felsenthal wrote that, "Person of the Year is a marker of influence, and few individuals have had more influence than Musk on life on Earth, and potentially life off Earth too."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Works cited

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Further reading

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• Tarnoff, Ben, "Ultra Hardcore" Template:Subscription required (review of Walter Isaacson, Elon Musk, Simon and Schuster, 2023, 670 pp.), The New York Review of Books, vol. LXXI, no. 1 (January 18, 2024), pp. 6, 8, 10. "There is an anti-modern impulse to Musk, a craving for lordship that can't be entirely satisfied within the confines of a capitalist economy. A king doesn't have advertisers or shareholders or customers, and Musk, if he continues on his current trajectory, may very well be abandoned by all three. Aristotle says a good ending should be surprising but inevitable. It's possible to imagine multiple finales for Musk that meet these criteria, but the story always begins the same way. Once upon a time in Pretoria, there was a boy who wanted to be a man." (p. 10.)

External links

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