Elon Musk

Founder and CEO of SpaceX, CEO of Tesla, and co-founder of PayPal and Zip2^{Source [1]}^{Source [2]}

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Unclaimed profileLast verified Oct 2, 2026

About

Elon Musk is an engineer and entrepreneur who founded SpaceX in 2002 and has served as its chief executive officer, chief technical officer and chairman since May 2002. He has also been chief executive officer of Tesla since October 2008 and holds the title Technoking of Tesla.^{Source [1]}^{Source [2]}

Before SpaceX he co-founded Zip2, an internet software company acquired by Compaq in 1999, and founded X.com, which merged with Confinity in 2000 and became PayPal, acquired by eBay in October 2002. He was chairman of SolarCity from 2006 until Tesla acquired it in 2016, and was a co-chair of OpenAI at its 2015 launch before leaving its board in 2018.^{Source [1]}^{Source [3]}^{Source [4]}^{Source [5]}^{Source [6]}

He co-founded Neuralink, a brain-computer interface company where he serves as CEO, and founded The Boring Company, a tunneling company. In 2022 he bought Twitter, now X, and in 2023 he started the AI company xAI, which acquired X in 2025.^{Source [2]}^{Source [1]}^{Source [7]}^{Source [8]}^{Source [9]}

SpaceX acquired xAI in February 2026 and went public on Nasdaq in June 2026, after which Musk held about 82 percent of its voting power. From January to May 2025 he led the Department of Government Efficiency in the Trump administration as a special government employee.^{Source [1]}^{Source [10]}^{Source [11]}

Musk holds a B.A. in physics from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. in business from its Wharton School. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2018 and named TIME's Person of the Year for 2021.^{Source [1]}^{Source [12]}^{Source [13]}

Watch

Elon Musk: How I Became The Real 'Iron Man' (2014 Documentary) by Bloomberg Originals on YouTube

Career

1995 to 1999

1999

2000

2002 to now

2004 to now

2006 to 2016

2015 to 2018

2016

2017

2022 to 2025

2023 to 2026

Company	Years	Role	Status
xAI He led xAI from its start in 2023, merged it with X in March 2025, and held its top roles until SpaceX acquired it in February 2026.^{Source [1]}^{Source [2]} Announced xAI in July 2023 with a team of 11 co-founding researchers.^{Source [8]}^{Source [14]} Launched the Grok model on X in November 2023 and raised $6 billion rounds in May and December 2024.^{Source [15]}^{Source [16]}^{Source [17]} Merged X into xAI in March 2025 and sold xAI to SpaceX in February 2026.^{Source [9]}^{Source [1]} Suggest a correction to xAI	2023 to 2026	Founder and CEO^{Source [2]}^{Source [1]}^{Source [8]}President and Treasurer^{Source [2]}^{Source [1]}	Acquired
X Corp. He bought Twitter in October 2022, named Linda Yaccarino CEO in May 2023 while keeping product and technology, and folded X into xAI in March 2025.^{Source [7]}^{Source [18]}^{Source [19]}^{Source [9]} Completed the $44 billion acquisition of Twitter on October 27, 2022.^{Source [20]}^{Source [7]} Served as CTO and director from October 2022 through the March 2025 merger with xAI.^{Source [1]} Hired Linda Yaccarino as CEO in May 2023; she left in July 2025.^{Source [18]}^{Source [19]} Suggest a correction to X Corp.	2022 to 2025	Owner^{Source [7]}^{Source [9]}Chief Technology Officer and director^{Source [1]}^{Source [2]}	Acquired
The Boring Company Started as a SpaceX project and spun off in 2018 with Musk holding more than 90 percent of the equity.^{Source [23]} Founded the company in 2017; it was spun off from SpaceX in 2018.^{Source [22]}^{Source [23]} The company opened the Las Vegas Convention Center Loop in 2021 and announced a $3 billion Series D at a $23 billion valuation in September 2026.^{Source [22]}^{Source [24]} Suggest a correction to The Boring Company	2017	Founder^{Source [2]}^{Source [21]}^{Source [22]}	Active
Neuralink Tesla's 2026 filing lists him as a founder of Neuralink who serves as its Chief Executive Officer.^{Source [2]} Co-founded the company in 2016 with eight scientists and engineers.^{Source [26]} Serves as CEO, per Tesla's 2026 filing; the company implanted its first human trial participant in January 2024.^{Source [2]}^{Source [26]} Suggest a correction to Neuralink	2016	Co-founder^{Source [2]}^{Source [21]}^{Source [25]}CEO^{Source [2]}^{Source [1]}	Active
OpenAI Named co-chair with Sam Altman when OpenAI launched in December 2015; he left the board in February 2018.^{Source [5]}^{Source [6]}^{Source [28]} Named co-chair alongside Sam Altman when OpenAI launched in December 2015.^{Source [5]} Left the OpenAI board in February 2018.^{Source [6]}^{Source [28]} Suggest a correction to OpenAI	2015 to 2018	Co-founder and co-chair^{Source [5]}^{Source [27]}Board member^{Source [5]}^{Source [6]}	Active
SolarCity Chaired the board from July 2006 until Tesla acquired the company in November 2016.^{Source [30]}^{Source [4]} Suggest a correction to SolarCity	2006 to 2016	Chairman^{Source [29]}^{Source [30]}	Acquired
Tesla Joined the board in April 2004 and became CEO in October 2008. He gave up the chairman role under a September 2018 settlement with the SEC, in which he neither admitted nor denied the allegations.^{Source [2]}^{Source [31]}^{Source [32]} Joined the board in April 2004 and became CEO in October 2008.^{Source [2]} Led the company through its 2010 IPO and its 2016 acquisition of SolarCity.^{Source [2]}^{Source [4]} Stepped down as chairman under a 2018 SEC settlement; Robyn Denholm became chair in November 2018.^{Source [31]}^{Source [32]} Under his leadership Tesla launched its Robotaxi service in June 2025; the board granted him the 2025 CEO Performance Award in September 2025.^{Source [33]}^{Source [2]} Suggest a correction to Tesla	2004 to now	Co-founder^{Source [30]}Chairman^{Source [29]}^{Source [31]}^{Source [32]}CEO^{Source [2]}Technoking^{Source [33]}^{Source [2]}	IPO
SpaceX Has led SpaceX since May 2002 and held about 82 percent of its voting power after the June 2026 IPO.^{Source [1]} Founded the company in 2002 and has led it as CEO, CTO and chairman since May 2002.^{Source [1]} Oversaw Falcon 1 reaching orbit in 2008, the first Falcon 9 booster landing in 2015, and the first crewed Dragon flight to the International Space Station in 2020.^{Source [1]} Built Starlink into the company's largest business, with about 10.3 million subscribers as of March 2026.^{Source [1]} Merged xAI into SpaceX in February 2026 and took the company public on Nasdaq in June 2026 at $135 per share.^{Source [1]}^{Source [10]} Suggest a correction to SpaceX	2002 to now	Founder^{Source [1]}CEO, CTO and Chairman^{Source [1]}^{Source [2]}	IPO
PayPal Served as CEO of the merged company from May 2000 to September 2000 and remained a director through its 2002 IPO filing.^{Source [3]} Suggest a correction to PayPal	2000	Co-founder^{Source [30]}^{Source [1]}CEO^{Source [3]}	IPO
X.com Founded X.com in March 1999 and was its CEO until December 1999; it merged with Confinity in March 2000.^{Source [3]} Suggest a correction to X.com	1999	Founder^{Source [3]}CEO^{Source [3]}	Merged
Zip2 Worked there from 1995 to February 1999 in roles including chairman, CEO and CTO, until its sale to Compaq.^{Source [3]} Suggest a correction to Zip2	1995 to 1999	Co-founder^{Source [3]}^{Source [2]}	Acquired

Milestones

2026-08SpaceX completed its acquisition of Anysphere, maker of Cursor.^{Source [34]}
2026-06Took SpaceX public on Nasdaq under the symbol SPCX.^{Source [10]}
2026-02SpaceX acquired xAI, bringing X and Grok under SpaceX.^{Source [1]}
2025-05Left his government role leading DOGE.^{Source [11]}
2025-03Merged X into xAI.^{Source [9]}
2023-07Announced the AI company xAI.^{Source [8]}
2022-10Completed the $44 billion purchase of Twitter.^{Source [20]}
2021-12Named TIME Person of the Year.^{Source [13]}
2018-09Settled SEC charges and agreed to step down as Tesla chairman.^{Source [31]}
2017Founded The Boring Company.^{Source [22]}
2016Co-founded Neuralink.^{Source [26]}
2015-12Became co-chair of the newly launched OpenAI.^{Source [5]}
2008-10Became CEO of Tesla.^{Source [2]}
2002-05Founded SpaceX.^{Source [1]}
1999-03Founded X.com, which later became PayPal.^{Source [3]}

Boards, investments and other roles

Organization	Role	Years
Tesla, Inc.Board	Board member^{Source [2]}	2004
U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)Government	Led DOGE as a special government employee^{Source [11]}	2025
Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc.Board	Board member^{Source [1]}^{Source [2]}	2021 to 2022

Education

University of Pennsylvania, B.A., Physics^{Source [1]}^{Source [2]}
The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, B.S., Business^{Source [1]}^{Source [2]}

Honors

TIME Person of the Year 2021^{Source [13]}
Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) 2018^{Source [12]}^{Source [35]}

Links

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Sources

Prospectus (Form 424B4), Space Exploration Technologies Corp., SEC EDGAR, 2026-06-12. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
Tesla, Inc. Form 10-K/A (Part III: directors and executive officers), SEC EDGAR, 2026-04-30. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
PayPal, Inc. Registration Statement (Form S-1/A), SEC EDGAR, 2002-02-14. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
SolarCity Corporation Form 8-K: completion of merger with Tesla, SEC EDGAR, 2016-11-21. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
Introducing OpenAI (archived 2015-12-24), OpenAI via Internet Archive, 2015-12-11. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
OpenAI Supporters (archived 2018-03-03), OpenAI via Internet Archive, 2018-02-20. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
Twitter, Inc. Form 8-K: completion of merger, SEC EDGAR, 2022-10-31. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
Elon Musk launches his new company, xAI, CNBC, 2023-07-12. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
Elon Musk says xAI has acquired X in deal that values social media site at $33 billion, CNBC, 2025-03-28. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
Form 8-K: completion of initial public offering, SEC EDGAR (Space Exploration Technologies Corp.), 2026-06-15. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
Elon Musk thanks Trump, says he's leaving government work with DOGE, CNBC, 2025-05-28. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
Distinguished scientists elected as Fellows of the Royal Society 2018 (archived), The Royal Society via Internet Archive, 2018-05-09. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
Elon Musk: Person of the Year 2021 (archived), TIME via Internet Archive, 2021-12-13. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
All 11 xAI co-founders have now reportedly left Elon Musk's AI company, The Next Web, 2026-03-28. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
Announcing Grok, xAI (now SpaceXAI), 2023-11-03. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
Series B funding round, xAI (now SpaceXAI), 2024-05-26. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
xAI raises $6B Series C, xAI (now SpaceXAI), 2024-12-23. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
Elon Musk appoints new Twitter CEO, NBCU's Linda Yaccarino, TechCrunch, 2023-05-12. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
Linda Yaccarino steps down as CEO of Elon Musk's X, CNBC, 2025-07-09. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
Elon Musk completes $44 bln acquisition of Twitter, Reuters via Yahoo Finance, 2022-10-27. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
Tesla, Inc. 2018 Proxy Statement (DEF 14A), SEC EDGAR, 2018-04-26. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
Why Elon Musk's Boring Company is finding that traffic is tough to fix, CNBC, 2021-07-20. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
Elon Musk's SpaceX investors question financial overlap with Boring Co.: Report, Fox Business, 2018-12-18. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
The Boring Company Series D Funding Round Announcement, The Boring Company, 2026-09-09. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
Elon Musk launches Neuralink, a venture to merge the human brain with AI, The Verge, 2017-03-27. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
Neuralink: Business Breakdown & Founding Story, Contrary Research. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
Jury dismisses all claims in Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, NPR, 2026-05-18. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
OpenAI and Elon Musk (archived 2026-09-21), OpenAI via Internet Archive, 2024-03-05. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
SolarCity Corporation 2016 Proxy Statement (DEF 14A), SEC EDGAR, 2016-04-21. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
Tesla, Inc. 2025 Proxy Statement (DEF 14A), SEC EDGAR, 2025-09-17. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
Elon Musk Settles SEC Fraud Charges; Tesla Charged With and Resolves Securities Law Charge, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 2018-09-29. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
Announcing Robyn Denholm as Tesla's New Board Chair (Form 8-K, Exhibit 99.1), SEC EDGAR (Tesla, Inc.), 2018-11-08. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
Tesla, Inc. Annual Report (Form 10-K) for fiscal year 2025, SEC EDGAR, 2026-01-29. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
Form 8-K: completion of merger with Anysphere, Inc. (Cursor), SEC EDGAR (Space Exploration Technologies Corp.), 2026-08-14. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
Royal Society fellow resigns over Elon Musk membership, Research Professional News, 2024-11. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.

History

Sep 28, 2026: Profile created from public sources (Founded editors)
Oct 2, 2026: Enriched profile: about, education, other roles, awards, milestones, stint highlights, links (Founded editors)

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