SB. Elon Musk, Goodbye Musk

Elon Reeve Musk, born on June 28, 1971, in Pretoria, South Africa, is a globally recognized entrepreneur and engineer. According to Forbes, he is among the most influential figures in technology, known primarily for his leadership roles in SpaceX, Tesla, Inc., and other ventures that have reshaped global industries.

Musk’s early years were marked by academic excellence and a deep interest in computing and technology. He briefly attended the University of Pretoria before immigrating to Canada at the age of 18. Through his Canadian-born mother, Maye Musk, he obtained Canadian citizenship. He enrolled at Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada, in 1989, before transferring to the University of Pennsylvania two years later. There, he earned two bachelor’s degrees—one in economics from the Wharton School and the other in physics from the College of Arts and Sciences (UPenn Almanac).

Career Beginnings and First Ventures

Musk moved to California in 1995 to pursue a Ph.D. in applied physics at Stanford University but left the program after two days. According to CNBC, he opted to launch his first business venture instead. Alongside his brother Kimbal Musk, he co-founded Zip2, a company that developed city guide software for newspapers. In 1999, Compaq acquired Zip2 for $307 million in cash, providing Elon Musk with his first significant financial breakthrough.

Later that year, Musk founded X.com, an online banking and financial services company. X.com merged with Confinity in 2000. The resulting entity was renamed PayPal, which became a leading online payment platform. PayPal was acquired by eBay in 2002 for approximately $1.5 billion in stock (Reuters).

The Birth of SpaceX

Using $100 million from his proceeds from the PayPal sale, Musk launched Space Exploration Technologies Corp., commonly known as SpaceX, in 2002. SpaceX was established to reduce the cost of space travel and make Mars colonization viable. The company has achieved numerous milestones, including becoming the first private entity to send a spacecraft (Dragon) to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2012 (NASA.gov).

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets have become mainstays of commercial and governmental space launches. In May 2020, SpaceX became the first private company to launch astronauts into orbit through its Crew Dragon Demo-2 mission, in collaboration with NASA.

Tesla, Inc. and Automotive Innovation

In 2004, Musk joined the electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla Motors, Inc. (now Tesla, Inc.), which had been founded a year earlier. While not a founder, Musk played a pivotal role as the company’s lead investor and later its CEO and product architect. Under his leadership, Tesla has grown to become a market leader in electric vehicles, with products including the Model S, Model 3, Model X, and Model Y.

Tesla also operates Gigafactories in multiple countries and has invested heavily in battery technology and renewable energy solutions, such as solar panels and the Powerwall energy storage unit (Tesla Investor Relations).

As of 2025, Tesla remains one of the most valuable automotive companies globally, with a market capitalization exceeding $800 billion, according to Bloomberg.

Expansion into Infrastructure and AI

Musk has diversified his ventures beyond electric cars and space. In 2016, he founded The Boring Company to develop underground transportation systems that could alleviate urban traffic congestion. The company has tested tunnels in Las Vegas and proposed future systems in various U.S. cities.

He is also the founder of Neuralink, a neurotechnology firm working to develop implantable brain–computer interfaces to address neurological disorders and enhance cognitive function (Neuralink).

In 2023, Musk introduced xAI (X Artificial Intelligence Corp.), a company focused on building general-purpose AI models intended to complement his existing tech ecosystem (xAI Official Site).

Ownership of Social Media Platform X (Formerly Twitter)

In October 2022, Musk completed the acquisition of Twitter, Inc., for approximately $44 billion. Following the acquisition, he restructured the company under a new parent entity called X Corp. In April 2023, Twitter was officially rebranded to “X.” Musk has stated his vision of transforming X into an “everything app,” inspired by platforms such as China’s WeChat (Wall Street Journal).

Under Musk’s ownership, X has introduced numerous policy changes and new subscription services, including X Premium. These changes have sparked a wide range of reactions, with some praising the platform’s openness and others criticizing content moderation decisions.

Wealth and Recognition

As of January 2025, Elon Musk is ranked as the world’s wealthiest person, with an estimated net worth of $421 billion, according to the Forbes Real-Time Billionaires List. His wealth is primarily derived from his stakes in Tesla, SpaceX, and other privately held companies.

Musk has appeared multiple times on Time magazine’s list of the most influential people and was named Time’s Person of the Year in 2021.

Citizenship and Family Background

Musk holds citizenship in three countries: South Africa (by birth), Canada (through his mother), and the United States (naturalized in 2002). His family includes Maye Musk, a Canadian-South African model and dietitian, and Kimbal Musk, a restaurateur and entrepreneur who serves on the boards of Tesla and SpaceX.

Public Perception and Controversies

Elon Musk is often a subject of global media attention, partly due to his outspoken nature on social media and unconventional business strategies. While his leadership style and public remarks have occasionally drawn criticism, he remains a central figure in discussions surrounding innovation, sustainability, and the future of artificial intelligence and space travel.

Reputable news outlets such as The New York Times and The Guardian have covered both the praise and scrutiny that follow Musk’s ventures. It is important to note that discussions about his leadership are ongoing and complex, reflecting both support and criticism from industry experts, employees, and regulators.

Future Outlook

Musk continues to be involved in pioneering technologies, from sustainable energy to space colonization. Upcoming SpaceX missions include further lunar and Mars exploration under NASA’s Artemis program. Tesla aims to expand into new markets, including India and Southeast Asia, and continues to lead in battery innovation and autonomous driving technologies.

Neuralink and xAI, though still in early development phases, are being closely watched by industry analysts and regulatory agencies alike for their potential implications in medicine and artificial intelligence ethics.

Conclusion

Elon Musk’s career represents a unique blend of risk-taking, engineering innovation, and entrepreneurship. From digital banking to electric vehicles, from orbital rockets to artificial intelligence, his impact spans multiple industries and continents. While his methods may spark debate, his influence on the 21st century’s technological direction is indisputable.