Description

Here is a summary of Elon Musk's biography, drawing from the provided source:

• Early Life and Education: Elon Reeve Musk was born on June 28, 1971, in Pretoria, South Africa. His mother, Maye Haldeman, is a model and dietitian, and his father, Errol Musk, is an electromechanical engineer. Musk was raised in the Anglican Church. Before his "grand adventure," he attended the University of Pretoria for five months. Later, he moved to Canada and worked various odd jobs. In 1989, he enrolled at Queen's University in Ontario.

• Business Career:

  • Zip2: In 1995, Elon Musk co-founded Zip2, a web software company, with his brother Kimbal and Greg Kouri. Compaq acquired Zip2 for $307 million in 1999, and Musk received $22 million for his 7-percent share.
  • X.com and PayPal: Musk later founded X.com, an online bank. It experienced infighting and a failed merger . X.com later became PayPal.
  • SpaceX: Musk founded SpaceX, receiving nearly $900 million in Federal Communications Commission subsidies for Starlink.
  • Tesla: Musk is also associated with Tesla, Inc.
  • Neuralink: In 2016, Musk co-founded Neuralink, a neurotechnology startup, with a $100 million investment. Neuralink aims to integrate the human brain with artificial intelligence (AI). Clinical trials were approved to begin in September 2023. Neuralink's animal trials have led to claims of animal cruelty and a federal probe into possible animal welfare violations.
  • The Boring Company: In 2017, Musk founded the Boring Company to construct underground tunnels.
  • Twitter/X Corp: Musk acquired Twitter for roughly $44 billion. He officially closed the deal in October 2022 and became the CEO . Subsequently, he implemented changes such as an $8 monthly fee for account verification and laid off a significant portion of Twitter's workforce .

• Legal Affairs: In 2018, Musk was sued by the SEC for a tweet about taking Tesla private. He settled with the SEC, paying a fine and stepping down as Tesla chairman for three years.

• Controversies: Musk has been involved in controversies, including promoting conspiracy theories, making controversial statements that have led to accusations of sexism and antisemitism, and facing criticism for his views on the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Personal Life: Musk has been married multiple times and has several children. As of January 22, 2025, his estimated net worth was US$436 billion, making him the wealthiest person in the world.

• Political Activities: Musk has made appearances at political events such as Donald Trump's inauguration. Some have viewed his political gestures as controversial. Over time, his political views have shifted.