Elon Musk was born on June 28, 1971, in Pretoria, South Africa, to a South African father, Errol Musk, and a Canadian mother, Maye Musk. From a young age, Elon showed an intense interest in technology and innovation. By the age of 12, he had already taught himself computer programming and sold his first software: a space game called Blastar. His parents divorced when he was young, and Elon lived with his father for a time before leaving for the United States. Musk’s ambition to create a future shaped by technology became clear early in his life.
Musk moved to Canada at the age of 17 to attend Queen’s University, where he spent two years before transferring to the University of Pennsylvania. There, he earned degrees in both physics and economics from the Wharton School. Musk’s thirst for innovation led him to Stanford University for a PhD in applied physics. However, he dropped out after just two days, seeing the burgeoning internet industry as a more immediate platform for impact. This marked the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey, one that would soon make him one of the most influential figures in modern technology.
Musk’s early ventures included co-founding Zip2, a software company that provided business directories and maps for newspapers. Compaq acquired Zip2 for nearly $300 million in 1999, giving Musk his first substantial payout. He then co-founded X.com, an online payment company, which later evolved into PayPal, one of the most widely used online payment systems in the world. PayPal was acquired by eBay in 2002 for $1.5 billion, solidifying Musk’s position as a tech entrepreneur and giving him the financial freedom to pursue his more ambitious goals in space exploration, clean energy, and transportation.
Cars Owned by Elon Musk
As the CEO of Tesla, Elon Musk owns and drives several electric vehicles, with the Tesla brand being central to his car collection. One of the cars Musk is known for driving is the Tesla Roadster, the first electric sports car Tesla produced. The Roadster exemplifies Musk’s commitment to electric vehicles and innovation in transportation. In fact, he famously launched his personal 2010 Tesla Roadster into space aboard SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket in 2018 as part of a test flight.
Musk also owns a Tesla Model S, which he has frequently praised as one of the best electric cars ever made. The Model S is known for its long-range capabilities, sleek design, and high performance. Additionally, Musk has been spotted driving a Tesla Cybertruck, the company’s futuristic electric pickup truck, which is still in production but has become a symbol of Musk’s vision for the future of automotive design.
Houses Owned by Elon Musk
Elon Musk once owned an impressive real estate portfolio, with multiple homes in California, particularly in the Los Angeles area. His properties included a lavish estate in Bel-Air, which he purchased for $17 million, and a series of adjacent properties. However, in a move that aligned with his minimalist philosophy, Musk announced in 2020 that he planned to sell off nearly all of his properties to simplify his life.
As of today, Musk has followed through on that promise, selling most of his real estate holdings. He reportedly now lives in a prefabricated tiny house near SpaceX’s launch site in Boca Chica, Texas. This compact home, made by Boxabl, is a 375-square-foot unit that reflects Musk’s desire to lead a more efficient, less materialistic lifestyle while focusing on his ambitious goals, particularly his space exploration ventures.
How Elon Musk Made His Money
Elon Musk’s journey to becoming one of the richest people in the world began with a series of successful tech ventures. After the sale of his first company, Zip2, Musk made his first major financial gain. Zip2’s sale to Compaq for $307 million in 1999 provided Musk with $22 million from his shares. He reinvested much of this into his next venture, X.com, an online payment service that would later become PayPal. In 2002, eBay bought PayPal for $1.5 billion in stock, with Musk receiving $165 million from the deal. This windfall gave him the financial foundation to pursue his larger, more visionary projects.
Following the sale of PayPal, Musk founded SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies Corp.) in 2002 with the goal of reducing space transportation costs and making space exploration possible for the masses. SpaceX faced numerous early challenges, including multiple failed launches. However, in 2008, NASA awarded SpaceX a contract to transport cargo to the International Space Station, marking a turning point for the company. SpaceX continued to grow and make historic achievements, including the first private company to send astronauts to space, further bolstering Musk’s wealth.
In 2004, Musk joined Tesla Motors, an electric vehicle startup, as chairman of the board. He later became CEO in 2008. Tesla faced several production and financial challenges early on, but Musk’s leadership saw the company eventually succeed, with the Tesla Model S and later models becoming highly popular and influential in the automotive industry. Tesla’s stock has surged in recent years, becoming one of the most valuable car companies globally, making Musk’s holdings in the company a significant part of his wealth.
Musk also founded SolarCity in 2006 (which was later merged into Tesla) to advance clean energy through solar power. His other ventures include The Boring Company, which aims to revolutionize tunneling for urban transportation, and Neuralink, a neurotechnology company working on developing brain–computer interfaces. These various ventures have helped diversify Musk’s wealth, with SpaceX and Tesla remaining his primary sources of income.
Musk’s financial success has been significantly tied to his stock holdings, particularly in Tesla. As Tesla’s stock value skyrocketed, so did Musk’s net worth, placing him among the wealthiest individuals in the world.
Net Worth of Elon Musk
As of today, Elon Musk’s net worth is estimated to be around $240 billion. Much of this wealth is tied to his ownership stakes in Tesla and SpaceX, as well as other ventures.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Elon Reeve Musk |
| Date of Birth | June 28, 1971 |
| Marital Status | Divorced (twice) |
| Number of Siblings | 2 (Kimbal Musk, Tosca Musk) |
| Number and Name of Children | 10 children (names include X Æ A-Xii, Exa Dark Sideræl) |
| Occupation | CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, Founder of Neuralink, The Boring Company |
| Net Worth | $240 billion |