Meta description: Elon Musk biography summary covers his birth in Pretoria, PayPal, SpaceX, Tesla, X, and xAI, plus the 2026 SpaceX IPO, with 10 facts and key dates.
Who Is Elon Musk?
Elon Musk is a businessman, industrialist, and former public official who is the CEO and largest shareholder of Tesla and SpaceX. He was born on June 28, 1971, and is 55 years old. He also acquired Twitter, now X, in 2022 and founded xAI in 2023.
What Are the 10 Key Facts About Elon Musk?
Elon Musk has 10 key biographical facts:
- Elon Reeve Musk was born on June 28, 1971, in Pretoria, South Africa.
- His mother, Maye Musk, is a Canadian model, and his father, Errol Musk, is a South African engineer.
- He emigrated to Canada in 1989.
- He studied at the University of Pennsylvania before moving to California.
- He co-founded Zip2 and X.com, which became PayPal.
- He founded SpaceX in 2002.
- He became Tesla’s CEO and product architect in 2008.
- He acquired Twitter in 2022 and founded xAI in 2023.
- SpaceX acquired xAI in February 2026 and went public on June 12, 2026.
- Biography.com lists 14 children and 3 marriages to 2 spouses.
Where Was Elon Musk Born and Educated?
Elon Musk was born in Pretoria, South Africa, and moved to Canada at age 18. He grew up with his brother, Kimbal, and sister, Tosca, and taught himself to program computers. He holds Canadian citizenship through his mother, who was born in Canada. He studied at the University of Pennsylvania.
How Did Elon Musk Start His Business Career?
Elon Musk started his business career by co-founding 2 internet companies. He co-founded Zip2 and X.com, the online bank that became PayPal. He then invested his proceeds into SpaceX and Tesla.
What Companies Has Elon Musk Founded or Led?
Elon Musk has founded, co-founded, or led 6 major companies:
- Founded SpaceX in 2002.
- Joined Tesla as an early investor in 2004.
- Co-founded Neuralink and The Boring Company.
- Co-founded OpenAI in 2015 and left in 2018.
- Acquired Twitter in 2022, later renamed X.
- Founded xAI in March 2023.
What Are Elon Musk’s Key Achievements at SpaceX and Tesla?
Elon Musk’s key achievements include reusable rocket landings at SpaceX and mass-market electric vehicles at Tesla. SpaceX achieved the first successful vertical landing of a reusable orbital rocket stage with the Falcon 9 on December 21, 2015. The Tesla Model 3 became the world’s top-selling plug-in electric car in 2018 and held that position for three years.
Tesla was involved in an SEC lawsuit in 2018 over a tweet about taking the company private. Musk settled and stepped down as chairman while remaining CEO.
What Happened to xAI and SpaceX in 2026?
SpaceX acquired xAI in February 2026 and completed its initial public offering in June 2026. xAI built the Grok models, merged with X in 2025, and was renamed SpaceXAI in July 2026. SpaceX’s IPO priced at $135 a share and valued the company at about $1.77 trillion.
Who Is Elon Musk’s Family?
Elon Musk has had 3 marriages to 2 spouses. He was married to Justine Wilson from 2000 to 2008 and to Talulah Riley from 2010 to 2012 and again from 2013 to 2016. Biography.com lists 14 children.
What Are the Key Dates in Elon Musk’s Life?
Table 1 lists 10 dated events in Elon Musk’s biography. Columns show the date, the event, and the category.
| Date | Event | Category |
|---|---|---|
| June 28, 1971 | Birth in Pretoria, South Africa | Personal |
| 1989 | Move to Canada | Personal |
| 2002 | Founding of SpaceX | Business |
| 2004 | Investment in Tesla | Business |
| 2008 | Appointment as Tesla CEO | Business |
| December 21, 2015 | First successful Falcon 9 reusable stage landing | Achievement |
| October 2022 | Acquisition of Twitter | Business |
| March 2023 | Founding of xAI | Business |
| February 2026 | SpaceX acquisition of xAI | Business |
| June 12, 2026 | SpaceX initial public offering | Business |
People Also Ask
What is Elon Musk’s full name?
Elon Musk’s full name is Elon Reeve Musk.
Where is Elon Musk from?
Elon Musk is from Pretoria, South Africa.
How old is Elon Musk?
Elon Musk is 55 years old, born on June 28, 1971.
What companies does Elon Musk own or lead?
Elon Musk leads Tesla as CEO, owns X, and founded SpaceX, Neuralink, The Boring Company, and xAI.
When did Elon Musk become Tesla CEO?
Elon Musk became Tesla’s CEO and product architect in 2008.
Is Elon Musk the richest person in the world?
Britannica describes Elon Musk as the world’s richest person, and estimates of his fortune fluctuate as market values change.
Why Is Elon Musk Known as a Businessman and Technology Entrepreneur?
Elon Musk is known for 3 achievements: founding SpaceX, leading Tesla, and building technology companies in artificial intelligence and social media. His career moved from Zip2 and PayPal to rockets, electric vehicles, X, and SpaceXAI.