Elon Musk

Overview

Elon Reeve Musk, born on June 28, 1971, in Pretoria, South Africa, is one of the most influential and successful entrepreneurs of the modern era. Known for his innovative ventures and visionary leadership, Musk has founded or co-founded companies that have revolutionized multiple industries, including technology, space exploration, and electric vehicles. Here is a timeline of some of the most significant events and milestones in his career.

Main Milestones

Birth

June 28, 1971

Elon Reeve Musk was born in Pretoria, South Africa. His early life and education laid the groundwork for his future entrepreneurial endeavors.

Founding of Zip2

1995

Musk co-founded Zip2, an online business directory, with his brother. This was one of his first major entrepreneurial ventures, which he later sold to Compaq Computer Corporation for over $300 million in 1999.

Founding of X.com

1999

Musk invested in X.com, an online bank that later merged with Confinity to form PayPal. This digital payment platform was a groundbreaking innovation in online financial transactions and was eventually sold to eBay for $1.5 billion in 2002.

Founding of SpaceX

2002

Using $100 million of his own money, Musk founded SpaceX with the ambitious goal of reducing space transportation costs and enabling the colonization of Mars. SpaceX has since become a leading player in the space industry, achieving numerous milestones including the first private company to send a craft to the International Space Station and the first to send humans into orbit.

Involvement with Tesla Motors

2004

Musk invested $6.5 million in Tesla Motors during its Series A funding round, becoming the company's chairman of the board and its largest shareholder. Tesla has since become a pioneer in the electric vehicle industry, revolutionizing the automotive sector.

Expansion and Innovations at SpaceX and Tesla

2010s

During the 2010s, Musk's companies achieved several significant milestones. SpaceX successfully launched, orbited, and recovered a spacecraft, and Tesla became one of the leading electric vehicle manufacturers. SpaceX also developed reusable rockets and the Starlink satellite constellation for global internet service.

Historic Achievements at SpaceX

2020

SpaceX made history by becoming the first private company to send humans to the International Space Station with the Crew Dragon Demo-2 mission. This marked a significant step in commercial space travel and further solidified SpaceX's position in the space industry.

Acquisition of Twitter

October 2022

Musk completed the acquisition of Twitter for $44 billion, adding the social media platform to his portfolio of companies. He has since renamed the company X, reflecting his broader vision for the platform's future.

Continued Innovation and Leadership

Present Day

As of 2025, Musk continues to be at the forefront of innovation, leading Tesla and SpaceX through new technological advancements and expansion plans. His influence extends beyond his companies, shaping the future of transportation, space exploration, and digital communication.