Timeline
Five decades of ambition.
- 1971Born in Pretoria
Elon Reeve Musk is born in Pretoria, South Africa.
1971Born in PretoriaElon Reeve Musk is born in Pretoria, South Africa.
- 1995Zip2 founded
Co-founds Zip2, an online city guide software for newspapers.
1995Zip2 foundedCo-founds Zip2, an online city guide software for newspapers.
- 1999X.com → PayPal
Founds X.com, which becomes PayPal after merger with Confinity.
1999X.com → PayPalFounds X.com, which becomes PayPal after merger with Confinity.
- 2002SpaceX founded
Uses proceeds from PayPal sale to found Space Exploration Technologies.
2002SpaceX foundedUses proceeds from PayPal sale to found Space Exploration Technologies.
- 2004Joins Tesla
Leads Tesla's Series A funding and joins the board as Chairman.
2004Joins TeslaLeads Tesla's Series A funding and joins the board as Chairman.
- 2008Falcon 1 to orbit
SpaceX becomes the first private company to reach orbit with a liquid-fueled rocket.
2008Falcon 1 to orbitSpaceX becomes the first private company to reach orbit with a liquid-fueled rocket.
- 2012Dragon docks with ISS
SpaceX Dragon becomes the first commercial spacecraft to dock with the ISS.
2012Dragon docks with ISSSpaceX Dragon becomes the first commercial spacecraft to dock with the ISS.
- 2015OpenAI co-founded
Co-founds OpenAI as a non-profit AI research lab.
2015OpenAI co-foundedCo-founds OpenAI as a non-profit AI research lab.
- 2016Neuralink + Boring Company
Founds Neuralink and The Boring Company in the same year.
2016Neuralink + Boring CompanyFounds Neuralink and The Boring Company in the same year.
- 2020Crewed spaceflight
SpaceX launches NASA astronauts to the ISS — the first crewed launch from US soil since 2011.
2020Crewed spaceflightSpaceX launches NASA astronauts to the ISS — the first crewed launch from US soil since 2011.
- 2022Twitter acquisition
Acquires Twitter for $44 billion.
2022Twitter acquisitionAcquires Twitter for $44 billion.
- 2023xAI + X rebrand
Launches xAI and rebrands Twitter as X.
2023xAI + X rebrandLaunches xAI and rebrands Twitter as X.
- 2024Starship catch
Mechazilla catches the Super Heavy booster in mid-air for the first time.
2024Starship catchMechazilla catches the Super Heavy booster in mid-air for the first time.
- 2025Grok 4 & Optimus
xAI ships Grok 4; Tesla scales Optimus humanoid production.
2025Grok 4 & OptimusxAI ships Grok 4; Tesla scales Optimus humanoid production.