History of Elon Musk in Timeline
Elon Reeve Musk is a businessman recognized for his leadership roles in Tesla, Inc., SpaceX, and Twitter. As of 2025, he serves as a senior advisor to United States president Donald Trump and effectively leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk is currently the wealthiest individual globally, with Forbes estimating his net worth at US$353 billion as of February 2025.
June 28, 1971: Elon Musk's Birth
On June 28, 1971, Elon Reeve Musk was born. He is known for his roles in Tesla, SpaceX, and Twitter (X).
1980: Parents' Divorce
In 1980, Elon Musk's parents divorced, and he chose to live primarily with his father.
1989: Emigration to Canada
In 1989, Elon Musk emigrated to Canada from South Africa and acquired Canadian citizenship through his mother.
1990: Enrollment at Queen's University
In 1990, Elon Musk entered Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario.
1994: Internships in Silicon Valley
In 1994, Elon Musk held two internships in Silicon Valley: one at Pinnacle Research Institute and another at Rocket Science Games.
1995: Co-founding Zip2
In 1995, Elon Musk co-founded the software company Zip2.
1995: Studies at the University of Pennsylvania
In 1995, Elon Musk studied at the University of Pennsylvania.
1995: Acceptance to Stanford and Job Application at Netscape
In 1995, Elon Musk was accepted to a graduate program at Stanford University but did not enroll. He also applied for a job at Netscape.
1997: Awarding of Degrees
In 1997, The University of Pennsylvania awarded Musk a Bachelor of Arts in Physics and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the university's Wharton School.
February 1999: Acquisition of Zip2 by Compaq
In February 1999, Compaq acquired Zip2 for $307 million in cash, and Elon Musk received $22 million for his 7-percent share.
1999: Co-founding X.com
In 1999, Elon Musk co-founded X.com, an online financial services and e-mail payment company.
2000: Musk Contracts Malaria
In 2000, Elon Musk contracted a severe case of malaria while on vacation in South Africa.
2000: Musk Marries Justine Wilson
In 2000, Elon Musk married Justine Wilson, who he met while attending Queen's University in Ontario, Canada.
2000: Ousting as CEO of X.com
In 2000, Elon Musk was ousted as CEO of X.com and replaced by Peter Thiel due to technological issues and lack of a cohesive business model.
2001: Involvement with the Mars Society
In 2001, Elon Musk became involved with the nonprofit Mars Society and discussed funding plans to place a growth-chamber for plants on Mars.
2001: Musk Foundation Founded
In 2001, Elon Musk founded the Musk Foundation, whose stated purpose is to provide solar-power energy systems in disaster areas and support human space exploration, pediatrics, renewable energy, and safe artificial intelligence.
2001: Renaming to PayPal
In 2001, under Peter Thiel's leadership, X.com was renamed PayPal, focusing on the PayPal service.
May 2002: Founding of SpaceX
In May 2002, Elon Musk founded SpaceX and became the company's CEO and Chief Engineer.
2002: Musk Foundation Donates to OpenAI
From 2002 to 2018, the Musk Foundation donated nearly half of its $25 million directly to Elon Musk's OpenAI.
2002: Death of Nevada Musk
In 2002, Elon Musk and Justine Wilson's first child, Nevada Musk, died of sudden infant death syndrome at the age of 10 weeks.
2002: Musk Becomes a U.S. Citizen
In 2002, Elon Musk became a U.S. citizen.
2002: U.S. Citizenship and PayPal Acquisition
In 2002, Elon Musk became a U.S. citizen. Also in 2002, PayPal, which originated as X.com, was acquired by eBay for $1.5 billion.
2002: Founding of SpaceX
In 2002, Elon Musk founded SpaceX and became its CEO and chief engineer.
2002: PayPal Acquired by eBay
In 2002, PayPal was acquired by eBay for $1.5 billion in stock, with Elon Musk receiving $175.8 million as the largest shareholder.
July 2003: Tesla Motors Incorporation
In July 2003, Tesla Motors, later Tesla, Inc., was incorporated by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning.
February 2004: Musk Leads Tesla's Series A Investment
In February 2004, Elon Musk led the Series A round of investment in Tesla, investing $6.35 million and becoming the majority shareholder.
2004: Musk and Wilson Have Twins
In 2004, Elon Musk and Justine Wilson had twins through in vitro fertilization (IVF).
2004: Joining Tesla, Inc.
In 2004, Elon Musk joined Tesla, Inc., as an early investor.
2006: Musk and Wilson Have Triplets
In 2006, Elon Musk and Justine Wilson had triplets through in vitro fertilization (IVF).
2006: SolarCity Founded
In 2006, Elon Musk provided the initial concept and financial capital for SolarCity, which was founded by his cousins Lyndon and Peter Rive.
2007: Conflicts in Tesla
In 2007, a series of escalating conflicts led to Martin Eberhard's ousting from Tesla.
2008: Musk and Wilson Divorce
In 2008, Elon Musk and Justine Wilson divorced and began sharing custody of their children.
2008: Musk Assumes Leadership of Tesla
In 2008, Elon Musk assumed leadership of Tesla as CEO and product architect.
2008: Becoming CEO of Tesla
In 2008, Elon Musk became the CEO and product architect of Tesla, Inc.
2008: Musk Begins Dating Talulah Riley
In 2008, Elon Musk began dating English actress Talulah Riley.
2008: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics George Low Transportation Award
In 2008, Elon Musk received the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics George Low Transportation Award for his contributions to the development of the Falcon rockets.
2008: Musk Supports Barack Obama
In 2008, Elon Musk supported Barack Obama in the presidential election, marking his early involvement in American politics.
2008: Inspiration for Tony Stark in Iron Man
In 2008, Elon Musk was a partial inspiration for the characterization of Tony Stark in the Marvel film Iron Man.
2008: Tesla Roadster Delivery
In 2008, Tesla began delivery of the Roadster, its first mass-production all-electric car.
2009: Lawsuit Settlement with Eberhard
In 2009, a lawsuit settlement with Martin Eberhard designated Elon Musk as a Tesla co-founder.
2010: Cameo Appearance in Iron Man 2
In 2010, Elon Musk had a cameo appearance in the film Iron Man 2.
2010: Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Gold Space Medal
In 2010, Elon Musk received the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Gold Space Medal for his contributions to the development of the Falcon rockets.
2010: Tesla's Initial Public Offering
In 2010, Tesla had its initial public offering, after which its stock rose significantly.
2010: Time's Most Influential People List
In 2010, Time listed Elon Musk as one of the most influential people in the world.
2012: Musk and Riley Divorce
In 2012, Elon Musk and Talulah Riley divorced.
2012: Royal Aeronautical Society Gold Medal
In 2012, Elon Musk received the Royal Aeronautical Society Gold Medal for his contributions to the development of the Falcon rockets.
2012: Musk Supports Barack Obama
In 2012, Elon Musk supported Barack Obama in the presidential election, demonstrating his political engagement.
2012: Launch of Model S
In 2012, Tesla launched the Model S, a four-door sedan.
2012: Dragon Vehicle Docks with ISS
In 2012, the Dragon vehicle successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS), marking a first for a commercial spacecraft.
August 2013: Musk Announces Plans for Vactrain
In August 2013, Elon Musk announced his plans for a version of a vactrain, and assigned engineers from SpaceX and Tesla to design the transport system between Greater Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area.
2013: SolarCity as Second Largest Provider
By 2013, SolarCity was the second largest provider of solar power systems in the United States.
2013: Cameo in Machete Kills
In 2013, Elon Musk made a cameo appearance in the film Machete Kills.
2013: Time's Most Influential People List
In 2013, Time listed Elon Musk as one of the most influential people in the world.
2014: Musk Files for Divorce from Riley (First Time)
In 2014, Elon Musk briefly filed for divorce from Talulah Riley.
2014: Promotion of Advanced Production Facility
In 2014, Elon Musk promoted the idea of SolarCity building an advanced production facility in Buffalo, New York.
December 2015: Musk Co-founds OpenAI
In December 2015, Elon Musk co-founded OpenAI, a not-for-profit artificial intelligence research company, with the aim of developing safe and beneficial artificial general intelligence.
2015: Appearance in The Simpsons
In 2015, Elon Musk appeared in The Simpsons episode "The Musk Who Fell to Earth" and The Big Bang Theory episode "The Platonic Permutation". He also contributed interviews to the documentary Racing Extinction.
2015: Honorary Doctorate from Yale University
In 2015, Elon Musk received an honorary doctorate in engineering and technology from Yale University and an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Honorary Membership.
2015: Launch of Model X
In 2015, Tesla launched the Model X, a crossover vehicle.
2016: Co-founding Neuralink
In 2016, Elon Musk co-founded Neuralink, a company focused on brain-computer interfaces.
2016: Musk and Riley Finalize Second Divorce
In 2016, Elon Musk finalized a second divorce from Talulah Riley.
2016: Cameo in Why Him?
In 2016, Elon Musk made a cameo appearance in the film Why Him?. He also appeared in South Park, and contributed to the documentary Lo and Behold.
2016: Musk Supports Hillary Clinton
In 2016, Elon Musk supported Hillary Clinton in the presidential election, aligning himself with the Democratic candidate.
2016: Tesla Acquires SolarCity
In 2016, Tesla acquired SolarCity for $2 billion and merged it with its battery unit to form Tesla Energy. This acquisition led to a drop in Tesla's stock price and a shareholder lawsuit alleging the deal benefited Musk at Tesla's expense.
2017: Appearance in Young Sheldon
In 2017, Elon Musk appeared in the Young Sheldon episode "A Patch, a Modem, and a Zantac®".
2017: Musk Dates Amber Heard
In 2017, Elon Musk dated Amber Heard for several months after reportedly pursuing her since 2012.
2017: Musk Founds the Boring Company
In 2017, Elon Musk founded the Boring Company, to construct tunnels for high-speed underground transportation, aiming to alleviate traffic congestion in major cities. The company also began initial construction of a test trench on SpaceX premises.
2017: Acquisition of X.com Domain
In 2017, Elon Musk purchased the domain X.com from PayPal for an undisclosed amount, citing sentimental value.
2017: Launch of Model 3
In 2017, Tesla launched the Model 3, a mass-market sedan.
2017: Completion of SolarCity Factory
In 2017, construction of the SolarCity factory in Buffalo, New York, was completed.
2017: Musk Expresses Interest in Buying Twitter
In early 2017, Elon Musk expressed interest in acquiring Twitter and questioned the platform's commitment to freedom of speech, foreshadowing his later involvement with the company.
2018: Musk Foundation Donates to OpenAI
From 2002 to 2018, the Musk Foundation donated nearly half of its $25 million directly to Elon Musk's OpenAI.
2018: Musk Confirms Relationship with Grimes
In 2018, Elon Musk and Canadian musician Grimes confirmed they were dating.
2018: Musk Leaves OpenAI Board
In 2018, Elon Musk departed from the OpenAI board, marking a change in his involvement with the artificial intelligence research company he co-founded.
2018: Fellow of the Royal Society
In 2018, Elon Musk was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS).
2018: Musk Sued by SEC Over Tesla Tweet
In 2018, Elon Musk was sued by the SEC for tweeting that funding had been secured to take Tesla private, leading to allegations of securities fraud and a settlement where Musk and Tesla were fined.
2018: The Boring Company Debuts Los Angeles Tunnel
In 2018, The Boring Company debuted a less than two-mile-long tunnel in Los Angeles to journalists, utilizing Tesla Model Xs for transportation, although the ride quality at suboptimal speeds was noted as rough.
2018: Time's Most Influential People List
In 2018, Time listed Elon Musk as one of the most influential people in the world.
2018: Lawsuit Filed Regarding Musk's Tesla Pay Package
In 2018, a lawsuit was filed regarding Elon Musk's $55 billion pay package from Tesla, which was later rescinded in January 2024.
March 2019: Musk Releases "RIP Harambe" Rap Track
In March 2019, Elon Musk released a rap track titled "RIP Harambe" on SoundCloud under his own label, Emo G Records.
May 2019: First Large Starlink Constellation Deployed
In May 2019, the first large constellation of Starlink satellites was deployed.
2019: Cameo in Men in Black: International
In 2019, Elon Musk made a cameo appearance in the film Men in Black: International and appeared in Rick and Morty.
2019: SEC Requests Contempt Against Musk
In 2019, the SEC asked a court to hold Elon Musk in contempt for allegedly violating the terms of the 2018 settlement agreement by tweeting about Tesla's car production.
2019: Development of Starship
Since 2019, SpaceX has been developing Starship, a reusable, super heavy-lift launch vehicle.
January 2020: Tesla Directors Settle SolarCity Lawsuit
In January 2020, Tesla directors settled a lawsuit related to the SolarCity acquisition, leaving Elon Musk as the sole remaining defendant. The lawsuit alleged the purchase of SolarCity was for Musk's benefit at the expense of Tesla and its shareholders.
May 2020: Resignation from Chairman of the Board
In May 2020, Elon Musk resigned from his position as chairman of the board as part of a settlement with the SEC over his tweets about taking Tesla private.
2020: Birth of Musk and Grimes' First Child
In 2020, Elon Musk and Grimes had their first child, initially named "X Æ A-12", which later had to be altered to comply with California regulations.
2020: First Crewed Flight
In 2020, SpaceX launched its first crewed flight, the Demo-2, becoming the first private company to put astronauts into orbit.
2020: Launch of Model Y
In 2020, Tesla launched the Model Y, a crossover vehicle.
2020: Judge Blocks Lawsuit Over Musk Tweet
In 2020, a judge blocked a lawsuit claiming that a tweet by Elon Musk regarding Tesla's stock price violated the agreement with the SEC.
2020: End of Joint Venture with Panasonic
In early 2020, the SolarCity factory operated as a joint venture with Panasonic until its conclusion.
2020: Musk Relocates to Texas
In late 2020, Elon Musk relocated from California to Cameron County, Texas, citing California's complacency regarding its economic success.
2020: Twitter Moderation of Hunter Biden Laptop Controversy
In late 2022, Elon Musk released internal documents related to Twitter's moderation of the Hunter Biden laptop controversy in the lead-up to the 2020 presidential election, sparking further debate and scrutiny.
2020: Musk Endorses Andrew Yang and Kanye West
In the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries, Elon Musk endorsed candidate Andrew Yang and expressed support for Yang's proposed universal basic income. Musk also endorsed Kanye West's 2020 presidential campaign.
2020: Tesla Becomes Most Valuable Carmaker
In the summer of 2020, Tesla became the most valuable carmaker and entered the S&P 500 later that year.
September 2021: Musk and Grimes "Semi-Separated"
In September 2021, Elon Musk confirmed reports that he and Grimes were "semi-separated".
October 2021: Tesla's Market Capitalization Reaches $1 Trillion
In October 2021, Tesla reached a market capitalization of $1 trillion, becoming the sixth company in U.S. history to do so.
December 2021: Musk States He is Single
In December 2021, Elon Musk stated in an interview with Time that he was single.
2021: Musk Foundation Assets Reach $9.4 Billion
By the end of 2021, the Musk Foundation's assets reached $9.4 billion, but it only dispensed $160 million to charities that year.
2021: Musk Has Twins with Shivon Zilis
In 2021, Elon Musk had twins with Shivon Zilis via IVF.
2021: Musk Opposes Build Back Better Act
In 2021, Elon Musk publicly voiced his opposition to the Build Back Better Act, a $3.5 trillion legislative package endorsed by Joe Biden, citing concerns about government spending and economic impact.
2021: Time's Person of the Year
In 2021, Elon Musk was named Time magazine's Person of the Year.
2021: Neuralink Demonstrates Macaque Playing Pong
In 2021, Neuralink released a video showcasing a macaque playing the video game Pong using a Neuralink implant, highlighting the progress in brain-computer interface technology.
2021: Musk Foundation Criticized for Donations
In 2021, the Musk Foundation faced criticism for "self-serving" donations to efforts close to Musk's family and companies, as well as its low payout ratio. He donated $6 billion to his own foundation despite the World Food Programme having a plan to feed 42 million people for a year.
2021: Musk Discloses Asperger Syndrome
In 2021, while hosting Saturday Night Live, Elon Musk stated that he has Asperger syndrome, now merged with autism spectrum disorder, although he has not been medically diagnosed.
2021: Boring Company Completes Las Vegas Convention Center Tunnel
In early 2021, The Boring Company completed a tunnel beneath the Las Vegas Convention Center. Local officials have approved further expansions of the tunnel system.
October 27, 2022: Musk Acquires Twitter
On October 27, 2022, Elon Musk completed his acquisition of Twitter for approximately $44 billion, after backtracking on his initial decision to withdraw from the deal.
December 2022: Musk Bans ElonJet Account on Twitter
In December 2022, Elon Musk banned the ElonJet account on Twitter, which tracked his private jet usage, and temporarily banned journalists who reported on the incident.
2022: Musk Shifts Political Contributions Towards Republicans
Beginning in 2022, Elon Musk's political contributions shifted to mostly supporting Republican candidates, starting with his first vote for a Republican in the Texas's 34th congressional district special election.
2022: Musk Votes Republican for First Time
Elon Musk supported Democratic candidates up until 2022, at which point he voted for a Republican for the first time, marking a shift in his political alignment.
2022: Musk Announces Support for Republican Party
In 2022, Elon Musk announced that he would start supporting Republican Party candidates and donated over $50 million to Citizens for Sanity, a conservative political action committee.
2022: Musk Purchases Twitter Stock
In 2022, Elon Musk purchased Twitter stock, which later became the subject of an SEC investigation.
2022: Elected to the National Academy of Engineering
In 2022, Elon Musk was elected to the National Academy of Engineering.
2022: Neuralink Announces Clinical Trials
In 2022, Neuralink announced that clinical trials for its brain-computer interface technology would begin by the end of the year, marking a step forward in its mission to integrate AI with the human brain.
2022: Federal Probe Launched into Neuralink Animal Welfare
In 2022, Neuralink faced scrutiny as a federal probe was launched to investigate potential animal welfare violations related to its testing practices, raising concerns about animal cruelty.
2022: Musk's Child Changes Name and Gender
In 2022, one of the elder twins of Elon Musk and Justine Wilson came out as a trans woman and obtained a court order to change her name and gender on her birth certificate, adopting her mother's surname.
February 2023: Jury Finds Musk Not Liable in Shareholder Lawsuit
In February 2023, a jury found Elon Musk and Tesla not liable in a shareholder lawsuit over a 2018 tweet about taking Tesla private.
June 2023: Musk Hosts Bipartisan X Spaces
From June 2023 to January 2024, Elon Musk hosted a bipartisan set of X Spaces with Republican and Democratic candidates, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Vivek Ramaswamy, and Dean Phillips.
July 2023: Musk Launches xAI
In July 2023, Elon Musk launched xAI, an artificial intelligence company, with the goal of developing a generative AI program to compete with existing offerings like OpenAI's ChatGPT.
September 2023: FDA Approves Neuralink Human Trials
In September 2023, Neuralink received approval from the Food and Drug Administration to begin six-year human trials for its brain-computer interface technology.
October 2023: Grimes Sues Musk Over Parental Rights
In October 2023, Grimes sued Elon Musk over parental rights and custody of their child, X Æ A-Xii.
October 2023: SEC Sues Musk Over Twitter Stock Investigation
In October 2023, the SEC sued Elon Musk for refusing to testify a third time regarding the investigation into his purchase of Twitter stock in 2022.
2023: Errol Musk on Zambian Emerald Mine
In 2023, Errol Musk clarified that the deal he made regarding the Zambian emerald mine was to receive a portion of the emeralds produced at three small mines.
2023: Launch of Cybertruck
In 2023, Tesla launched the Cybertruck, a pickup truck.
January 2024: Musk Hosts Bipartisan X Spaces
From June 2023 to January 2024, Elon Musk hosted a bipartisan set of X Spaces with Republican and Democratic candidates, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Vivek Ramaswamy, and Dean Phillips.
January 2024: Judge Rescinds Musk's Tesla Pay Package
In January 2024, Delaware Judge Kathaleen McCormick ruled that Elon Musk's $55 billion pay package from Tesla be rescinded, deeming it unfair to shareholders in a 2018 lawsuit.
January 2024: Reports of Musk's Alleged Drug Use
Since January 2024, media outlets have reported on Elon Musk's alleged use of drugs such as ketamine, LSD, ecstasy, mushrooms, and cocaine.
February 2024: Judge Orders Musk to Testify in SEC Investigation
In February 2024, Judge Laurel Beeler ruled that Elon Musk must testify again in the SEC investigation related to his purchase of Twitter stock.
July 2024: Musk Endorses Donald Trump for President
In July 2024, after the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, Elon Musk endorsed him for president. Musk joined Trump on stage at a campaign rally and promoted conspiracy theories to support Trump.
August 2024: Trump Commits to Giving Musk an Advisory Role
In August 2024, the concept of DOGE emerged in a discussion between Musk and Donald Trump, and Trump committed to giving Musk an advisory role, which Musk accepted.
December 2024: Musk Suggests Federal Budget Cuts
In November and December 2024, Elon Musk suggested that the organization, DOGE, could help to cut the U.S. federal budget, consolidate federal agencies, and eliminate the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
2024: Musk Supports Far-Right Causes
As of 2024, Elon Musk began supporting international far-right political parties, activists, and causes. He also shared far-right misinformation and numerous conspiracy theories, leading to his views being generally described as right-wing.
2024: Musk Supports Alternative for Germany
In 2024, Elon Musk expressed support for the far-right Alternative for Germany party in Germany, aligning himself with controversial political ideologies.
2024: Musk Has Child with Shivon Zilis via Surrogacy
In 2024, Elon Musk had a child with Shivon Zilis via surrogacy.
2024: Largest Donor in US Presidential Election
In 2024, Elon Musk was the largest donor in the U.S. presidential election and is a supporter of global far-right figures, causes, and political parties.
January 2025: Appointment to DOGE
In January 2025, Elon Musk was appointed head of President Trump's newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
January 2025: SEC Files Lawsuit Against Musk for Securities Violations
In January 2025, the SEC filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk for securities violations related to his purchase of Twitter.
January 2025: Musk Designated as Special Government Employee
In January 2025, the organization, DOGE, was created by executive order, and Musk was designated a "special government employee" and a senior advisor to the president.
February 2025: Musk Criticized for Treatment of Federal Employees
In February 2025, Elon Musk faced criticism for his treatment of federal government employees, including his influence over mass layoffs and demanding reports of prior work with non-compliance leading to resignation or termination.
February 2025: Wealthiest Person in the World
In February 2025, Forbes estimated Elon Musk's net worth to be US$353 billion, making him the wealthiest person in the world. Since 2025, he has been a senior advisor to United States president Donald Trump.
February 25, 2025: Musk's Estimated Net Worth
As of February 25, 2025, Elon Musk's estimated net worth was US$343 billion according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index and $353 billion according to Forbes, making him the wealthiest individual, primarily due to his stakes in Tesla and SpaceX.
2025: Musk's Appearance at CPAC
During a 2025 Conservative Political Action Conference, Elon Musk, while wearing a gold chain, sunglasses, and holding a chainsaw, stated: "I am become meme".
2025: Musk and Zilis Have Another Child
In 2025, Elon Musk and Shivon Zilis had another child.
