Elon Musk, 54 years old, is a South African‑born businessman and entrepreneur whose net worth is estimated at US $852 billion as of February 2026, making him the world’s wealthiest person. This biography traces a meteoric career that began with the 1995 co‑founding of Zip2, continued through the creation of X.com (later PayPal), and now includes leadership of Tesla, SpaceX, Twitter and the AI startup xAI. Born in Pretoria on June 28 1971, Musk emigrated to Canada in 1989, earned dual bachelor’s degrees from the University of Pennsylvania in 1997, and later became a U.S. citizen. He has been married several times, most notably to author Justine Wilson and actress Talulah Riley, and his personal life remains as closely watched as his groundbreaking ventures.
Early Life and Education
Elon Reeve Musk, born on June 28, 1971, in Pretoria, South Africa, is the son of Maye Musk, a Canadian-born model and dietitian, and Errol Musk, an electromechanical engineer. His Canadian citizenship was secured through his mother, while his father’s South African roots established his dual heritage. At age 18, Musk emigrated to Canada to escape mandatory military service in South Africa, later gaining U.S. citizenship in 2002.
After earning bachelor’s degrees in physics and economics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1997, Musk relocated to California. At age 24, he co-founded Zip2, a web software company sold for $307 million in 1999. He then launched X.com, which merged to form PayPal, acquired by eBay in 2002 for $1.5 billion. These ventures showcased his entrepreneurial acumen before he invested heavily in Tesla and SpaceX, revolutionizing electric vehicles and space exploration.
As of February 2026, Musk’s net worth is estimated at $852 billion, making him the world’s wealthiest person. His biography underscores a trajectory from early tech entrepreneurship to leading groundbreaking ventures like Tesla and SpaceX, solidifying his legacy as a transformative figure in modern innovation.
Career and Business Ventures
Elon Musk’s career began at age 24 when he co-founded Zip2 in 1995, a software firm that pioneered online city-guide services; its 1999 sale netted him $22 million and seeded every later empire. That same year he launched X.com, an online bank that evolved into PayPal after a 2000 merger; when eBay bought PayPal in 2002, Musk walked away with $165 million, capital that financed Tesla, SpaceX, and his eventual net worth of US$852 billion as of February 2026.
Moving to California in 1997 with fresh University of Pennsylvania degrees, Musk risked his entire windfall on rockets and electric cars, turning early failures into market dominance: Tesla’s 2010 IPO made him a paper billionaire at 39, while SpaceX’s 2015 reusable-rocket landing rewrote aerospace economics. His salary at Tesla is a token $1, but stock options have repeatedly made him the world’s richest person since 2025, a status amplified by his 2022 acquisition of Twitter and 2023 launch of xAI.
Though biography headlines track rockets, cars, and AI, Musk’s personal timeline is equally dramatic—he became a U.S. citizen in 2002, has been married three times (twice to actress Talulah Riley), and is father to eleven children. Standing roughly 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m), he jokes that his weight fluctuates with 120-hour work weeks, yet the relentless schedule continues to redefine 21st-century industry.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Elon Reeve Musk |
| Date of Birth | June 28, 1971 |
| Place of Birth | Pretoria, South Africa |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Profession/Occupation | Businessman and entrepreneur |
| Net Worth | US$852 billion |
| Education | Bachelor’s degrees in 1997 from the University of Pennsylvania |
| Notable Works/Achievements | Leadership of Tesla, SpaceX, Twitter, and xAI |
Personal Life and Relationships
Personal Life and Relationships
Elon Musk was born on June 28, 1971, and has been open about his experiences growing up. In 2021, while hosting Saturday Night Live, Musk revealed that he has Asperger syndrome, an outdated term for a mild strain of autism spectrum disorder. This disclosure provided insight into his childhood and how it may have influenced his career and entrepreneurial ventures.
Musk’s personal life has been marked by significant relocations. He resided in California from the early 2000s until late 2020, where both Tesla and SpaceX were founded. However, he later relocated to Cameron County, Texas, citing that California had become “complacent” about its economic success. As of February 2026, Forbes estimates his net worth to be around US$852 billion, making him the wealthiest person in the world since 2025.
Musk has been married and has children, although specific details about his personal life are not extensively documented. Born into a wealthy family in Pretoria, South Africa, Musk emigrated in 1989 to Canada, where he received Canadian citizenship. He later became an American citizen and received bachelor’s degrees in 1997 from the University of Pennsylvania.
Net Worth and Wealth
Elon Musk’s age of 54 in February 2026 underscores a career that has spanned more than three decades of relentless innovation. Born on June 28, 1971, his biography traces a path from a privileged upbringing in Pretoria to a pivotal role in shaping the future of transportation and space exploration. After earning dual bachelor’s degrees from the University of Pennsylvania in 1997, Musk launched Zip2 in 1995, then X.com, which evolved into PayPal and was sold to eBay in 2002. These early successes laid the groundwork for his later ventures—Tesla, SpaceX, Twitter, and xAI—each redefining industry standards.
By February 2026, Forbes estimates Musk’s net worth at roughly US$852 billion, cementing his status as the world’s richest person since 2025. This staggering figure reflects the cumulative value of his holdings in Tesla’s electric vehicles, SpaceX’s reusable rockets, and the acquisition of Twitter, now rebranded as X. The sheer scale of his wealth has made him a benchmark for entrepreneurial success, inspiring countless investors and innovators worldwide.
Musk’s salary has fluctuated, often tied to performance bonuses and stock options rather than a traditional paycheck. While he has been married twice, personal details remain private, and his public profile focuses on business milestones. His height and weight are not disclosed in public records, but the emphasis remains on his visionary leadership and the tangible impact of his companies on global technology and sustainability.
Views and Politics
As a businessman and entrepreneur with a net worth of around US$852 billion, Elon Musk’s views and politics have been under scrutiny. Born on June 28, 1971, Musk has had a remarkable career, leading companies like Tesla, SpaceX, Twitter, and xAI. As someone who has been married and has a significant salary, Musk’s biography is a fascinating story of success and innovation.
Musk’s political contributions have been diverse, with donations to both Democrats and Republicans. Since 2022, his contributions have mostly supported Republicans, with his first vote for a Republican going to Mayra Flores in the 2022 Texas’s 34th congressional district special election. As the wealthiest person in the world since 2025, Musk’s views and politics are closely watched by the public and media. Musk has a unique perspective on global issues due to his Canadian citizenship and American citizenship.
Legal Affairs and Controversies
At 54 years of age, Elon Musk’s biography reads like a modern‑day saga of ambition and risk. His career has taken him from co‑founding Zip2 in 1995 to steering Tesla, SpaceX, Twitter and xAI, and his net worth surged to an estimated US $852 billion by February 2026, making him the world’s wealthiest person. The most publicized legal flashpoint came in 2018 when the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission sued him over a tweet claiming secured funding to take Tesla private; the court deemed the statement false and misleading. Musk settled without admitting wrongdoing, and both he and Tesla paid $20 million fines, a landmark moment that underscored the regulatory risks of his unfiltered communication style.
Beyond the SEC case, Musk’s controversies often intersect with his personal choices. He famously forgoes a traditional salary, opting instead for performance‑based stock awards, a policy that fuels debate about executive compensation. Public records list his height at 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) and a typical weight for an executive of his stature, while his marital history—three marriages, twice to Talulah Riley—has attracted tabloid scrutiny. These elements, combined with his high‑profile tweets and occasional courtroom battles, illustrate how Musk’s legal entanglements are inseparable from the larger narrative of his unprecedented rise.
Philanthropy and Impact
Philanthropy and Impact
Elon Musk, born on June 28, 1971, is 54 years old as of 2026, and his career as a pioneering entrepreneur has significantly shaped modern technology and space exploration. With a net worth of approximately $852 billion, Musk has leveraged his wealth to drive innovation through companies like Tesla and SpaceX, which have revolutionized electric vehicles and commercial space travel. His biography highlights his leadership in transformative ventures, including the co-founding of Zip2, X.com, and PayPal. Musk’s influence extends beyond business; his acquisition of Twitter (now X) in 2022 underscores his impact on global communication. As the wealthiest person in the world since 2025, Musk has the means to contribute to various causes, although specific philanthropic initiatives are not detailed in his biography. His vast resources position him as a key figure in addressing global challenges through technological advancement.
