Information | Detail |
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Occupation | CEO of Tesla, Inc. |
Education | Bachelor of Science in Physics and Economics from the University of Pennsylvania |
Nationality | South African-born Canadian-American |
Residence | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Date of Birth | June 28, 1971 |
Elon Musk is a South African-born Canadian-American business magnate, investor, engineer, and inventor. He is the founder, CEO, and lead designer of SpaceX; co-founder, CEO, and product architect of Tesla, Inc.; and founder of The Boring Company. He was also co-founder and initial co-chairman of OpenAI, a nonprofit research company.
Musk is one of the most influential entrepreneurs of the 21st century, and is widely considered to be one of the most innovative and successful business leaders in the world. He has been credited with transforming the automotive industry, space exploration, and renewable energy.
Musk was born on June 28, 1971, in Pretoria, South Africa, to a Canadian mother and South African father. He attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics and Economics. He then moved to California to pursue a Ph.D. in Applied Physics and Material Science at Stanford University, but dropped out after two days to pursue his entrepreneurial dreams.
Musk's career began in 1995, when he co-founded Zip2, a web software company, with his brother Kimbal. In 1999, Compaq acquired Zip2 for $307 million. Musk then founded X.com, an online financial services and payment company, in 1999. In 2000, X.com merged with Confinity, which had launched PayPal the previous year. Musk served as the CEO of PayPal until its sale to eBay in 2002 for $1.5 billion.
In 2002, Musk founded SpaceX, an aerospace manufacturer and space transport services company. In 2008, SpaceX became the first private company to launch a liquid-fueled rocket into orbit. In 2012, SpaceX became the first private company to send a spacecraft to the International Space Station.
In 2003, Musk co-founded Tesla, Inc., an electric vehicle and clean energy company. He served as the CEO and product architect of Tesla until 2019, when he stepped down to focus on his other ventures.
Musk has been romantically linked to several celebrities, including actress Amber Heard, singer Grimes, and musician Claire Elise Boucher. He has also been friends with actor Robert Downey Jr., rapper Kanye West, and entrepreneur Richard Branson.
Musk is known for his inspirational quotes and has been quoted saying: “When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor.” He has also said: “If something is important enough, even if the odds are against you, you should still do it.”
Musk has been criticized for his outspokenness and brash behavior, as well as for his involvement in several controversies. In 2018, he was sued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for making false and misleading statements about taking Tesla private. He was also criticized for his comments about the COVID-19 pandemic, which some viewed as irresponsible.
Musk is an avid reader and has been known to read books on a wide range of topics, including philosophy, science, and history. He is also a philanthropist and has donated millions of dollars to various charities and causes.
Musk is a member of the Mars Society and has expressed his desire to colonize Mars. He has also proposed the Hyperloop, a high-speed transportation system that would use vacuum tubes to transport passengers between cities.