Elon Musk Net Worth

Introduction

Elon Musk is one of the most influential entrepreneurs, engineers, and innovators of the 21st century. Best known as the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, Musk has transformed industries ranging from electric vehicles and clean energy to space exploration and social media. With his visionary approach and relentless drive, Musk has amassed not only global fame but also one of the largest personal fortunes in history.

As of 2025, Elon Musk’s net worth is estimated at $230–$250 billion, making him either the richest or second-richest person in the world, depending on fluctuations in Tesla’s stock price and his other holdings.

Elon Musk’s Net Worth

Elon Musk’s fortune primarily comes from his stakes in Tesla, SpaceX, and other ventures.

• Tesla: Musk owns around 13% of Tesla, the world’s most valuable automaker. The company’s stock performance directly drives much of his wealth.

• SpaceX: Musk holds an estimated 42% stake in SpaceX, valued at over $150 billion in early 2025, making his portion alone worth more than $60 billion.

• Other Ventures: Musk also has investments in The Boring Company, Neuralink, and X (formerly Twitter).

His net worth is highly volatile, often shifting by billions in a single day due to stock market fluctuations. For example, in late 2021, his fortune briefly surpassed $340 billion, the highest ever recorded for an individual at that time.

Elon Musk Personal Details

Attribute	Details
Full Name	Elon Reeve Musk
Date of Birth	June 28, 1971
Age (2025)	54 years
Place of Birth	Pretoria, South Africa
Nationality	South African, Canadian, American
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	~82 kg (181 lbs)
Zodiac Sign	Cancer
Parents	Maye Musk (mother), Errol Musk (father)
Siblings	Kimbal Musk (brother), Tosca Musk (sister)
Education	University of Pennsylvania (Physics & Economics)
Marital Status	Divorced
Ex-Spouses	Justine Wilson, Talulah Riley
Children	11 known children
Partner(s)	Grimes (Claire Boucher), Shivon Zilis
Current Residence	Texas, USA
Profession	Entrepreneur, Engineer, Investor
Companies	Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, The Boring Company, X
Net Worth (2025)	$230–$250 billion

Early Life and Background

Full Name: Elon Reeve Musk
Date of Birth: June 28, 1971
Place of Birth: Pretoria, South Africa
Nationality: South African, Canadian, American

Musk was born to Maye Musk, a Canadian model and dietitian, and Errol Musk, a South African electromechanical engineer. He displayed an early fascination with technology and entrepreneurship. By age 12, Musk had already developed and sold a video game called Blastar.

Growing up, Musk was known as an avid reader. He consumed science fiction, encyclopedias, and computer programming books, which shaped his worldview. His childhood was not without struggles—he faced bullying in school and challenges at home.

Education

Musk’s educational path reflects both brilliance and independence:

• Attended Waterkloof House Preparatory School and later Pretoria Boys High School in South Africa.

• Briefly studied at the University of Pretoria before moving to Canada.

• Attended Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario for two years.

• Transferred to the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned degrees in Physics and Economics (Wharton School).

Musk also began a PhD program in applied physics at Stanford University but dropped out after just two days to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities in the booming internet sector of the 1990s.

Career Highlights

Zip2 and PayPal

Musk’s entrepreneurial journey began with Zip2, a software company co-founded with his brother Kimbal in 1995. It was sold to Compaq for $307 million in 1999.

He then co-founded X.com, an online payment company, which later became PayPal after a merger. In 2002, eBay acquired PayPal for $1.5 billion, giving Musk $165 million from the deal.

SpaceX

In 2002, Musk founded Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) to make space travel more affordable and eventually colonize Mars. SpaceX achieved milestones like:

• First privately funded spacecraft to reach orbit (Falcon 1, 2008).

• First privately funded spacecraft to dock with the International Space Station (2012).

• Development of reusable rockets and the Starship program.

Tesla, Inc.

Musk joined Tesla Motors in 2004, one year after its founding, and became CEO in 2008. Under his leadership:

• Tesla revolutionized the electric vehicle industry with cars like the Model S, Model 3, Model X, and Model Y.

• Expanded into energy solutions through Tesla Energy and Powerwall.

• Tesla became the world’s most valuable automaker by market capitalization.

Other Ventures

• Neuralink (2016): Brain-machine interface technology.

• The Boring Company (2016): Tunnel construction and infrastructure.

• X (formerly Twitter) (2022): Musk acquired Twitter for $44 billion, later rebranding it as “X” with a vision of creating an “everything app.”

Lifestyle and Favorites

• Favorite Book: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

• Favorite Food: Barbecue, French cuisine, and Diet Coke

• Hobbies: Reading, gaming, anime, and innovation projects

• Cars Owned: Tesla Roadster, McLaren F1, Lotus Esprit submarine car from James Bond

Personal Life

Musk has had a complex personal life, marked by marriages, relationships, and a large family.

• Married Justine Wilson (2000–2008), with whom he had six children (one of whom passed away in infancy).

• Later married and divorced Talulah Riley twice.

• Has children with musician Grimes (Claire Boucher), including a son named X Æ A-Xii and a daughter named Exa Dark Sideræl.

• As of 2025, Musk has 11 known children.

Despite his immense wealth, Musk is known for periods of living relatively modestly—at one point stating he was living in a small prefabricated house near SpaceX headquarters in Texas.

Philanthropy

Musk has pledged to donate the majority of his wealth through the Giving Pledge. His charitable contributions include:

• Over $100 million toward a carbon removal prize.

• Donations to renewable energy projects and COVID-19 relief.

• A focus on education, AI safety, and sustainability.

Controversies and Public Perception

Musk’s career has not been without controversy. He is known for his outspoken presence on social media, sometimes leading to legal and financial consequences. Notable controversies include:

• A 2018 tweet about taking Tesla private at $420 per share, which led to an SEC lawsuit.

• Criticism over working conditions at Tesla factories.

• Public disputes on X (Twitter) with journalists, politicians, and other business leaders.

Despite controversies, Musk remains admired by millions for his boldness, innovation, and vision.

Elon Musk Net Worth Compared to Other Billionaires (2025)

Rank	Name	Net Worth (2025 est.)	Industry
1	Elon Musk	$230–$250 billion	Tech, Automotive, Space
2	Bernard Arnault	$220 billion	Luxury Goods (LVMH)
3	Jeff Bezos	$170–$180 billion	E-commerce (Amazon)
4	Mark Zuckerberg	$160 billion	Social Media (Meta)

50 Unknown Facts About Elon Musk

1. He learned computer programming at age 10 using a manual and a Commodore computer.

2. At 12, he created and sold a video game called Blastar.

3. Musk once read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica by age 9.

4. He moved to Canada at age 17 to avoid South African military service.

5. Musk worked odd jobs, including cleaning boilers for $18 an hour.

6. He once survived on just $1 a day by eating hot dogs and oranges.

7. Musk dropped out of a Stanford PhD program after just two days.

8. He originally wanted to work in the video game industry.

9. Musk invested most of his PayPal fortune into Tesla and SpaceX, nearly going broke in 2008.

10. He once owned a McLaren F1 sports car but crashed it without insurance.

11. Musk has appeared in movies like Iron Man 2 and TV shows like The Big Bang Theory.

12. Robert Downey Jr. partly based Tony Stark’s character on Musk.

13. Musk personally approved Tesla’s “Ludicrous Mode” acceleration feature name.

14. He has claimed to sleep on the factory floor during Tesla production crises.

15. Musk has said he wants to die on Mars—just not on impact.

16. He was bullied so badly as a child he once needed hospitalization.

17. Musk is a big fan of the video game Overwatch.

18. He owns a submarine car from the James Bond movie The Spy Who Loved Me.

19. Musk has Asperger’s syndrome, revealed during a 2021 SNL episode.

20. His mother, Maye Musk, is a professional model who appeared in CoverGirl ads.

21. Musk nearly sold Tesla to Google in 2013 when the company was struggling.

22. He is fluent in Afrikaans but rarely speaks it publicly.

23. Musk named one of his sons “X Æ A-Xii,” sparking global curiosity.

24. His daughter with Grimes is named Exa Dark Sideræl.

25. He has 11 known children with different partners.

26. Musk has stated that he doesn’t enjoy vacations—calling them dangerous distractions.

27. His favorite anime includes Death Note and Evangelion.

28. Musk has expressed admiration for The Lord of the Rings.

29. He bought Twitter in 2022 for $44 billion, later renaming it X.

30. Musk was once sued for defamation after calling a cave rescuer a “pedo guy.”

31. He has admitted to smoking marijuana on Joe Rogan’s podcast.

32. Musk has said AI is humanity’s biggest existential risk.

33. He co-founded OpenAI in 2015 but later left its board.

34. Musk once hosted Saturday Night Live in 2021.

35. He often responds to fan tweets at odd hours of the night.

36. Musk’s Tesla Roadster was launched into space aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.

37. He’s a big fan of memes and often posts them himself.

38. Musk named his tunneling startup The Boring Company as a pun.

39. He once sold flamethrowers through The Boring Company—20,000 units sold.

40. Musk pledged to donate half his wealth through the Giving Pledge.

41. He has been criticized for working up to 120 hours a week.

42. Musk nearly sold X.com before it became PayPal.

43. He admires Thomas Edison more than Nikola Tesla.

44. Musk once said his personal hero was Benjamin Franklin.

45. He attempted to buy Twitter as early as 2017.

46. His favorite drink is Diet Coke.

47. Musk has said he’d rather read than party.

48. He sometimes codes during his free time.

49. Musk once tried to start a video game company in his teens.

50. He dreams of making humanity a “multi-planetary species.”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is Elon Musk’s current net worth?
As of September 2025, Elon Musk’s net worth is estimated at $230–$250 billion.

2. How did Elon Musk make his money?
He built his fortune primarily through Tesla, SpaceX, and earlier ventures like PayPal.

3. What companies does Elon Musk own?
Musk is associated with Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, The Boring Company, and X (formerly Twitter).

4. How many children does Elon Musk have?
Musk has 11 known children with different partners.

5. What is Elon Musk’s favorite book?
He has often cited The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams as a major influence.

6. Does Elon Musk live in a mansion?
Despite his wealth, Musk has said he lives in a small modular home near SpaceX’s facilities in Texas, though he previously owned several luxury properties.

Elon Musk Timeline: Year-by-Year Milestones