Born on June 28, 1971, in Pretoria, South Africa, Musk showed an early interest in computers and technology. He attended the University of Pretoria briefly before moving to Canada to attend Queen's University. He later transferred to the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned dual bachelor's degrees in physics and economics.
After completing his education, Musk co-founded Zip2, a software company that provided business directories and maps for newspapers. The company was eventually sold to Compaq for over $300 million.
In 2002, Musk founded SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies Corp.), with the goal of reducing the cost of space travel and eventually colonizing Mars. SpaceX has since developed the Falcon 1, Falcon 9, and Falcon Heavy rockets, as well as the Dragon spacecraft, which has been used to resupply the International Space Station. Musk's vision for SpaceX includes enabling human exploration of Mars and making life multiplanetary.
In addition to SpaceX, Musk is also involved in the electric vehicle industry. He became the majority shareholder and took over as CEO of Tesla Motors (now Tesla, Inc.) in 2008. Under his leadership, Tesla has become a leading manufacturer of electric vehicles, including the highly popular Tesla Model S, Model 3, and Model X. Musk's goal with Tesla is to accelerate the transition to sustainable transport and energy.
Musk's other ventures include Neuralink, a neurotechnology company focused on developing implantable brain-machine interfaces, and The Boring Company, which aims to develop tunneling technology to alleviate traffic congestion.
Throughout his career, Musk has received numerous accolades and recognition for his contributions to technology and innovation. He has also been known for his outspoken and sometimes controversial statements on social media.
