Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla Motors, poses for a photo in 2013.
In pictures: Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk
Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla Motors, poses for a photo in 2013.
Sarah Lee/eyevine/Redux

Updated 12:04 PM EST, Thu December 15, 2022

Elon Musk built a commercial rocket company from scratch and upended the auto industry as a high-profile evangelist for electric cars.

It has made him one of the richest people in the world.

In October, Musk completed a $44 billion deal to buy Twitter. But his time in charge of the social media platform has been rocky so far. After Twitter laid off thousands of employees, many of those remaining appeared to reject Musk's ultimatum to work "extremely hardcore," throwing the communications platform into utter disarray and raising serious questions about how much longer it will survive.

Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, has been a risk-taker throughout his career. After making a dot-com fortune in the late 1990s and early 2000s, he bet it all on long-shot startups that have paid off.

"When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor," he once said.

Musk, left, is seen with his brother, Kimbal, in this childhood photo <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Byxl2pIJrkL/?hl=en" target="_blank" target="_blank">posted by their mother, Maye</a>. Elon Musk was born June 28, 1971, in Pretoria, South Africa. His mother is a model and nutritionist. His father, Errol, is an engineer.
Musk, left, is seen with his brother, Kimbal, in this childhood photo posted by their mother, Maye. Elon Musk was born June 28, 1971, in Pretoria, South Africa. His mother is a model and nutritionist. His father, Errol, is an engineer.
From Maye Musk/Instagram
Musk is seen at left with his sister, Tosca, and Kimbal in 1976.
Musk is seen at left with his sister, Tosca, and Kimbal in 1976.
Maye Musk/A Woman Makes a Plan
"When Elon was young, I noticed that he read everything," <a href="https://observer.com/2020/01/tesla-elon-musk-old-photos-maye-musk-book/" target="_blank" target="_blank">Maye Musk wrote in her book</a> "A Woman Makes a Plan: Advice for a Lifetime of Adventure, Beauty and Success." When Elon was 12, he wrote code for a video game called "Blastar" and sold it to a computer magazine for $500.
"When Elon was young, I noticed that he read everything," Maye Musk wrote in her book "A Woman Makes a Plan: Advice for a Lifetime of Adventure, Beauty and Success." When Elon was 12, he wrote code for a video game called "Blastar" and sold it to a computer magazine for $500.
Maye Musk/A Woman Makes a Plan
Musk celebrates his 18th birthday in 1989. He would leave South Africa for Canada, where he studied at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. In 1995, Musk graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with degrees in economics and physics.
Musk celebrates his 18th birthday in 1989. He would leave South Africa for Canada, where he studied at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. In 1995, Musk graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with degrees in economics and physics.
Maye Musk/A Woman Makes a Plan
Maye Musk celebrates her 50th birthday party with her children in 1998. With her, from left, are Tosca, Kimbal and Elon. In 1995, Elon Musk co-founded Zip2 Corp., a company that developed online city guides. He would sell it to Compaq in 1999 for $307 million.
Maye Musk celebrates her 50th birthday party with her children in 1998. With her, from left, are Tosca, Kimbal and Elon. In 1995, Elon Musk co-founded Zip2 Corp., a company that developed online city guides. He would sell it to Compaq in 1999 for $307 million.
From Maye Musk/Business Insider
PayPal CEO Peter Thiel, left, and Musk pose at the company's corporate headquarters in Palo Alto, California, in 2000. Musk had co-founded X.com, an online banking and financial services company. It merged with Continuity in 2000 and was renamed PayPal. The online payment platform was acquired by eBay in a $1.5 billion deal in 2002. Musk pocketed $165 million.
PayPal CEO Peter Thiel, left, and Musk pose at the company's corporate headquarters in Palo Alto, California, in 2000. Musk had co-founded X.com, an online banking and financial services company. It merged with Continuity in 2000 and was renamed PayPal. The online payment platform was acquired by eBay in a $1.5 billion deal in 2002. Musk pocketed $165 million.
Paul Sakuma/AP
Musk poses next to a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft in 2008. Musk founded SpaceX in 2002 with the intention of making space travel cheaper and more accessible. In 2010, the Dragon became <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2010/US/12/08/space.flight/" target="_blank">the first commercial spacecraft to orbit the Earth and return</a>. In 2012, it became the first private capsule <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2012/05/25/us/spacex/" target="_blank">to connect to the International Space Station</a>.
Musk poses next to a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft in 2008. Musk founded SpaceX in 2002 with the intention of making space travel cheaper and more accessible. In 2010, the Dragon became the first commercial spacecraft to orbit the Earth and return. In 2012, it became the first private capsule to connect to the International Space Station.
Dan Tuffs/Getty Images
Musk, bottom, watches a Falcon 1 rocket lift off in 2008. It was the first privately developed liquid-fuel rocket to reach orbit.
Musk, bottom, watches a Falcon 1 rocket lift off in 2008. It was the first privately developed liquid-fuel rocket to reach orbit.
Axel Koester/Corbis/Getty Images
In 2008, Musk became CEO and product architect of Tesla Motors. Years earlier, he had joined the electric-car company as chairman of the board, overseeing its initial round of investment funding.
In 2008, Musk became CEO and product architect of Tesla Motors. Years earlier, he had joined the electric-car company as chairman of the board, overseeing its initial round of investment funding.
Patrick Tehan/Mercury News/MediaNews Group/Bay Area News/Getty Images
Musk walks with US President Barack Obama at Florida's Kennedy Space Center in 2010.
Musk walks with US President Barack Obama at Florida's Kennedy Space Center in 2010.
Alex Brandon/AP
Musk is joined by his fiancee, actress Talulah Riley, and his twin sons, Griffin and Xavier, at a Nasdaq opening-bell ceremony in 2010. Musk has been married three times — twice to Riley. Their second divorce came in 2016.
Musk is joined by his fiancee, actress Talulah Riley, and his twin sons, Griffin and Xavier, at a Nasdaq opening-bell ceremony in 2010. Musk has been married three times — twice to Riley. Their second divorce came in 2016.
Daniel Acker/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Musk unveils the Falcon Heavy rocket, billed as the world's most powerful rocket, in 2011. Musk told CNN he decided to build the rocket to put bigger satellites into orbit.
Musk unveils the Falcon Heavy rocket, billed as the world's most powerful rocket, in 2011. Musk told CNN he decided to build the rocket to put bigger satellites into orbit.
Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images
Musk attends the opening of a Tesla store in Newport Beach, California.
Musk attends the opening of a Tesla store in Newport Beach, California.
J. Emilio Flores/Corbis/Getty Images
Musk walks in a procession after delivering the commencement speech at the California Institute of Technology in 2012.
Musk walks in a procession after delivering the commencement speech at the California Institute of Technology in 2012.
Damian Dovarganes/AP
Musk holds up a model rocket in this photo for Bloomberg Businessweek magazine in 2012.
Musk holds up a model rocket in this photo for Bloomberg Businessweek magazine in 2012.
Bryce Duffy/Contour RA/Corbis/Getty Images
Musk appears on the late-night talk show "Jimmy Kimmel Live" in 2013.
Musk appears on the late-night talk show "Jimmy Kimmel Live" in 2013.
Randy Holmes/Walt Disney Television/Getty Images
Musk poses with a Tesla during a visit to Amsterdam, Netherlands, in 2014.
Musk poses with a Tesla during a visit to Amsterdam, Netherlands, in 2014.
Jerry Lampen/ANP/AFP/Getty Images
Musk and his then-wife, Talulah Riley, attend the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in 2014.
Musk and his then-wife, Talulah Riley, attend the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in 2014.
Larry Busacca/VF14/Getty Images for Vanity Fair
Musk represents SpaceX at a US Senate subcommittee hearing in 2014. The hearing was to learn more about space launch programs. SpaceX had already landed a few federal contracts at that point, and Musk made his case for more.
Musk represents SpaceX at a US Senate subcommittee hearing in 2014. The hearing was to learn more about space launch programs. SpaceX had already landed a few federal contracts at that point, and Musk made his case for more.
Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images
Musk unveils the dual-engine chassis of the new Tesla Model D in 2014.
Musk unveils the dual-engine chassis of the new Tesla Model D in 2014.
Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images
Musk attends the Time 100 Gala with filmmaker George Lucas, left, and rapper Kanye West in 2015.
Musk attends the Time 100 Gala with filmmaker George Lucas, left, and rapper Kanye West in 2015.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for TIME
Musk guest-stars on an episode of the TV sitcom "The Big Bang Theory" in 2015. He played himself.
Musk guest-stars on an episode of the TV sitcom "The Big Bang Theory" in 2015. He played himself.
Monty Brinton/CBS/Getty Images
Musk has long said he wants to make humans an "interplanetary species," and in 2016 <a href="https://money.cnn.com/2016/09/27/technology/spacex-elon-musk-mars-colonization/index.html" target="_blank">he laid out his plan to colonize Mars</a>. He was speaking at the International Astronautical Congress, a meeting of multiple international space-exploration associations.
Musk has long said he wants to make humans an "interplanetary species," and in 2016 he laid out his plan to colonize Mars. He was speaking at the International Astronautical Congress, a meeting of multiple international space-exploration associations.
Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Musk and other business leaders listen to US President Donald Trump during a visit to the White House in 2017.
Musk and other business leaders listen to US President Donald Trump during a visit to the White House in 2017.
Matt McClain/The Washington Post/Getty Images
Musk speaks to reporters in 2018, a day before SpaceX <a href="https://money.cnn.com/2018/02/06/technology/future/spacex-falcon-heavy-launch-mainbar/index.html" target="_blank">launched the Falcon Heavy</a>, the world's most powerful rocket.
Musk speaks to reporters in 2018, a day before SpaceX launched the Falcon Heavy, the world's most powerful rocket.
Todd Anderson/The New York Times/Redux
Musk and his girlfriend, singer Grimes, attend the Met Gala in New York in 2018.
Musk and his girlfriend, singer Grimes, attend the Met Gala in New York in 2018.
Jason Kempin/Getty Images
Musk is seen on a television monitor on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in 2018. Musk smoked a joint while <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/01/tech/elon-musk-joe-rogan/index.html" target="_blank">talking to podcast host Joe Rogan </a>about what it's like inside his head ("a never-ending explosion"), keeping a car company in business ("very difficult") and trying to get governments to regulate artificial intelligence ("nobody listened").
Musk is seen on a television monitor on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in 2018. Musk smoked a joint while talking to podcast host Joe Rogan about what it's like inside his head ("a never-ending explosion"), keeping a car company in business ("very difficult") and trying to get governments to regulate artificial intelligence ("nobody listened").
Michael Nagle/Bloomberg/Getty Images
In 2018, Musk <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/19/tech/boring-company-tunnel-elon-musk/index.html" target="_blank">demonstrates his Boring Company's first tunnel</a>. It was built as an experiment in underground transportation, with the aim of providing alternative routes to traffic-jammed streets.
In 2018, Musk demonstrates his Boring Company's first tunnel. It was built as an experiment in underground transportation, with the aim of providing alternative routes to traffic-jammed streets.
Robyn Beck/Pool/AFP/Getty Images
Musk leaves a federal court in New York in 2019. The Securities and Exchange Commission had asked the court to hold Musk in contempt for violating an agreement that requires he get pre-approval for social-media posts about Tesla. The judge asked Musk and the SEC to go back to the drawing board and better define exactly how and when Musk's tweets need to be reviewed. The two parties <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/26/tech/elon-musk-sec-settlement/index.html" target="_blank">were able to reach a settlement</a>.
Musk leaves a federal court in New York in 2019. The Securities and Exchange Commission had asked the court to hold Musk in contempt for violating an agreement that requires he get pre-approval for social-media posts about Tesla. The judge asked Musk and the SEC to go back to the drawing board and better define exactly how and when Musk's tweets need to be reviewed. The two parties were able to reach a settlement.
Natan Dvir/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Musk <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/22/cars/tesla-cybertruck-electric-pickup-truck/index.html" target="_blank">reveals Tesla's new electric pickup truck</a> in 2019. A demonstration of the Cybertruck's supposedly unbreakable windows backfired, however, when a metal ball thrown at the windows did, in fact, break them.
Musk reveals Tesla's new electric pickup truck in 2019. A demonstration of the Cybertruck's supposedly unbreakable windows backfired, however, when a metal ball thrown at the windows did, in fact, break them.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images
Musk leaves a federal court in Los Angeles in 2019. After a four-day trial, a jury took less than an hour to decide that Musk <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/06/media/elon-musk-defamation-trial-verdict/index.html" target="_blank">did not defame a British caver</a> when he sent a tweet calling him a "pedo guy." Defense lawyer Alex Spiro said Musk's tweet "was a joking, deleted, apologized for, responsive tweet."
Musk leaves a federal court in Los Angeles in 2019. After a four-day trial, a jury took less than an hour to decide that Musk did not defame a British caver when he sent a tweet calling him a "pedo guy." Defense lawyer Alex Spiro said Musk's tweet "was a joking, deleted, apologized for, responsive tweet."
Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Musk attends a Tesla ceremony in Shanghai, China, in January 2020. Tesla <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/07/tech/tesla-elon-musk-china/index.html" target="_blank">started delivering</a> its Shanghai-made Model 3 cars to the public, the first step in Musk's much bolder plan for the world's biggest market.
Musk attends a Tesla ceremony in Shanghai, China, in January 2020. Tesla started delivering its Shanghai-made Model 3 cars to the public, the first step in Musk's much bolder plan for the world's biggest market.
Qilai Shen/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Musk looks at his new baby boy in <a href="https://twitter.com/mayemusk/status/1259297517776171008" target="_blank" target="_blank">this tweet </a>posted by his mother in May 2020. The baby, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/06/entertainment/grimes-elon-musk-baby-name-intl-scli/index.html" target="_blank">named X Æ A-12</a>, is his first child with Grimes. He has five other children from a previous marriage.
Musk looks at his new baby boy in this tweet posted by his mother in May 2020. The baby, named X Æ A-12, is his first child with Grimes. He has five other children from a previous marriage.
From Christiana Musk/Twitter
Musk celebrates after the <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/27/us/gallery/spacex-nasa-launch/index.html" target="_blank">successful launch</a> of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the manned Crew Dragon spacecraft at Kennedy Space Center in Florida in May 2020. It marked the first time in history that a commercial aerospace company carried humans into Earth's orbit.
Musk celebrates after the successful launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the manned Crew Dragon spacecraft at Kennedy Space Center in Florida in May 2020. It marked the first time in history that a commercial aerospace company carried humans into Earth's orbit.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Musk appears with Mikey Day in a "Saturday Night Live" sketch in May 2021. <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/09/media/elon-musk-hosts-snl/index.html" target="_blank">Musk hosted the show</a>.
Musk appears with Mikey Day in a "Saturday Night Live" sketch in May 2021. Musk hosted the show.
Rosalind O'Connor/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images
Musk holds his son at Time magazine's Person of the Year Awards in December 2021. Time editor-in-chief Edward Felsenthal described Musk as "a person with extraordinary influence on life on Earth — and potentially life off Earth, too."
Musk holds his son at Time magazine's Person of the Year Awards in December 2021. Time editor-in-chief Edward Felsenthal described Musk as "a person with extraordinary influence on life on Earth — and potentially life off Earth, too."
Theo Wargo/Getty Images
Musk attends the opening of a <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/22/cars/tesla-berlin-factory/index.html" target="_blank">new Tesla factory</a> in Grünheide, Germany, in March 2022. Tesla will reportedly produce as many as 500,000 vehicles a year at the plant.
Musk attends the opening of a new Tesla factory in Grünheide, Germany, in March 2022. Tesla will reportedly produce as many as 500,000 vehicles a year at the plant.
Patrick Pleul/dpa-Zentralbild/Pool/AFP/Getty Images
Musk attends the Met Gala in New York with his mother, Maye Musk, in May 2022.
Musk attends the Met Gala in New York with his mother, Maye Musk, in May 2022.
Stephen Lovekin/BEI/Shutterstock
This image, taken from a video posted on Musk's Twitter account, shows Musk <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/26/tech/elon-musk-twitter-visit/index.html" target="_blank">carrying a sink</a> as he enters Twitter's San Francisco headquarters in October 2022. He wrote, "Entering Twitter HQ — let that sink in!" He eventually completed his <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/27/tech/elon-musk-twitter" target="_blank">$44 billion deal to buy Twitter</a>.
This image, taken from a video posted on Musk's Twitter account, shows Musk carrying a sink as he enters Twitter's San Francisco headquarters in October 2022. He wrote, "Entering Twitter HQ — let that sink in!" He eventually completed his $44 billion deal to buy Twitter.
Elon Musk/Twitter/AFP/Getty Images