Elon Musk#Pedo Accusations

{{see also|Musk family}}

Elon Reeve Musk was born on June 28, 1971, in Pretoria, South Africa's administrative capital.Vance (2017), pp. 25, 31. He is of British and Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry.{{cite news |last=Hall |first=Dana |date=April 11, 2014 |title=Rocket Man: The otherworldly ambitions of Elon Musk |work=The Mercury News |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_25541126/rocket-man-otherworldy-ambitions-elon-musk |url-status=live |access-date=April 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414070701/http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_25541126/rocket-man-otherworldy-ambitions-elon-musk |archive-date=April 14, 2014}}{{cite news |last=Elliott |first=Hannah |date=March 26, 2012 |title=At Home With Elon Musk: The (Soon-to-Be) Bachelor Billionaire |work=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hannahelliott/2012/03/26/at-home-with-elon-musk-the-soon-to-be-bachelor-billionaire/ |url-status=live |access-date=May 30, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120527053447/http://www.forbes.com/sites/hannahelliott/2012/03/26/at-home-with-elon-musk-the-soon-to-be-bachelor-billionaire/ |archive-date=May 27, 2012}} His mother, Maye ({{Nee|Haldeman}}), is a model and dietitian born in Saskatchewan, Canada, and raised in South Africa.{{Triangulation|203|His biography author Ashlee Vance}}, discussion of his family starts around the 15th minute{{Cite news |url=https://www.townandcountrymag.com/style/a18205769/maye-musk-facts/ |title=11 Things to Know About Stunning 69-Year-Old Model Maye Musk |last=Vargas |first=Chanel |date=March 6, 2018 |work=Town & Country |access-date=March 25, 2020 |archive-date=March 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307023138/https://www.townandcountrymag.com/style/a18205769/maye-musk-facts/ |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |last=Usborne |first=Simon |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/shortcuts/2018/feb/21/meet-elon-musk-family |title=Meet the Musks: who's who in Elon's extended family? |date=February 21, 2018 |work=The Guardian |access-date=March 25, 2020 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=May 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527001143/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/shortcuts/2018/feb/21/meet-elon-musk-family |url-status=live}} His father, Errol Musk, is a South African electromechanical engineer, pilot, sailor, consultant, emerald dealer, and property developer, who partly owned a rental lodge at Timbavati Private Nature Reserve.Isaacson (2023), p. 23.{{Cite news |last1=Hull |first1=Dana |last2=May |first2=Patrick |title=Exploring the otherworldly ambitions of Elon Musk |url=https://buffalonews.com/business/local/exploring-the-otherworldly-ambitions-of-elon-musk/article_2fc57479-93eb-5016-b724-016b48a4f4f3.html |access-date=October 24, 2021 |work=The Buffalo News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926055648/https://buffalonews.com/business/local/exploring-the-otherworldly-ambitions-of-elon-musk/article_2fc57479-93eb-5016-b724-016b48a4f4f3.html |archive-date=September 26, 2022 |url-status=live}}{{Cite magazine |last=Friend |first=Tad |date=August 17, 2009 |title=Plugged In |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2009/08/24/plugged-in |magazine=The New Yorker |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308155550/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2009/08/24/plugged-in |archive-date=March 8, 2022}}{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Adam |title=50 years of Elon Musk's huge wealth, from emeralds to SpaceX and Tesla |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/elon-musk-birthday-ceo-tesla-b1874017.html |access-date=December 20, 2021 |work=The Independent |date=June 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211125034322/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/elon-musk-birthday-ceo-tesla-b1874017.html |archive-date=November 25, 2021 |url-status=live |quote=teenage Elon Musk once walked the streets of New York with emeralds in his pocket. His father said: "We were very wealthy. We had so much money at times we couldn't even close our safe," adding that one person would have to hold the money in place with another closing the door. "And then there'd still be all these notes sticking out and we'd sort of pull them out and put them in our pockets."}} His maternal grandfather, Joshua N. Haldeman, who died in a plane crash when Elon was a toddler, was an American-born Canadian chiropractor, aviator and political activist in the Technocracy movementVance (2017), pp. 26–30.Isaacson (2023), p. 16. who moved to South Africa in 1950.{{cite web |last1=McGreal |first1=Chris |title=How the roots of the ‘PayPal mafia’ extend to apartheid South Africa |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/26/elon-musk-peter-thiel-apartheid-south-africa |access-date=28 January 2025 |website=theguardian.com |publisher=The Guardian}} Haldeman's anti-government, anti-democratic and conspiracist views, which included the promotion of far-right antisemitic conspiracy theories,{{Cite news |last=Lepore |first=Jill |date=2025-04-04 |title=Opinion {{!}} The Rise and Fall of Elon Musk |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/04/opinion/elon-musk-doge-technocracy.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250405022309/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/04/opinion/elon-musk-doge-technocracy.html |archive-date=April 5, 2025 |access-date=2025-04-05 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite magazine |last=Benton |first=Joshua |author-link=Joshua Benton |date=September 21, 2023 |title=Elon Musk's Anti-Semitic, Apartheid-Loving Grandfather |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2023/09/joshua-haldeman-elon-musk-grandfather-apartheid-antisemitism/675396/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231007124423/https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2023/09/joshua-haldeman-elon-musk-grandfather-apartheid-antisemitism/675396/ |archive-date=October 7, 2023 |magazine=The Atlantic}} "fanatical" support of apartheid, and according to Errol Musk, support of Nazism{{cite web |last1=McGreal |first1=Chris |title=How the roots of the ‘PayPal mafia’ extend to apartheid South Africa |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/26/elon-musk-peter-thiel-apartheid-south-africa |access-date=28 January 2025 |website=theguardian.com |publisher=The Guardian}} have been suggested as an influence on Elon.{{Cite news |last=Lepore |first=Jill |date=2025-04-04 |title=The Failed Ideas That Drive Elon Musk |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/04/opinion/elon-musk-doge-technocracy.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/2025.04.17-032917/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/04/opinion/elon-musk-doge-technocracy.html |archive-date=2025-04-17 |access-date=2025-05-16 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |last=Gallego-Díaz |first=Soledad |date=2025-04-20 |title=Elon Musk’s less than original measures: Developing the ideas of his grandfather, Joshua Haldeman |url=https://english.elpais.com/opinion/2025-04-20/elon-musks-less-than-original-measures-developing-the-ideas-of-his-grandfather-joshua-haldeman.html |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=EL PAÍS English |language=en-us}}{{Cite web |last=Getahun |first=Hannah |title=Elon Musk's grandfather belonged to a political party that believed the world should be governed by technology. Newspapers at the time described it as having 'the tone of an incipient Fascist movement.' |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/who-was-elon-musk-grandfather-joshua-haldeman-technocracy-incorporated-party-2023-9 |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Laurent |first=Sylvie |date=2025-02-06 |title=Elon Musk ou « l’homme qui valait 300 milliards » : un enfumage idéologique |url=https://www.humanite.fr/en-debat/elon-musk/2646226-2 |archive-url=http://archive.today/2025.04.03-175156/https://www.humanite.fr/en-debat/elon-musk/2646226-2 |archive-date=2025-04-03 |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=L'Humanité |language=fr-FR}} During his childhood, Elon was told stories by his grandmother of Haldeman's travels and exploits, and has suggested that all of Haldeman's descendants have his "desire for adventure, exploration – doing crazy things".{{Cite news |last=Leo |first=Geoff |date=2025-03-20 |title=The Canadian roots of Elon Musk's conspiracist grandpa |url=https://www.cbc.ca/newsinteractives/features/joshua-haldeman-elon-musk-saskatchewan-tech-utopian-conspiracist |access-date=2025-05-16 |work=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation}}

Elon has a younger brother, Kimbal, a younger sister, Tosca, and four paternal half-siblings.{{Cite news |last=Kay |first=Grace |date=September 30, 2023 |title=Elon Musk's dad, 77, says he'd have more kids — but only if he could find a woman under 35 |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-father-errol-musk-have-more-kids-young-woman-2023-9 |access-date=February 23, 2024 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US |archive-date=February 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223104804/https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-father-errol-musk-have-more-kids-young-woman-2023-9 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last=Crilly |first=Rob |date=March 25, 2018 |title=Elon Musk's father has baby with step-daughter he has known since she was four |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/03/25/elon-musks-father-has-baby-step-daughter-has-known-since-four/ |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426231132/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/03/25/elon-musks-father-has-baby-step-daughter-has-known-since-four/ |archive-date=April 26, 2021}}{{Cite magazine |last=Lieberman |first=Hallie |title=The Musk of Romance |url=https://www.wired.com/story/tosca-musk-romance-passionflix/ |magazine=Wired |access-date=September 2, 2020 |archive-date=September 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200902072608/https://www.wired.com/story/tosca-musk-romance-passionflix/ |url-status=live}} Musk was raised in the Anglican Church, in which he was baptized.{{cite news |last1=Higgins |first1=Tim |title=Elon Musk's Walk With Jesus |url=https://www.wsj.com/tech/elon-musk-religion-christianity-4545dd8b |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=February 4, 2025 |date=August 17, 2024 |archive-date=January 14, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114044519/https://www.wsj.com/tech/elon-musk-religion-christianity-4545dd8b |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Rees |first1=Anna |title=Elon Musk says Christian teachings are 'good and wise' |url=https://premierchristian.news/en/news/article/elon-musk-christian-teachings-are-good-and-wise |publisher=Premier |access-date=February 4, 2025 |language=en |date=July 24, 2024 |archive-date=November 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241102081238/https://premierchristian.news/en/news/article/elon-musk-christian-teachings-are-good-and-wise |url-status=live}} The Musk family was wealthy during Elon's youth. Despite both Elon and Errol previously stating that Errol was a part owner of a Zambian emerald mine, in 2023, Errol recounted that the deal he made was to receive "a portion of the emeralds produced at three small mines".{{cite news |last=Mann |first=Jyoti |date=September 11, 2023 |title=Elon Musk really was telling the truth by saying his father Errol never owned an emerald mine, biographer says |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-father-errol-never-owned-emerald-mine-telling-truth-2023-9 |access-date=February 22, 2024 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US |archive-date=November 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231122193226/https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-father-errol-never-owned-emerald-mine-telling-truth-2023-9 |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |last=Crellin |first=Zac |date=September 22, 2023 |title=Elon Musk's Dad Shares Deadly Secrets of Fabled Emerald Mine |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/elon-musks-dad-errol-shares-deadly-secrets-of-the-fabled-emerald-mine-in-zambia |access-date=March 13, 2024 |work=The Daily Beast |language=en |archive-date=March 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313001144/https://www.thedailybeast.com/elon-musks-dad-errol-shares-deadly-secrets-of-the-fabled-emerald-mine-in-zambia |url-status=live}} Errol was elected to the Pretoria City Council as a representative of the anti-apartheid Progressive Party and has said that his children shared their father's dislike of apartheid.{{Cite news |last1=Eligon |first1=John |last2=Chutel |first2=Lynsey |date=May 5, 2022 |title=Elon Musk Left a South Africa That Was Rife With Misinformation and White Privilege |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/05/world/africa/elon-musk-south-africa.html |access-date=May 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111015804/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/05/world/africa/elon-musk-south-africa.html |archive-date=November 11, 2022 |url-status=live}}

After his parents divorced in 1980,{{Clarify|date=May 2025|reason=cited source says 1980, but Errol and Maye's articles say 1979}} Elon, who was about 10 at the time, chose to live with his father because he had an Encyclopaedia Britannica and a computer.{{Cite web |last=Cao |first=Sissi |date=2020-01-07 |title=At 71, Elon Musk's Model Mom, Maye Musk, Is at Her Peak as a Style Icon |url=https://observer.com/2020/01/elon-musk-mother-maye-model-dietician-interview-book-women-self-help/ |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=Observer |language=en-US |archive-date=June 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630122429/https://observer.com/2020/01/elon-musk-mother-maye-model-dietician-interview-book-women-self-help/ |url-status=live }} Elon later regretted his decision and became estranged from his father.{{cite magazine |last=Strauss |first=Neil |title=Elon Musk: The Architect of Tomorrow |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/features/elon-musk-inventors-plans-for-outer-space-cars-finding-love-w511747 |access-date=November 15, 2017 |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=November 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817165150/https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/elon-musk-the-architect-of-tomorrow-120850/ |archive-date=August 17, 2020}} Elon has recounted trips to a wilderness school that he described as a "paramilitary Lord of the Flies" where "bullying was a virtue" and children were encouraged to fight over rations.{{cite news |title=Does Elon Musk have PTSD? Biographer Walter Isaacson says the billionaire's turbulent childhood with an abusive father left him scarred |url=https://fortune.com/well/2023/09/17/does-elon-musk-have-ptsd-walter-isaacson-biography/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240615085723/https://fortune.com/well/2023/09/17/does-elon-musk-have-ptsd-walter-isaacson-biography/ |archive-date=June 15, 2024 |access-date=June 15, 2024}} In one incident, after an altercation with a fellow pupil, Elon was thrown down concrete steps and beaten severely, leading to him being hospitalized for his injuries.Isaacson (2023), pp. 2–3. Elon described his father berating him after he was discharged from the hospital. Errol denied berating Elon and claimed, "The boy had just lost his father to suicide and Elon had called him stupid. Elon had a tendency to call people stupid. How could I possibly blame that child?"{{cite news |last=Bhaimiya |first=Sawdah |title=Errol Musk denies berating his son after an attack at school put Elon Musk in hospital |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-dad-errol-denies-berating-him-after-attack-school-2023-9 |access-date=December 5, 2023 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US |archive-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205050228/https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-dad-errol-denies-berating-him-after-attack-school-2023-9 |url-status=live}}

Elon was an enthusiastic reader of books, and had attributed his success in part to having read The Lord of the Rings, the Foundation series, and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.{{cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/21/elon-musk-recommends-science-fiction-book-series-that-inspired-spacex.html |title=Elon Musk shares the science fiction book series that inspired him to start SpaceX |date=February 22, 2020 |publisher=CNBC |access-date=November 9, 2023 |archive-date=November 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231104000623/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/21/elon-musk-recommends-science-fiction-book-series-that-inspired-spacex.html |url-status=live}} At age ten, he developed an interest in computing and video games, teaching himself how to program from the VIC-20 user manual.Vance (2017), p. 38. At age twelve, Elon sold his BASIC-based game Blastar to PC and Office Technology magazine for approximately $500.{{cite news |last=O'Kane |first=Sean |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/6/9/8752333/elon-musk-blastar-pc-game |title=Play the PC game Elon Musk wrote as a pre-teen |date=June 9, 2015 |work=The Verge |access-date=January 12, 2019 |archive-date=February 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207202036/https://www.theverge.com/2015/6/9/8752333/elon-musk-blastar-pc-game |url-status=live}}Belfiore (2007), pp. 166–195.

File:PBHS-facade.jpg in South Africa.]]

Musk attended Waterkloof House Preparatory School, Bryanston High School, and then Pretoria Boys High School, where he graduated.{{cite news |last=Mak |first=Aaron |date=December 4, 2019 |title=Elon Musk Says 'Pedo Guy' Was a Common Insult in His Youth. We Checked With His Schoolmates. |work=Slate |url=https://slate.com/technology/2019/12/elon-musk-trial-pedo-guy-diver-lawsuit.html |access-date=December 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201006045204/https://slate.com/technology/2019/12/elon-musk-trial-pedo-guy-diver-lawsuit.html |archive-date=October 6, 2020}} Musk was a good but unexceptional student, earning a 61 in Afrikaans and a B on his senior math certification.Isaacson (2023), p. 26. Musk applied for a Canadian passport through his Canadian-born mother to avoid South Africa's mandatory military service,Vance (2017), p. 44. Musk's opportunity to flee arrived with a change in the law that allowed Maye to pass her Canadian citizenship to her children. which would have forced him to participate in the apartheid regime, as well as to ease his path to immigration to the United States.{{cite news |last=Junod |first=Tom |author-link=Tom Junod |date=November 15, 2012 |title=Elon Musk: Triumph of His Will |work=Esquire |url=https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a16681/elon-musk-interview-1212/ |access-date=May 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818171231/https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a16681/elon-musk-interview-1212/ |archive-date=August 18, 2020}} While waiting for his application to be processed, he attended the University of Pretoria for five months.Vance (2017), pp. 43–44. What rarely gets mentions is that Musk attended the University of Pretoria for five months before heading off on his grand adventure. ... Musk characterized the time at university as just something to do while he awaited his Canadian documentation.

Musk arrived in Canada in June 1989, connected with a second cousin in Saskatchewan,Vance (2017), p. 45. After a 1,900-mile bus ride, he ended up in Swift Current, a town of fifteen thousands people. Musk called a second cousin out of the blue from the bus station and hitched a ride to his house.{{cite web |last1=Minks |first1=Caroline |title=How did Elon Musk become a Canadian citizen? |url=https://www.cicnews.com/2025/03/how-did-elon-musk-become-a-canadian-citizen-0352253.html#gs.k94fdp |website=CIC News |access-date=13 March 2025 |date=4 March 2025}} and worked odd jobs including at a farm and a lumber mill.Vance (2017), p. 46. Musk spent the next year working a series of odd jobs around Canada. He tended vegetables and shoved out grain bins at a cousin's farm located in the tiny town of Waldeck. ... He inquired about the job with the best wage, which turned out to be a gig cleaning the boiler room of a lumber mill for eighteen dollars an hour. In 1990, he entered Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario.Vance (2017), pp. 46–47. Elon ended up enrolling at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, in 1989.{{cite news |last=Locke |first=Taylor |date=December 20, 2019 |title=Elon Musk's college pal: This is what 'differentiates Elon from the rest of humanity' |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/20/elon-musks-college-friend-on-why-hes-different-from-everyone-else.html |publisher=CNBC |access-date=January 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214162910/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/20/elon-musks-college-friend-on-why-hes-different-from-everyone-else.html |archive-date=December 14, 2020 |url-status=live}} Two years later, he transferred to the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied until 1995. Although Musk has said that he earned his degrees in 1995, the University of Pennsylvania did not award them until 1997 – a Bachelor of Arts in physics and a Bachelor of Science in economics from the university's Wharton School.Vance (2017), p. 368. Musk produced a document for me dated June 22, 2009, that came from Judith Haccou, the director of graduate admissions in the office of the registrar at Stanford University. It read, "As per special request from my colleagues in the School of Engineering, I have searched Stanford's admission data base and acknowledge that you applied and were admitted to the graduate program in Material Science Engineering in 1995. Since you did not enroll, Stanford is not able to issue you an official certification document." Musk also had an explanation for the weird timing on his degrees from Penn. "I had a History and an English credit that I agreed with Penn that I would do at Stanford," he said. "The I put Stanford on deferment. Later, Penn's requirements changed so that you don't need the English and History credit. So they awarded me the degree in '97 when it was clear I was not going to go to grad school, and their requirement was no longer there."{{cite web |last=Kasprak |first=Alex |date=December 21, 2022 |title=Does Elon Musk Have an Undergraduate Degree in Physics? |url=https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/musk-physics-degree/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221223061035/https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/musk-physics-degree/ |archive-date=December 23, 2022 |access-date=December 23, 2022 |website=Snopes}}Vance (2017), Appendix 1. I called Penn's registrar and verified these findings. Copies of Musk's records show that he received a dual degree in economics and physics in May 1997. O'Reilly also subpoenaed the registrar's office at Stanford to verify Musk's admittance in 1995 for his doctorate work in physics. "Based on the information you provided, we are unable to locate a record in our office for Elon Musk," wrote the director of graduate admissions.{{Cite news |title=SpaceX, founded by Penn graduate Elon Musk, launches U.S. astronauts into space |url=https://www.thedp.com/article/2020/05/penn-elon-musk-space-x-rocket-launch |last=Meisenzahl |first=Elizabeth |work=The Daily Pennsylvanian |access-date=June 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807065913/https://www.thedp.com/article/2020/05/penn-elon-musk-space-x-rocket-launch |archive-date=August 7, 2020}}{{Cite news |last=McCray |first=Patrick W. |date=June 11, 2012 |title=A pioneer in space and on Earth |publisher=CNN |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2012/06/10/opinion/mccray-elon-musk |access-date=November 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221128042147/https://edition.cnn.com/2012/06/10/opinion/mccray-elon-musk |archive-date=November 28, 2022 |url-status=live}} He reportedly hosted large, ticketed house parties to help pay for tuition, and wrote a business plan for an electronic book-scanning service similar to Google Books.{{cite news |last=Hern |first=Alex |date=February 9, 2018 |title=Elon Musk: the real-life Iron Man |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/feb/09/elon-musk-the-real-life-iron-man |work=The Guardian |access-date=November 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220611112311/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/feb/09/elon-musk-the-real-life-iron-man |archive-date=June 11, 2022 |url-status=live}}

In 1994, Musk held two internships in Silicon Valley: one at energy storage startup Pinnacle Research Institute, which investigated electrolytic supercapacitors for energy storage, and another at Palo Alto–based startup Rocket Science Games.{{cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/09/how-internships-helped-elon-musk-figure-out-his-future.html |title=How internships helped Elon Musk figure out his future |publisher=CNBC |date=July 16, 2018 |access-date=December 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228213526/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/09/how-internships-helped-elon-musk-figure-out-his-future.html |archive-date=December 28, 2019}}{{cite news |last=Soni |first=Jimmi |date=February 22, 2022 |title=The little-known story about Elon Musk's first post-grad internship |url=https://fortune.com/longform/book-excerpt-paypal-founders-elon-musk-max-levchin/ |work=Fortune |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220307163632/https://fortune.com/longform/book-excerpt-paypal-founders-elon-musk-max-levchin/ |archive-date=March 7, 2022 |url-status=live}} In 1995, he was accepted to a graduate program in materials science at Stanford University, but did not enroll. Musk decided to join the Internet boom, applying for a job at Netscape, to which he reportedly never received a response.{{cite news |last=Maidment |first=Paul |date=March 15, 2016 |title=7 college dropouts who made millions |publisher=CNBC |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2014/11/03/college-dropouts-who-made-millions.html |access-date=September 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200515143817/https://www.cnbc.com/2014/11/03/college-dropouts-who-made-millions.html |archive-date=May 15, 2020}}{{cite news |last=Clifford |first=Catherine |date=June 12, 2018 |title=Multi-billionaire Elon Musk: 'I arrived in North America at 17 with $2,000' |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/12/telsas-elon-musk-tweets-he-arrived-in-north-america-at-17-with-2000.html |publisher=CNBC |access-date=September 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802083529/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/12/telsas-elon-musk-tweets-he-arrived-in-north-america-at-17-with-2000.html |archive-date=August 2, 2020}} The Washington Post reported that Musk lacked legal authorization to remain and work in the United States after failing to enroll at Stanford.{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/10/26/elon-musk-immigration-status/ |title=Elon Musk, enemy of 'open borders', launched his career working illegally |first1=Maria |last1=Sacchetti |first2=Faiz |last2=Siddiqui |first3=Nick |last3=Miroff |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=October 26, 2024 |access-date=October 26, 2024}} In response, Musk said he was allowed to work at that time and that his student visa transitioned to an H1-B. According to numerous former business associates and shareholders, Musk said he was on a student visa at the time.{{Cite news |last1=Siddiqui |first1=Faiz |last2=Miroff |first2=Nick |date=October 27, 2024 |title=Elon Musk claims student visa permitted him to work in U.S. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/10/27/elon-musk-immigration/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=February 1, 2025}}

{{main|Business career of Elon Musk}}

{{Main|Zip2}}

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In 1995, Musk, his brother Kimbal, and Greg Kouri founded web software company Zip2 with funds borrowed from Musk's father.{{cite web |title=A Deep Dive into Elon Musk's Investments: The Makings of a Billionaire |url=https://www.toptal.com/finance/venture-capital-consultants/elon-musks-investments |access-date=May 19, 2022 |website=Toptal Finance Blog |archive-date=July 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701211613/https://www.toptal.com/finance/venture-capital-consultants/elon-musks-investments |url-status=live}} They housed the venture at a small rented office in Palo Alto. The company developed and marketed an Internet city guide for the newspaper publishing industry, with maps, directions, and yellow pages.{{cite web |title=Entrepreneur of the Year, 2007: Elon Musk |date=December 1, 2007 |first=Max |last=Chafkin |work=Inc. |url=http://www.inc.com/magazine/20071201/entrepreneur-of-the-year-elon-musk.html |access-date=February 22, 2022 |archive-date=December 28, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071228171523/http://www.inc.com/magazine/20071201/entrepreneur-of-the-year-elon-musk.html |url-status=live}}

According to Musk, "The website was up during the day and I was coding it at night, seven days a week, all the time." The Musk brothers obtained contracts with The New York Times and the Chicago Tribune,{{cite web |title=Zip2 Founder Launches 2nd Firm: Readies Financial Supersite. – Free Online Library |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Zip2+Founder+Launches+2nd+Firm:+Readies+Financial+Supersite.-a055603529 |access-date=April 12, 2021 |website=thefreelibrary.com |archive-date=April 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412062317/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Zip2+Founder+Launches+2nd+Firm:+Readies+Financial+Supersite.-a055603529 |url-status=live}} and persuaded the board of directors to abandon plans for a merger with CitySearch.Kidder (2013), pp. 224–228. Musk's attempts to become CEO were thwarted by the board.Vance (2017), p. 67. Compaq acquired Zip2 for $307 million in cash in February 1999,Vance (2017), p. 14.{{cite news |url=http://news.cnet.com/Compaq+buys+Zip2/2100-1023_3-221675.html |title=Compaq buys Zip2 |first=Sandeep |last=Junnarkar |publisher=CNET |date=February 16, 1999 |access-date=December 13, 2020 |archive-date=October 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021004422/http://news.cnet.com/Compaq+buys+Zip2/2100-1023_3-221675.html |url-status=live}} and Musk received $22 million for his 7-percent share.Vance (2017), p. 109.

{{Main|X.com (bank)|PayPal|PayPal Mafia}}

In 1999, Musk co-founded X.com, an online financial services and e-mail payment company.Vance (2017), p. 78. The startup was one of the first federally insured online banks, and, in its initial months of operation, over 200,000 customers joined the service.Vance (2017), p. 84. The company's investors regarded Musk as inexperienced and replaced him with Intuit CEO Bill Harris by the end of the year.Vance (2017), p. 86. The following year, X.com merged with online bank Confinity to avoid competition.{{cite news |last=Huddlestone |first=Tom Jr. |date=June 19, 2018 |title=Elon Musk slept on his office couch and 'showered at the YMCA' while starting his first company |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/19/how-elon-musk-founded-zip2-with-his-brother-kimbal.html |publisher=CNBC |access-date=September 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818205314/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/19/how-elon-musk-founded-zip2-with-his-brother-kimbal.html |archive-date=August 18, 2020}}Jackson (2004), pp. 40, 69, 130, 163. Founded by Max Levchin and Peter Thiel,Vance (2017), p. 85. Confinity had its own money-transfer service, PayPal, which was more popular than X.com's service.Vance (2017), pp. 85–86.

Within the merged company, Musk returned as CEO. Musk's preference for Microsoft software over Unix created a rift in the company and caused Thiel to resign.Vance (2017), pp. 86–87. Due to resulting technological issues and lack of a cohesive business model, the board ousted Musk and replaced him with Thiel in 2000.Vance (2017), pp. 87–88.{{efn|Musk remained on the board and served as an advisor.{{cite news |title=The PayPal Mafia |url=http://fortune.com/2007/11/13/paypal-mafia/ |work=Fortune |access-date=July 4, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170523114437/http://fortune.com/2007/11/13/paypal-mafia/ |archive-date=May 23, 2017}}Vance (2017), p. 89.}} Under Thiel, the company focused on the PayPal service and was renamed PayPal in 2001.{{Cite news |last=Odell |first=Mark |url=https://www.ft.com/content/86432398-4897-11e4-9d04-00144feab7de |title=Timeline: The rise of PayPal |work=Financial Times |date=September 30, 2014 |access-date=April 3, 2020 |archive-date=June 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622163106/https://www.ft.com/content/86432398-4897-11e4-9d04-00144feab7de |url-status=live}} In 2002, PayPal was acquired by eBay for $1.5 billion in stock, of which Musk—the largest shareholder with 11.72% of shares—received $175.8 million.{{cite web |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1103415/000091205702009834/a2073071z10-k405.htm |publisher=PayPal |title=SEC 10-K |date=December 31, 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200825231531/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1103415/000091205702009834/a2073071z10-k405.htm |archive-date=August 25, 2020}}Vance (2017), pp. 116. In 2017, Musk purchased the domain X.com from PayPal for an undisclosed amount, stating that it had sentimental value.{{Cite news |url=https://qz.com/1026167/elon-musk-just-bought-x-com-the-domain-he-once-owned-from-paypal/ |title=Elon Musk bought a web domain worth millions with "sentimental value" to him |last=Huang |first=Echo |work=Quartz |access-date=April 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625174509/https://qz.com/1026167/elon-musk-just-bought-x-com-the-domain-he-once-owned-from-paypal/ |archive-date=June 25, 2020}}{{cite news |last=Statt |first=Nick |date=July 10, 2017 |title=Elon Musk now owns X.com, the defunct domain of his second startup |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/7/10/15949862/elon-musk-x-com-paypal-tesla-spacex-domain-name |work=The Verge |publisher=Vox Media |access-date=September 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625193958/https://www.theverge.com/2017/7/10/15949862/elon-musk-x-com-paypal-tesla-spacex-domain-name |archive-date=June 25, 2020}}

{{Main|SpaceX}}

File: SpaceX CEO Elon Musk visits N&NC and AFSPC (190416-F-ZZ999-006) (cropped).jpg capabilities to leaders of North American Aerospace Defense Command, U.S. Northern Command, and Air Force Space Command in 2019]]

In 2001, Musk became involved with the nonprofit Mars Society and discussed funding plans to place a growth-chamber for plants on Mars.Vance (2017), pp. 99, 102—103. Seeking a way to launch the greenhouse payloads into space, Musk made two unsuccessful trips to Moscow to purchase intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) from Russian companies NPO Lavochkin and Kosmotras. Musk instead decided to start a company to build affordable rockets.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2015-elon-musk-spacex/ |title=Elon Musk's space dream almost killed Tesla |date=May 14, 2015 |access-date=June 7, 2015 |work=Bloomberg |last=Vance |first=Ashlee |archive-date=February 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223011256/https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2015-elon-musk-spacex/ |url-status=live}} With $100 million of his early fortune,{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/05/business/yourmoney/05rocket.html |title=A Bold Plan to Go Where Men Have Gone Before |date=February 5, 2006 |first=Leslie |last=Wayne |work=The New York Times |access-date=February 16, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412130718/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/05/business/yourmoney/a-bold-plan-to-go-where-men-have-gone-before.html |archive-date=April 12, 2020}} Musk founded SpaceX in May 2002 and became the company's CEO and Chief Engineer.{{citation |title=California Business Search (C2414622 – Space Exploration Technologies Corp) |url=https://businesssearch.sos.ca.gov/ |access-date=December 13, 2020 |archive-date=February 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223134214/https://businesssearch.sos.ca.gov/ |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Koren |first1=Marina |title=Elon Musk Is Maybe, Actually, Strangely, Going to Do This Mars Thing |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2021/05/elon-musk-spacex-starship-launch/618781/ |work=The Atlantic |date=May 6, 2021 |access-date=June 8, 2022 |archive-date=May 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531065250/https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2021/05/elon-musk-spacex-starship-launch/618781/ |url-status=live}}

SpaceX attempted its first launch of the Falcon 1 rocket in 2006.{{sfnp|Berger|2021|pages=178–182}} Although the rocket failed to reach Earth orbit, it was awarded a Commercial Orbital Transportation Services program contract from NASA, then led by Mike Griffin.{{cite news |first=Tariq |last=Malik |title=Griffin Reiterates NASA's Commitment to Commercial Cargo, Space News |url=https://spacenews.com/griffin-reiterates-commitment-commercial-services/ |date=November 21, 2005 |access-date=October 29, 2022 |archive-date=June 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619022231/https://spacenews.com/griffin-reiterates-commitment-commercial-services/ |url-status=live}}{{cite press release |last1=Dunbar |first1=Brian |title=NASA Invests in Private Sector Space Flight with SpaceX, Rocketplane-Kistler |publisher=NASA |url=https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/news/COTS_selection.html |access-date=December 2, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=September 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908075306/https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/news/COTS_selection.html}} After two more failed attempts that nearly caused Musk to go bankrupt,{{sfnp|Berger|2021|pages=178–182}} SpaceX succeeded in launching the Falcon 1 into orbit in 2008.{{cite news |last=Ledur |first=Júlia |date=May 1, 2019 |title=Falcon Flights |url=https://graphics.reuters.com/SPACE-EXPLORATION-SPACEX/010091Q82NF/index.html |publisher=Reuters |access-date=February 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210212334/https://graphics.reuters.com/SPACE-EXPLORATION-SPACEX/010091Q82NF/index.html |archive-date=February 10, 2021 |url-status=live}} Later that year, SpaceX received a $1.6 billion NASA contract for Falcon 9-launched Dragon spacecraft flights to the International Space Station (ISS), replacing the Space Shuttle after its 2011 retirement.{{cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |date=May 22, 2012 |title=Big Day for a Space Entrepreneur Promising More |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/23/science/space/spacexs-private-cargo-rocket-heads-to-space-station.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=January 11, 2021 |archive-date=July 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701083413/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/23/science/space/spacexs-private-cargo-rocket-heads-to-space-station.html |url-status=live}} In 2012, the Dragon vehicle docked with the ISS, a first for a commercial spacecraft.{{cite news |last=Harwood |first=William |title=SpaceX Dragon returns to Earth, ends historic trip |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/spacex-dragon-returns-to-earth-ends-historic-trip/ |publisher=CBS News |access-date=August 3, 2013 |date=May 31, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422175931/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/spacex-dragon-returns-to-earth-ends-historic-trip/ |archive-date=April 22, 2016}}

Working towards its goal of reusable rockets, in 2015 SpaceX successfully landed the first stage of a Falcon 9 on a land platform.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-35157782 |title=SpaceX rocket in historic upright landing |publisher=BBC News |date=December 22, 2015 |access-date=June 30, 2016 |archive-date=August 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831131922/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-35157782 |url-status=live}} Later landings were achieved on autonomous spaceport drone ships, an ocean-based recovery platform.{{Cite news |first=Sean |last=O'Kane |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/5/27/11787532/spacex-falcon-9-rocket-landing-success-sea-drone-ship |title=SpaceX successfully lands a Falcon 9 rocket at sea for the third time |work=The Verge |date=May 27, 2016 |access-date=June 30, 2016 |archive-date=June 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160627232003/http://www.theverge.com/2016/5/27/11787532/spacex-falcon-9-rocket-landing-success-sea-drone-ship |url-status=live}} In 2018, SpaceX launched the Falcon Heavy; the inaugural mission carried Musk's personal Tesla Roadster as a dummy payload.{{cite news |last=Drake |first=Nadia |author-link=Nadia Drake |date=February 25, 2018 |title=Elon Musk's Tesla in Space Could Crash into Earth |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2018/02/spacex-falcon-heavy-tesla-roadster-orbit-earth-sun-space/ |work=National Geographic |access-date=February 10, 2021 |archive-date=February 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210212336/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2018/02/spacex-falcon-heavy-tesla-roadster-orbit-earth-sun-space/}}{{cite news |last=Chow |first=Denise |date=November 6, 2019 |title='Starman' and the Tesla Roadster that SpaceX launched into orbit have now cruised beyond Mars |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/starman-tesla-roadster-spacex-launched-orbit-have-now-cruised-beyond-ncna931731 |publisher=NBC News |access-date=February 10, 2021 |archive-date=February 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210212335/https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/starman-tesla-roadster-spacex-launched-orbit-have-now-cruised-beyond-ncna931731 |url-status=live}} Since 2019,{{cite web |last=Berger |first=Eric |date=August 28, 2019 |title=Starhopper aces test, sets up full-scale prototype flights this year |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/08/starhopper-aces-test-sets-up-full-scale-prototype-flights-this-year/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121210349/https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/08/starhopper-aces-test-sets-up-full-scale-prototype-flights-this-year/ |archive-date=January 21, 2021 |access-date=December 15, 2021 |work=Ars Technica}} SpaceX has been developing Starship, a reusable, super heavy-lift launch vehicle intended to replace the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy.{{cite news |last=Roulette |first=Joey |date=March 28, 2022 |title=SpaceX ending production of flagship crew capsule |url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/science/exclusive-spacex-ending-production-flagship-crew-capsule-executive-2022-03-28/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329180139/https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/science/exclusive-spacex-ending-production-flagship-crew-capsule-executive-2022-03-28/ |archive-date=March 29, 2022 |access-date=March 31, 2022 |publisher=Reuters}} In 2020, SpaceX launched its first crewed flight, the Demo-2, becoming the first private company to place astronauts into orbit and dock a crewed spacecraft with the ISS.{{Cite news |title=SpaceX and NASA launch Crew Dragon in Florida: Live updates |url=https://www.cnn.com/business/live-news/spacex-launch-today-may-30/index.html |last=Wattles |first=Jackie |date=May 30, 2020 |publisher=CNN |access-date=May 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200829112802/https://www.cnn.com/business/live-news/spacex-launch-today-may-30/index.html |archive-date=August 29, 2020}} In 2024, NASA awarded SpaceX an $843 million contract to deorbit the ISS at the end of its lifespan.{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/article/nasa-spacex-contract-international-space-station-339c0b8313073fdf4d9fe22056f3d51c |title=NASA taps Elon Musk's SpaceX to bring International Space Station out of orbit in a few more years |publisher=Associated Press |date=June 26, 2024 |access-date=November 19, 2024 |archive-date=November 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241113072918/https://apnews.com/article/nasa-spacex-contract-international-space-station-339c0b8313073fdf4d9fe22056f3d51c |url-status=live}}

{{Main|Starlink}}

{{See also|Starlink in the Russo-Ukrainian War}}

File:Starlink Mission (47926144123).jpg

In 2015, SpaceX began development of the Starlink constellation of low Earth orbit satellites to provide satellite Internet access.{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Eric M. |last2=Roulette |first2=Joey |date=October 31, 2018 |title=Musk shakes up SpaceX in race to make satellite launch window: sources |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-spacex-starlink-insight/musk-shakes-up-spacex-in-race-to-make-satellite-launch-window-sources-idUSKCN1N50FC |publisher=Reuters |access-date=March 28, 2021 |archive-date=May 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518170500/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-spacex-starlink-insight/musk-shakes-up-spacex-in-race-to-make-satellite-launch-window-sources-idUSKCN1N50FC |url-status=live}} After the launch of prototype satellites in 2018, the first large constellation was deployed in May 2019.{{cite news |last=Hall |first=Shannon |title=After SpaceX Starlink Launch, a Fear of Satellites That Outnumber All Visible Stars – Images of the Starlink constellation in orbit have rattled astronomers around the world |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/01/science/starlink-spacex-astronomers.html |date=June 1, 2019 |work=The New York Times |access-date=June 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200821011421/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/01/science/starlink-spacex-astronomers.html |archive-date=August 21, 2020}} The total cost of the decade-long project to design, build, and deploy the constellation was estimated by SpaceX in 2020 to be $10 billion.{{cite news |last1=Shepardson |first1=David |last2=Roulette |first2=Joey |date=July 30, 2020 |title=Taking on SpaceX, Amazon to invest $10 billion in satellite broadband plan |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-amazon-broadband/taking-on-spacex-amazon-to-invest-10-billion-in-satellite-broadband-plan-idUSKCN24V3F2 |publisher=Reuters |access-date=January 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107200559/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-amazon-broadband/taking-on-spacex-amazon-to-invest-10-billion-in-satellite-broadband-plan-idUSKCN24V3F2 |archive-date=January 7, 2021 |url-status=live}}{{efn|SpaceX received nearly $900 million in Federal Communications Commission subsidies for Starlink.{{cite news |last=Sheetz |first=Michael |date=December 7, 2020 |title=SpaceX's Starlink wins nearly $900 million in FCC subsidies to bring internet to rural areas |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/07/spacex-starlink-wins-nearly-900-million-in-fcc-subsidies-auction.html |publisher=CNBC |access-date=January 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201216185501/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/07/spacex-starlink-wins-nearly-900-million-in-fcc-subsidies-auction.html |archive-date=December 16, 2020 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last=Wattles |first=Jackie |date=December 8, 2020 |title=SpaceX gets almost $900 million in federal subsidies to deliver broadband to rural America |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/08/tech/spacex-starlink-subsidies-fcc-scn/index.html |publisher=CNN |access-date=January 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201218204918/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/08/tech/spacex-starlink-subsidies-fcc-scn/index.html |archive-date=December 18, 2020 |url-status=live}}}}

During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Musk provided free Starlink service to Ukraine, permitting Internet access and communication at a yearly cost to SpaceX of $400 million.{{Cite news |last=Sheetz |first=Michael |date=March 22, 2022 |title=Elon Musk's SpaceX sent thousands of Starlink satellite internet dishes to Ukraine, company's president says |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/22/elon-musk-spacex-thousands-of-starlink-satellite-dishes-sent-to-ukraine.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327034400/https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/22/elon-musk-spacex-thousands-of-starlink-satellite-dishes-sent-to-ukraine.html |archive-date=March 27, 2022 |access-date=March 28, 2022 |publisher=CNBC}}{{Cite news |last=Marquardt |first=Alex |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/10/13/politics/elon-musk-spacex-starlink-ukraine/ |title=Exclusive: Musk's SpaceX says it can no longer pay for critical satellite services in Ukraine, asks Pentagon to pick up the tab |date=October 13, 2022 |publisher=CNN |access-date=October 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024113222/https://edition.cnn.com/2022/10/13/politics/elon-musk-spacex-starlink-ukraine |archive-date=October 24, 2022 |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |last=Capoot |first=Ashley |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/15/elon-musk-tweets-on-starlink-well-just-keep-funding-ukraine-govt-for-free.html |title='The hell with it': Elon Musk tweets SpaceX will 'keep funding Ukraine govt for free' amid Starlink controversy |date=October 15, 2022 |publisher=CNBC |access-date=October 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103145419/https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/15/elon-musk-tweets-on-starlink-well-just-keep-funding-ukraine-govt-for-free.html |archive-date=November 3, 2022 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last=Hern |first=Alex |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-63266142 |title=Musk says SpaceX will keep funding Ukraine Starlink internet |publisher=BBC News |date=October 15, 2022 |access-date=October 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205043912/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-63266142 |archive-date=December 5, 2022 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/15/the-hell-with-it-elon-musk-says-spacex-will-fund-starlink-internet-in-ukraine |title=Elon Musk says SpaceX will keep funding Starlink internet in Ukraine |work=The Guardian |date=October 16, 2022 |access-date=October 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024192858/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/15/the-hell-with-it-elon-musk-says-spacex-will-fund-starlink-internet-in-ukraine |archive-date=October 24, 2022 |url-status=live}} However, Musk refused to block Russian state media on Starlink.{{Cite news |date=March 6, 2022 |title=SpaceX's Musk says Starlink has been told by some governments to block Russian news |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/spacexs-musk-says-starlink-has-been-told-by-some-governments-block-russian-news-2022-03-05/ |url-status=live |access-date=April 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404103321/https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/spacexs-musk-says-starlink-has-been-told-by-some-governments-block-russian-news-2022-03-05/ |archive-date=April 4, 2022}}{{Cite news |last=Porter |first=Jon |date=April 4, 2022 |title=Elon Musk buys 9.2 percent of Twitter amid complaints about free speech |work=The Verge |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/4/4/23009622/elon-musk-twitter-shares-free-speech |url-status=live |access-date=April 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404232458/https://www.theverge.com/2022/4/4/23009622/elon-musk-twitter-shares-free-speech |archive-date=April 4, 2022}} In 2023, Musk denied Ukraine's request to activate Starlink over Crimea to aid an attack against the Russian navy, citing fears of a nuclear response.{{cite news |last=Copp |first=Tara |title=Elon Musk's refusal to have Starlink support Ukraine attack in Crimea raises questions for Pentagon |publisher=Associated Press |date=September 11, 2023 |url=https://apnews.com/article/spacex-ukraine-starlink-russia-air-force-fde93d9a69d7dbd1326022ecfdbc53c2 |access-date=February 29, 2024 |archive-date=February 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229193731/https://apnews.com/article/spacex-ukraine-starlink-russia-air-force-fde93d9a69d7dbd1326022ecfdbc53c2 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |date=September 8, 2023 |title=Elon Musk sabotaged Ukrainian attack on Russian fleet in Crimea by turning off Starlink, new book says |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/elon-musk-ukraine-starlink-russia-crimea-war-drone-submarine-attack-sabotage/ |access-date=April 16, 2024 |work=Politico |archive-date=February 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240205192858/https://www.politico.eu/article/elon-musk-ukraine-starlink-russia-crimea-war-drone-submarine-attack-sabotage/ |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last=Platt |first=Kevin Holden |title=Space Experts Debate How To De-Escalate Russian Threats Of Orbital War |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinholdenplatt/2024/04/16/space-experts-debate-how-to-de-escalate-russian-threats-of-orbital-war/ |access-date=April 16, 2024 |work=Forbes |archive-date=April 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240416234159/https://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinholdenplatt/2024/04/16/space-experts-debate-how-to-de-escalate-russian-threats-of-orbital-war/ |url-status=live}}

{{Main|Tesla, Inc.}}

File:Elon Musk, Tesla Factory, Fremont (CA, USA) (8765031426).jpg, 2011]]

Tesla, Inc., originally Tesla Motors, was incorporated in July 2003 by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning. Both men played active roles in the company's early development prior to Musk's involvement.{{cite news |last=Reed |first=Eric |title=History of Tesla: Timeline and Facts |url=https://www.thestreet.com/technology/history-of-tesla-15088992 |work=TheStreet |date=February 4, 2020 |access-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-date=December 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220161321/https://www.thestreet.com/technology/history-of-tesla-15088992 |url-status=live}} Musk led the Series A round of investment in February 2004; he invested $6.35 million, became the majority shareholder, and joined Tesla's board of directors as chairman.Vance (2017), pp. 153–154.{{cite news |date=July 28, 2009 |title=Electric vehicle pioneer hits more bumps |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna32188170 |access-date=June 16, 2024 |publisher=NBC News |language=en}} Musk took an active role within the company and oversaw Roadster product design, but was not deeply involved in day-to-day business operations.Vance (2017), p. 159. Following a series of escalating conflicts in 2007, and the 2008 financial crisis, Eberhard was ousted from the firm.{{Cite book |last=Schilling |first=Melissa |author-link=Melissa Schilling |title=Quirky: The remarkable story of the traits, foibles, and genius of breakthrough innovators who changed the world |publisher=PublicAffairs |year=2018 |isbn=978-1-61039-792-6}}{{Page needed|date=September 2022}}{{cite news |first=Chris |last=Morrison |date=October 15, 2008 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/external/venturebeat/2008/10/15/15venturebeat-elon-musk-steps-in-as-ceo-at-tesla-lays-off-99182.html |title=Musk steps in as CEO |work=The New York Times |access-date=December 13, 2020 |archive-date=February 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204120521/http://www.nytimes.com/external/venturebeat/2008/10/15/15venturebeat-elon-musk-steps-in-as-ceo-at-tesla-lays-off-99182.html |url-status=live}} Musk assumed leadership of the company as CEO and product architect in 2008.{{cite web |date=August 13, 2020 |title=Elon Musk: The Story of a Maverick |url=https://interestingengineering.com/elon-musk-the-story-of-a-maverick |access-date=April 3, 2021 |website=interestingengineering.com |archive-date=March 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316052411/https://interestingengineering.com/elon-musk-the-story-of-a-maverick |url-status=live}} A 2009 lawsuit settlement with Eberhard designated Musk as a Tesla co-founder, along with Tarpenning and two others.{{Cite news |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/tesla-motors-founders-now-there-are-five/ |title=Tesla Motors founders: Now there are five |last=LaMonica |first=Martin |publisher=CNET |date=September 2009 |access-date=April 17, 2020 |quote=Tesla Motors and co-founder Martin Eberhard announced an agreement over who can claim to be a founder of the company on Monday. |archive-date=November 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115134134/https://www.cnet.com/news/tesla-motors-founders-now-there-are-five/ |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/1367866/tesla-lawsuit-drama-ends-five-company-founders-emerge |title=Tesla Lawsuit Drama Ends as Five Company Founders Emerge |last=Schwartz |first=Ariel |date=September 21, 2009 |website=Fast Company |access-date=April 14, 2020 |quote=Eberhard and Musk have reached a rather unexpected resolution–instead of agreeing to share the title of "founder", the pair has designated five people as company founders, including Musk, Eberhard, JB Straubel, Mark Tarpenning, and Ian Wright. |archive-date=June 6, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150606120247/https://www.fastcompany.com/1367866/tesla-lawsuit-drama-ends-five-company-founders-emerge |url-status=live}}

Tesla began delivery of the Roadster, an electric sports car, in 2008. With sales of about 2,500 vehicles, it was the first mass production all-electric car to use lithium-ion battery cells.{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Kevin A. |date=March 15, 2018 |title=Worth the Watt: A Brief History of the Electric Car, 1830 to Present |url=https://www.caranddriver.com/features/g15378765/worth-the-watt-a-brief-history-of-the-electric-car-1830-to-present |access-date=March 30, 2021 |work=Car and Driver |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210317062346/https://www.caranddriver.com/features/g15378765/worth-the-watt-a-brief-history-of-the-electric-car-1830-to-present/ |archive-date=March 17, 2021 |url-status=live}} Under Musk, Tesla has since launched several well-selling electric vehicles, including the four-door sedan Model S (2012), the crossover Model X (2015), the mass-market sedan Model 3 (2017), the crossover Model Y (2020), and the pickup truck Cybertruck (2023).{{cite news |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_20919722/silicon-valley-milestone-tesla-motors-begins-delivering-model?refresh=no |title=In a Silicon Valley milestone, Tesla Motors begins delivering Model S electric cars |first=John |last=Boudreau |work=The Mercury News |date=June 22, 2012 |access-date=June 22, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-date=November 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121124040454/http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_20919722/silicon-valley-milestone-tesla-motors-begins-delivering-model?refresh=no}}{{cite news |last=Ruddick |first=Graham |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/sep/30/tesla-model-x-electric-car-launch-falcon-wings-suv |title=Tesla's Model X electric car spreads falcon wings at U.S. launch |work=The Guardian |date=September 30, 2015 |access-date=November 4, 2015 |archive-date=June 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602175211/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/sep/30/tesla-model-x-electric-car-launch-falcon-wings-suv |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last=Vlasic |first=Bill |date=July 29, 2017 |title=In Pivotal Moment, Tesla Unveils Its First Mass-Market Sedan |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/29/business/tesla-model-3-elon-musk.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=February 9, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=February 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209235116/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/29/business/tesla-model-3-elon-musk.html}}{{Cite web |last1=Munoz |first1=Juan Felipe |last2=Smith |first2=Christopher |date=January 26, 2024 |title=Tesla Model Y Is The World's Best-Selling Vehicle For 2023 |url=https://www.motor1.com/news/706258/tesla-model-y-worlds-top-selling-vehicle-2023/ |access-date=July 9, 2024 |website=Motor1.com |language=en |archive-date=June 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240618024546/https://www.motor1.com/news/706258/tesla-model-y-worlds-top-selling-vehicle-2023/ |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |last=Krisher |first=Tom |date=November 30, 2023 |title=Tesla delivers about a dozen stainless steel Cybertruck pickups as it tries to fix production woes |url=https://apnews.com/article/tesla-cybertruck-delivery-stainless-steel-production-delay-f3654502027935dfcb325ac762be86ce |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231202192605/https://apnews.com/article/tesla-cybertruck-delivery-stainless-steel-production-delay-f3654502027935dfcb325ac762be86ce |archive-date=December 2, 2023 |access-date=December 3, 2023 |publisher=Associated Press}}

In May 2020 Musk resigned from chairman of the board as part of the settlement of a lawsuit from the SEC over him tweeting that funding had been "secured" for potentially taking Tesla private.

The company has also constructed multiple lithium-ion battery and electric vehicle factories, called Gigafactories.{{Cite news |last=Eddy |first=Melissa |date=March 4, 2022 |title=Tesla Wins Approval to Open European Assembly Plant |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/04/world/europe/tesla-germany-assembly-plant.html |access-date=September 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904082019/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/04/world/europe/tesla-germany-assembly-plant.html |archive-date=September 4, 2022 |url-status=live}} Since its initial public offering in 2010,{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=June 28, 2010 |title=With First Share Offering, Tesla Bets on Electric Car's Future |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/28/business/28tesla.html |access-date=February 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210000410/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/28/business/28tesla.html |archive-date=February 10, 2021 |url-status=live}} Tesla stock has risen significantly; it became the most valuable carmaker in summer 2020,{{cite news |date=July 1, 2020 |title=Tesla overtakes Toyota to become world's most valuable carmaker |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-53257933 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=February 9, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=February 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210000414/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-53257933}}{{cite news |last=Boudette |first=Neal E. |date=July 2, 2020 |title=Tesla Shines During the Pandemic as Other Automakers Struggle |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/02/business/tesla-sales-second-quarter.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=February 9, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=February 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210000501/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/02/business/tesla-sales-second-quarter.html}} and it entered the S&P 500 later that year.{{cite news |last=Li |first=Yun |date=December 20, 2021 |title=Tesla shares fall 6% as it enters the S&P 500 with 1.69% weighting, fifth largest |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/20/tesla-enters-the-sp-500-with-1point69percent-weighting-in-the-benchmark-fifth-largest.html |publisher=CNBC |access-date=February 9, 2021 |archive-date=February 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210000314/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/20/tesla-enters-the-sp-500-with-1point69percent-weighting-in-the-benchmark-fifth-largest.html |url-status=live}}{{cite news |date=December 21, 2020 |title=Tesla Stock Joins the S&P 500: A Game Changer |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/graphics/tesla-stock-joins-the-sp500/ |access-date=February 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210000316/https://www.wsj.com/graphics/tesla-stock-joins-the-sp500/ |archive-date=February 10, 2021 |url-status=live}} In October 2021, it reached a market capitalization of $1 trillion, the sixth company in U.S. history to do so.{{Cite news |first=Chris |last=Isidore |date=October 26, 2021 |title=Tesla is now worth more than $1 trillion |publisher=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/25/investing/tesla-stock-trillion-dollar-market-cap/index.html |access-date=November 14, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=November 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114001754/https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/25/investing/tesla-stock-trillion-dollar-market-cap/index.html}}

{{Main|SolarCity|Tesla Energy}}

File:Pair of 2009 SolarCity Dodge Sprinters.JPG

Musk provided the initial concept and financial capital for SolarCity, which his cousins Lyndon and Peter Rive founded in 2006.{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Kanellos |date=February 15, 2008 |title=Elon Musk on rockets, sports cars, and solar power |url=https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/elon-musk-on-rockets-sports-cars-and-solar-power/ |publisher=CNET |archive-date=January 29, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140129063308/http://news.cnet.com/Elon-Musk-on-rockets,-sports-cars,-and-solar-power---page-2/2008-11389_3-6230661-2.html |url-status=live}} By 2013, SolarCity was the second largest provider of solar power systems in the United States.{{Cite news |url=http://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/top-250-solar-contractors |title=2013 Top 250 Solar Contractors |work=Solar Power World |date=September 13, 2013 |access-date=December 13, 2020 |archive-date=October 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010112825/https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/top-250-solar-contractors/ |url-status=live}} In 2014, Musk promoted the idea of SolarCity building an advanced production facility in Buffalo, New York, triple the size of the largest solar plant in the United States.{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Aaron |date=June 17, 2014 |title=Elon Musk's sunny plans for Buffalo |url=https://money.cnn.com/2014/06/17/news/companies/solarcity-silevo |publisher=CNN |access-date=December 13, 2020 |archive-date=October 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009194551/http://money.cnn.com/2014/06/17/news/companies/solarcity-silevo |url-status=live}} Construction of the factory started in 2014 and was completed in 2017. It operated as a joint venture with Panasonic until early 2020.{{cite news |last=Kolodny |first=Lora |author-link=Lora Kolodny |date=February 26, 2020 |title=Tesla, Panasonic will reportedly stop joint solar cell production at Gigafactory 2 in Buffalo |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/26/tesla-panasonic-said-to-end-joint-solar-cell-production-at-buffalo-factory.html |publisher=CNBC |access-date=September 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808130532/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/26/tesla-panasonic-said-to-end-joint-solar-cell-production-at-buffalo-factory.html |archive-date=August 8, 2020}}{{cite news |author=Joed Viera |date=November 23, 2020 |title=The highs, lows and legacy of Panasonic's doomed project in Buffalo |website=Buffalo Business First |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2020/11/23/leaders-of-doomed-panasonic-project-look-back.html |url-status=live |access-date=April 3, 2021 |archive-date=November 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123121014/https://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2020/11/23/leaders-of-doomed-panasonic-project-look-back.html}}

Tesla acquired SolarCity for $2 billion in 2016 and merged it with its battery unit to create Tesla Energy. The deal's announcement resulted in a more than 10% drop in Tesla's stock price; at the time, SolarCity was facing liquidity issues. Multiple shareholder groups filed a lawsuit against Musk and Tesla's directors, stating that the purchase of SolarCity was done solely to benefit Musk and came at the expense of Tesla and its shareholders.{{cite news |last=Strong |first=Michael |date=March 16, 2020 |title=Shareholder $2.2B Lawsuit Against Tesla CEO Musk Halted After Trial Postponed Due to Coronavirus |url=https://www.thedetroitbureau.com/2020/03/shareholder-2-2b-lawsuit-against-tesla-ceo-musk-halted-after-trial-postponed-due-to-coronavirus/ |work=The Detroit Bureau |access-date=September 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200914204415/https://www.thedetroitbureau.com/2020/03/shareholder-2-2b-lawsuit-against-tesla-ceo-musk-halted-after-trial-postponed-due-to-coronavirus/ |archive-date=September 14, 2020}}{{cite news |last=Mitchell |first=Russ |date=September 23, 2019 |title=Elon Musk knew SolarCity was going broke before merger with Tesla, lawsuit alleges |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2019-09-23/solarcity-tesla-merger-shareholder-lawsuit |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=September 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730152927/https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2019-09-23/solarcity-tesla-merger-shareholder-lawsuit |archive-date=July 30, 2020}} Tesla directors settled the lawsuit in January 2020, leaving Musk the sole remaining defendant.{{cite news |last=Hals |first=Tom |date=January 30, 2020 |title=Tesla directors settle, isolating Musk as SolarCity trial looms |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tesla-solarcity-lawsuit/tesla-directors-settle-isolating-musk-as-solarcity-trial-looms-idUSKBN1ZT2HF |publisher=Reuters |access-date=September 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728215010/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tesla-solarcity-lawsuit/tesla-directors-settle-isolating-musk-as-solarcity-trial-looms-idUSKBN1ZT2HF |archive-date=July 28, 2020}}{{cite news |last=Chase |first=Randall |date=August 17, 2020 |title=Judge OKs $60M settlement over Tesla buyout of SolarCity |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/judge-oks-60m-settlement-tesla-buyout-solarcity-72425974 |publisher=ABC News |access-date=September 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200825103031/https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/judge-oks-60m-settlement-tesla-buyout-solarcity-72425974 |archive-date=August 25, 2020}} Two years later, the court ruled in Musk's favor.{{cite news |last1=Kolodny |first1=Lora |author-link1=Lora Kolodny |last2=Bursztynsky |first2=Jessica |date=April 27, 2022 |title=Elon Musk wins shareholder lawsuit over Tesla's $2.6 billion SolarCity acquisition |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/27/elon-musk-wins-shareholder-lawsuit-over-the-companys-2point6-billion-solarcity-acquisition.html |publisher=CNBC |access-date=June 7, 2022 |archive-date=May 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524153414/https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/27/elon-musk-wins-shareholder-lawsuit-over-the-companys-2point6-billion-solarcity-acquisition.html |url-status=live}}

{{Main|Neuralink}}

File:Elon Musk and the Neuralink Future.jpg device during a live demonstration in 2020]]

In 2016, Musk co-founded Neuralink, a neurotechnology startup, with an investment of $100 million.{{cite news |last=Markoff |first=John |date=July 16, 2019 |title=Elon Musk's Neuralink Wants 'Sewing Machine-Like' Robots to Wire Brains to the Internet |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/16/technology/neuralink-elon-musk.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220720213845/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/16/technology/neuralink-elon-musk.html |archive-date=July 20, 2022 |access-date=July 26, 2022 |work=The New York Times}} Neuralink aims to integrate the human brain with artificial intelligence (AI) by creating devices that are embedded in the brain. Such technology could enhance memory or allow the devices to communicate with software.{{Cite news |last=Statt |first=Nick |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/3/27/15077864/elon-musk-neuralink-brain-computer-interface-ai-cyborgs |title=Elon Musk launches Neuralink, a venture to merge the human brain with AI |date=March 27, 2017 |work=The Verge |access-date=April 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803182502/https://www.theverge.com/2017/3/27/15077864/elon-musk-neuralink-brain-computer-interface-ai-cyborgs |archive-date=August 3, 2020}}{{cite news |last=Winkler |first=Rolfe |date=March 27, 2017 |title=Elon Musk Launches Neuralink to Connect Brains With Computers |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/elon-musk-launches-neuralink-to-connect-brains-with-computers-1490642652 |work=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=October 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002205615/https://www.wsj.com/articles/elon-musk-launches-neuralink-to-connect-brains-with-computers-1490642652 |archive-date=October 2, 2020}} The company also hopes to develop devices to treat neurological conditions like spinal cord injuries.{{cite news |agency=Reuters |date=August 29, 2020 |title=Elon Musk's Neuralink puts computer chips in pigs' brains in bid to cure diseases |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/elon-musk-s-neuralink-puts-computer-chips-pigs-brains-bid-n1238782 |publisher=NBC News |access-date=July 26, 2022 |archive-date=April 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426143430/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/elon-musk-s-neuralink-puts-computer-chips-pigs-brains-bid-n1238782 |url-status=live}} In 2022, Neuralink announced that clinical trials would begin by the end of the year.{{cite news |last=Neate |first=Rupert |date=January 20, 2022 |title=Elon Musk's brain chip firm Neuralink lines up clinical trials in humans |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/jan/20/elon-musk-brain-chip-firm-neuralink-lines-up-clinical-trials-in-humans |work=The Guardian |access-date=July 26, 2022 |archive-date=July 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712164543/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/jan/20/elon-musk-brain-chip-firm-neuralink-lines-up-clinical-trials-in-humans |url-status=live}} In September 2023, the Food and Drug Administration approved Neuralink to initiate six-year human trials.{{cite news |last=Singh |first=Maanvi |date=September 19, 2023 |title=Elon Musk's Neuralink approved to recruit humans for brain-implant trial |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/sep/19/elon-musk-neuralink-human-trials-brain-implant |work=The Guardian |access-date=September 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230924074223/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/sep/19/elon-musk-neuralink-human-trials-brain-implant |archive-date=September 24, 2023 |url-status=live}}

Neuralink has conducted animal testing on macaques at the University of California, Davis. In 2021, the company released a video in which a macaque played the video game Pong via a Neuralink implant. The company's animal trials—which have caused the deaths of some monkeys—have led to claims of animal cruelty. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine has alleged that Neuralink violated the Animal Welfare Act.{{cite news |last=Ryan |first=Hannah |date=February 17, 2022 |title=Elon Musk's Neuralink confirms monkeys died in the project, denies animal cruelty claims |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/17/business/elon-musk-neuralink-animal-cruelty-intl-scli/index.html |publisher=CNN Business |archive-date=July 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711203824/https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/17/business/elon-musk-neuralink-animal-cruelty-intl-scli/index.html |url-status=live}} Employees have complained that pressure from Musk to accelerate development has led to botched experiments and unnecessary animal deaths. In 2022, a federal probe was launched into possible animal welfare violations by Neuralink.{{cite news |last=Levy |first=Rachel |date=December 5, 2022 |title=Musk's Neuralink faces federal probe, employee backlash over animal tests |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/musks-neuralink-faces-federal-probe-employee-backlash-over-animal-tests-2022-12-05/ |publisher=Reuters |access-date=December 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206012000/https://www.reuters.com/technology/musks-neuralink-faces-federal-probe-employee-backlash-over-animal-tests-2022-12-05/ |archive-date=December 6, 2022 |url-status=live}}

{{Main|The Boring Company}}

File:Elon Musk Accelerates the Boring (45716125474).jpg in Hawthorne, California]]

In 2017, Musk founded the Boring Company to construct tunnels, and revealed plans for specialized, underground, high-occupancy vehicles that could travel up to {{convert|150|mph|km/h}} and thus circumvent above-ground traffic in major cities.{{cite news |last=Petrova |first=Magdalena |date=July 20, 2021 |title=Why Elon Musk's Boring Company is finding that traffic is tough to fix |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/20/why-elon-musks-boring-company-is-finding-that-traffic-is-tough-to-fix.html |publisher=CNBC |access-date=June 13, 2022 |archive-date=June 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614005426/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/20/why-elon-musks-boring-company-is-finding-that-traffic-is-tough-to-fix.html |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last=McFarland |first=Matt |date=July 6, 2022 |title=Elon Musk's Boring Company will let you pay for a ride with Dogecoin |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/06/business/boring-company-dogecoin-vegas/index.html |publisher=CNN |access-date=July 26, 2022 |archive-date=July 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726194550/https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/06/business/boring-company-dogecoin-vegas/index.html |url-status=live}} Early in 2017, the company began discussions with regulatory bodies and initiated construction of a {{convert|30|ft|adj=on}} wide, {{convert|50|ft|adj=on}} long, and {{convert|15|ft|adj=on}} deep "test trench" on the premises of SpaceX's offices, as that required no permits.{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/elon-musk-tunnel-boring |title=Elon Musk's boring machine has already built a 'test trench' in LA |last=Heathman |first=Amelia |magazine=Wired |access-date=February 19, 2017 |archive-date=July 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170718214211/http://www.wired.co.uk/article/elon-musk-tunnel-boring |url-status=live}} The Los Angeles tunnel, less than {{convert|2|mi|km|spell=in}} in length, debuted to journalists in 2018. It used Tesla Model Xs and was reported to be a rough ride while traveling at suboptimal speeds.{{cite news |last=Romero |first=Dennis |date=December 19, 2018 |title=Elon Musk unveils his test car tunnel as a fix for traffic in Los Angeles |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/tech/elon-musk-puts-his-electric-car-tunnel-calls-it-future-ncna949686 |publisher=NBC News |access-date=July 26, 2022 |archive-date=July 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220704132024/https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/tech/elon-musk-puts-his-electric-car-tunnel-calls-it-future-ncna949686 |url-status=live}} Two tunnel projects announced in 2018, in Chicago and West Los Angeles, have been canceled.{{cite news |last=Farivar |first=Cyrus |date=June 8, 2021 |title=Fort Lauderdale officials say Elon Musk's new tunnel to the beach can't come fast enough |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/urban-tunnels-musk-s-boring-co-draw-industry-skepticism-n1269677 |publisher=NBC News |access-date=July 27, 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703130707/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/urban-tunnels-musk-s-boring-co-draw-industry-skepticism-n1269677 |archive-date=July 3, 2021}}{{Cite news |last=Heater |first=Brian |date=November 28, 2018 |title=Elon Musk's Boring Co. drops LA Westside tunnel plan |url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/11/28/elon-musks-boring-co-drops-la-westside-tunnel-plan/ |work=TechCrunch |access-date=July 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181128133124/https://techcrunch.com/2018/11/28/elon-musks-boring-co-drops-la-westside-tunnel-plan/ |url-status=live |archive-date=November 28, 2018}} However, a tunnel beneath the Las Vegas Convention Center was completed in early 2021.{{Cite news |date=May 20, 2021 |title=Boring Co. underground loop to be put to the test |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/tourism/boring-co-underground-loop-to-be-put-to-the-test-2358258/ |access-date=May 29, 2021 |work=The Las Vegas Review-Journal |archive-date=May 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521225002/https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/tourism/boring-co-underground-loop-to-be-put-to-the-test-2358258/ |url-status=live}} Local officials have approved further expansions of the tunnel system.{{cite news |last=McBride |first=Sarah |date=December 16, 2020 |title=Elon Musk's Proposed Vegas Strip Transit System Advanced by City Council Vote |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-16/the-boring-company-las-vegas-loop-projects-eyes-major-expansion |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |access-date=January 8, 2021 |archive-date=January 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111092533/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-16/the-boring-company-las-vegas-loop-projects-eyes-major-expansion |url-status=live}}

{{Main|Acquisition of Twitter by Elon Musk|Twitter under Elon Musk}}

{{Tweet

|name = Elon Musk 15px

|username = elonmusk

|date = April 14, 2022

|text = I made an offer
{{URL|https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001418091/000110465922045641/tm2212748d1_sc13da.htm|https://sec.gov/Archives/edgar...}}

|ID = 1514564966564651008

|image = Elon Musk Royal Society (crop2).jpg

|reference = {{Cite tweet |last=Musk |first=Elon |author-link=Elon Musk |user=elonmusk |number=1514564966564651008 |date=April 14, 2022 |title=I made an offer
{{URL|https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001418091/000110465922045641/tm2212748d1_sc13da.htm|https://sec.gov/Archives/edgar...}} |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220414112418/https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1514564966564651008 |archive-date=April 14, 2022 |access-date=May 2, 2022}}

|ref-name=Offer

}}

In early 2017, Musk expressed interest in buying Twitter and had questioned the platform's commitment to freedom of speech.{{cite news |last1=Paul |first1=Kari |date=April 26, 2022 |title=Chaotic and crass: a brief timeline of Elon Musk's history with Twitter |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/apr/25/timeline-elon-musks-history-twitter |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426050301/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/apr/25/timeline-elon-musks-history-twitter |archive-date=April 26, 2022 |access-date=April 26, 2022 |work=The Guardian }}{{Cite news |date=April 4, 2022 |title=Elon Musk snaps up $3bn Twitter stake |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-60979656 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404110529/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-60979656 |archive-date=April 4, 2022 |access-date=April 4, 2022 |publisher=BBC News }}{{Cite news |last=Jones |first=Callum |title=Elon Musk becomes Twitter's biggest shareholder after taking 9.2% stake |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/elon-musk-becomes-twitters-biggest-shareholder-after-taking-9-2-stake-p57b9wbs2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404124750/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/elon-musk-becomes-twitters-biggest-shareholder-after-taking-9-2-stake-p57b9wbs2 |archive-date=April 4, 2022 |access-date=April 4, 2022 |work=The Times}} By 2022, Musk had reached 9.2% stake in the company,{{cite news |last=Elder |first=Bryce |date=April 6, 2022 |title=Musk and Twitter: the timeline |url=https://www.ft.com/content/d95f6255-010d-4f1b-93db-1cc26bf40538 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530220017/https://www.ft.com/content/d95f6255-010d-4f1b-93db-1cc26bf40538 |archive-date=May 30, 2022 |access-date=June 4, 2022 |work=Financial Times}} making him the largest shareholder.{{Cite news |last1=Adler |first1=Maxwell |last2=Turner |first2=Giles |date=April 14, 2022 |title=Elon Musk Makes $43 Billion Unsolicited Bid to Take Twitter Private |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-14/elon-musk-launches-43-billion-hostile-takeover-of-twitter |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220414102231/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-14/elon-musk-launches-43-billion-hostile-takeover-of-twitter |archive-date=April 14, 2022 |access-date=April 14, 2022 |publisher=Bloomberg L.P.}}{{efn|He did not file the necessary SEC paperwork within 10 days of his stake passing 5%, a violation of US securities laws.{{Cite news |title=Elon Musk delayed filing a form and made $156 million |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/04/06/musk-twitter-sec/ |url-status=live |access-date=April 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408004816/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/04/06/musk-twitter-sec/ |archive-date=April 8, 2022}}}} Musk later agreed to a deal that would appoint him to Twitter's board of directors and prohibit him from acquiring more than 14.9% of the company.{{Cite news |last=Corfield |first=Gareth |date=April 5, 2022 |title=Elon Musk to join Twitter board |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/04/05/elon-musk-floats-idea-editing-tweets-stock-swoop/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405113704/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/04/05/elon-musk-floats-idea-editing-tweets-stock-swoop/ |archive-date=April 5, 2022 |access-date=April 5, 2022 |work=The Daily Telegraph}}{{Cite news |last=McLean |first=Rob |date=April 11, 2022 |title=Twitter CEO: Elon Musk will not join Twitter board |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/11/tech/elon-musk-twitter-board/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411174237/https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/11/tech/elon-musk-twitter-board/index.html |archive-date=April 11, 2022 |access-date=April 11, 2022 |publisher=CNN }} Days later, Musk made a $43 billion offer to buy Twitter.{{Cite news |date=April 14, 2022 |title=Elon Musk launches hostile takeover bid for Twitter |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220414-elon-musk-launches-hostile-takeover-bid-for-twitter |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220414113219/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220414-elon-musk-launches-hostile-takeover-bid-for-twitter |archive-date=April 14, 2022 |access-date=April 14, 2022 |publisher=France 24 |agency=Agence France-Presse}} By the end of April Musk had successfully concluded his bid for approximately $44 billion.{{cite news |last=Stahl |first=George |title=Musk-Twitter Deal Values Company at Around $44 Billion |url=https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/twitter-elon-musk-latest-news/card/musk-twitter-deal-values-company-at-around-44-billion-MdEXkyNxU0GbJ1kqBc1M |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220425191453/https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/twitter-elon-musk-latest-news/card/musk-twitter-deal-values-company-at-around-44-billion-MdEXkyNxU0GbJ1kqBc1M |archive-date=April 25, 2022 |access-date=April 25, 2022 |work=The Wall Street Journal}} This included approximately $12.5 billion in loans and $21 billion in equity financing.{{cite news |last1=Isaac |first1=Mike |last2=Hirsch |first2=Lauren |date=April 25, 2022 |title=With Deal for Twitter, Musk Lands a Prize and Pledges Fewer Limits |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/25/technology/musk-twitter-sale.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220427044712/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/25/technology/musk-twitter-sale.html?searchResultPosition=19 |archive-date=April 27, 2022 |access-date=April 26, 2022 |work=The New York Times}}{{cite news |last1=MacMillan |first1=Douglas |last2=Siddiqui |first2=Faiz |last3=Lerman |first3=Rachel |last4=Telford |first4=Taylor |date=April 25, 2022 |title=Elon Musk acquires Twitter for roughly $44 billion |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/04/25/twitter-elon-musk-deal/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220425201853/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/04/25/twitter-elon-musk-deal/ |archive-date=April 25, 2022 |access-date=April 26, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post}} Having back tracked on his initial decision,{{cite news |last1=Conger |first1=Kate |last2=Hirsch |first2=Lauren |last3=Sorkin |first3=Andrew Ross |date=October 4, 2022 |title=Elon Musk Suggests Buying Twitter at His Original Price |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/04/technology/elon-musk-twitter-deal.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024192040/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/04/technology/elon-musk-twitter-deal.html |archive-date=October 24, 2022 |access-date=October 8, 2022 |work=The New York Times}} Musk bought the company on October 27, 2022.{{cite news |last1=Klar |first1=Rebecca |date=October 27, 2022 |title=Musk officially closes Twitter deal: reports |url=https://thehill.com/policy/technology/3708424-musk-officially-closes-twitter-deal-reports/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028015632/https://thehill.com/policy/technology/3708424-musk-officially-closes-twitter-deal-reports/ |archive-date=October 28, 2022 |access-date=October 27, 2022 |work=The Hill}}

Immediately after the acquisition, Musk fired several top Twitter executives including CEO Parag Agrawal;{{Cite news |date=October 27, 2022 |title=Musk Said to Begin Firing Twitter's Top Executives |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/27/technology/musk-twitter.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028015154/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/27/technology/elon-musk-twitter-deal-complete.html |archive-date=October 28, 2022 |work=The New York Times}} Musk became the CEO instead.{{cite news |last1=Mehta |first1=Chavi |last2=Dang |first2=Sheila |last3=Ghosh |first3=Sayantani |date=October 31, 2022 |title=Elon Musk, who runs four other companies, will now be Twitter CEO |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/elon-musk-says-he-will-be-twitter-ceo-2022-10-31/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101010029/https://www.reuters.com/technology/elon-musk-says-he-will-be-twitter-ceo-2022-10-31/ |archive-date=November 1, 2022 |publisher=Reuters}} Under Elon Musk, Twitter instituted monthly subscriptions for a "blue check",{{cite news |date=November 2, 2022 |title=Elon Musk says $8 monthly fee for Twitter blue tick |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-63478854 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102095601/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-63478854 |archive-date=November 2, 2022 |access-date=November 2, 2022 |publisher=BBC News }}{{cite news |last=Korn |first=Jennifer |date=November 2, 2022 |title=Musk says Twitter will charge $8 a month for account verification after criticism for $19.99 plan |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/01/tech/musk-twitter-verification-price |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102023742/https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/01/tech/musk-twitter-verification-price |archive-date=November 2, 2022 |access-date=November 2, 2022 |publisher=CNN }}{{cite news |last=Binoy |first=Rhea |date=November 5, 2022 |title=Musk's Twitter updates app to start charging $8 for blue checkmark |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/twitter-launches-8-monthly-subscription-with-blue-checkmark-2022-11-05/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105220639/https://www.reuters.com/technology/twitter-launches-8-monthly-subscription-with-blue-checkmark-2022-11-05/ |archive-date=November 5, 2022 |access-date=November 5, 2022 |publisher=Reuters}} and laid off a significant portion of the company's staff.{{cite news |last1=Conger |first1=Kate |last2=Mac |first2=Ryan |date=November 4, 2022 |title=Elon Musk Begins Layoffs at Twitter |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/03/technology/twitter-layoffs-elon-musk.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221104135035/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/03/technology/twitter-layoffs-elon-musk.html |archive-date=November 4, 2022 |access-date=November 4, 2022 |work=The New York Times}}{{cite news |last=Picchi |first=Aimee |date=November 4, 2022 |title=Elon Musk set to fire roughly half of Twitter's workers |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/elon-musk-3700-twitter-job-cuts-half-of-employees/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103225020/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/elon-musk-3700-twitter-job-cuts-half-of-employees/ |archive-date=November 3, 2022 |access-date=November 4, 2022 |publisher=CBS News}} Musk lessened content moderation and hate speech also increased on the platform after his takeover.{{Cite magazine |last=Knight |first=Will |date=November 25, 2022 |title=Here's Proof Hate Speech Is More Viral on Elon Musk's Twitter |url=https://www.wired.com/story/heres-proof-hate-speech-is-more-viral-on-elon-musks-twitter/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213125832/https://www.wired.com/story/heres-proof-hate-speech-is-more-viral-on-elon-musks-twitter/ |archive-date=December 13, 2022 |access-date=November 25, 2022 |magazine=Wired}}{{cite news |title=Elon Musk promotes transphobic content as hate speech surges on his far-right platform |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/elon-musk-twitter-transgender-hate-speech-b2351923.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230807120600/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/elon-musk-twitter-transgender-hate-speech-b2351923.html |archive-date=August 7, 2023 |access-date=August 5, 2023 |work=The Independent}}{{cite news |last1=Zakrewski |first1=Siddiqui |last2=Faiz |first2=Siddiqui |last3=Menn |first3=Joseph |date=November 22, 2022 |title=Musk's 'free speech' agenda dismantles safety work at Twitter, insiders say |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/11/22/elon-musk-twitter-content-moderations/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122180848/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/11/22/elon-musk-twitter-content-moderations/ |archive-date=November 22, 2022 |access-date=January 19, 2023 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}{{cite magazine |last=Ecarma |first=Caleb |date=November 21, 2022 |title=We're Officially in the Elon Musk Era of Content Moderation |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/11/elon-musk-twitter-content-moderation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110185916/https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/11/elon-musk-twitter-content-moderation |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |access-date=December 12, 2022 |magazine=Vanity Fair}} In late 2022, Musk released internal documents relating to Twitter's moderation of Hunter Biden's laptop controversy in the lead-up to the 2020 presidential election.{{cite magazine |last1=Marshall |first1=Aarian |last2=Hoover |first2=Amanda |date=December 3, 2022 |title=The Twitter Files Revealed One Thing: Elon Musk Is Trapped |url=https://www.wired.com/story/the-twitter-files-revealed-one-thing-elon-musk-is-trapped/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213125850/https://www.wired.com/story/the-twitter-files-revealed-one-thing-elon-musk-is-trapped/ |archive-date=December 13, 2022 |access-date=December 3, 2022 |magazine=Wired}} Musk also promised to step down as CEO after a Twitter poll,{{cite news |last=Da Silva |first=Chantal |date=December 19, 2022 |title=Twitter users vote for Elon Musk to step down as CEO in poll he launched |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/twitter-users-vote-elon-musk-quit-ceo-poll-rcna62332 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230911062931/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/twitter-users-vote-elon-musk-quit-ceo-poll-rcna62332 |archive-date=September 11, 2023 |access-date=September 24, 2023 |publisher=NBC News}}{{cite news |last=Allyn |first=Bobby |date=December 20, 2022 |title=Elon Musk says he will resign as Twitter CEO once he finds a replacement |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/12/20/1144182209/twitter-elon-musk-resigns#:~:text=Hourly%20News-,Elon%20Musk%20says%20he%27ll%20resign%20as%20Twitter%20CEO—eventually,said%20he%20should%20step%20down. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230729075448/https://www.npr.org/2022/12/20/1144182209/twitter-elon-musk-resigns#:~:text=Hourly%20News-,Elon%20Musk%20says%20he%27ll%20resign%20as%20Twitter%20CEO—eventually,said%20he%20should%20step%20down. |archive-date=July 29, 2023 |access-date=September 24, 2023 |publisher=NPR}} and five months later, Musk stepped down from chief executive officer (CEO) and transitioned his role to executive chairman and chief technology officer (CTO).{{Cite news |last=Milmo |first=Dan |date=May 11, 2023 |title=Elon Musk announces he has found new Twitter CEO |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/may/11/elon-musk-twitter-new-ceo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511203332/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/may/11/elon-musk-twitter-new-ceo |archive-date=May 11, 2023 |access-date=May 11, 2023 |work=The Guardian }}

Despite Musk stepping down as CEO, X continues to struggle with challenges such as viral misinformation,{{cite news |date=February 14, 2024 |title=Influencers On X Profiting From Fake News On Israel-Gaza War: Report |url=https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/influencers-on-x-profiting-from-fake-news-on-israel-gaza-war-report-5054978 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240609023832/https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/influencers-on-x-profiting-from-fake-news-on-israel-gaza-war-report-5054978 |archive-date=June 9, 2024 |access-date=June 9, 2024 |publisher=NDTV}} hate speech, and antisemitism controversies.{{cite news |last1=Frenkel |first1=Sheera |last2=Myers |first2=Steven Lee |date=November 15, 2023 |title=Antisemitic and Anti-Muslim Hate Speech Surges Across the Internet |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/15/technology/hate-speech-israel-gaza-internet.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503190050/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/15/technology/hate-speech-israel-gaza-internet.html |archive-date=May 3, 2024 |access-date=June 9, 2024 |website=The New York Times}}{{cite news |last=Clayton |first=James |date=November 18, 2023 |title=X ad boycott gathers pace amid antisemitism storm |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67460386 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231118032055/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67460386 |archive-date=November 18, 2023 |access-date=June 9, 2024 |publisher=BBC News }} Musk has been accused of trying to silence some of his critics{{multiref2

| 1 = {{cite news |last=Tomlinson |first=Chris |date=August 13, 2024 |title=Elon Musk uses X lawsuits to censor critics, showing hypocrisy around free speech |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/columnists/tomlinson/article/musk-lawsuit-free-speech-x-19651710.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240813105104/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/columnists/tomlinson/article/musk-lawsuit-free-speech-x-19651710.php |archive-date=August 13, 2024 |access-date=September 1, 2024 |website=Houston Chronicle}}

| 2 = {{cite news |last=Kolodny |first=Lora |date=April 25, 2022 |title=Elon Musk says he wants free speech, but his track record suggests otherwise |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/25/elon-musk-and-free-speech-track-record-not-encouraging.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240828053843/https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/25/elon-musk-and-free-speech-track-record-not-encouraging.html |archive-date=August 28, 2024 |access-date=September 2, 2024 |publisher=CNBC |language=en}}

| 3 = {{cite news |last=Tangalakis-Lippert |first=Katherine |date=March 27, 2022 |title=Despite calling himself a 'free speech absolutist,' Elon Musk has a history of retaliation against employees and critics |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/free-speech-absolutist-elon-musk-censors-employees-critics-2022-3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327044731/https://www.businessinsider.com/free-speech-absolutist-elon-musk-censors-employees-critics-2022-3 |archive-date=March 27, 2022 |access-date=September 2, 2024 |website=Business Insider}}

| 4 = {{Cite news |author-link=Mark Joseph Stern |last=Stern |first=Mark Joseph |date=August 31, 2022 |title=Elon Musk's Commitment to Free Speech Is Bogus |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2022/08/elon-musk-twitter-tesla-union-free-speech.html |access-date=September 2, 2024 |work=Slate |language=en-US |issn=1091-2339}}

| 5 = {{cite news |last=Joyella |first=Mark |date=January 9, 2024 |title=Elon Musk Accused Of 'Silencing His Critics' As X Suspends Journalists |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/markjoyella/2024/01/09/elon-musk-silencing-his-critics-as-journalists-are-suspended-by-x/ |access-date=September 2, 2024 |website=Forbes |archive-date=August 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819151803/https://www.forbes.com/sites/markjoyella/2024/01/09/elon-musk-silencing-his-critics-as-journalists-are-suspended-by-x/ |url-status=live}}

}} by removing their accounts' blue checkmarks, which hinders visibility and is considered a form of shadow banning,{{Cite web |date=January 12, 2025 |title=Elon Musk leaks DMs with Asmongold and removes his X checkmark over PoE 2 dispute |url=https://esports.gg/news/streamers/elon-musk-leaks-dms-with-asmongold-and-removes-his-x-checkmark-over-poe-2-dispute/ |access-date=February 3, 2025 |website=esports.gg |language=en |archive-date=January 21, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250121061234/https://esports.gg/news/streamers/elon-musk-leaks-dms-with-asmongold-and-removes-his-x-checkmark-over-poe-2-dispute/ |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |date=January 18, 2025 |title=Elon Musk shares chat screenshot with gamer in fight over "Path of Exile 2" ranking |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/elon-musk-shares-chat-screenshot-with-gamer-in-fight-over-path-of-exile-2-ranking/articleshow/117354807.cms |access-date=February 3, 2025 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257 |archive-date=January 21, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250121184955/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/elon-musk-shares-chat-screenshot-with-gamer-in-fight-over-path-of-exile-2-ranking/articleshow/117354807.cms |url-status=live}} or suspending their accounts without justification.{{cite news |last=Joyella |first=Mark |title=Elon Musk Accused Of 'Silencing His Critics' As X Suspends Journalists |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/markjoyella/2024/01/09/elon-musk-silencing-his-critics-as-journalists-are-suspended-by-x/ |access-date=February 3, 2025 |website=Forbes |language=en |archive-date=August 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819151803/https://www.forbes.com/sites/markjoyella/2024/01/09/elon-musk-silencing-his-critics-as-journalists-are-suspended-by-x/ |url-status=live}}

{{Main|Hyperloop|Hyperloop pod competition}}

File:Hyperloop pod competition tube.jpg

In August 2013, Musk announced plans for a version of a vactrain, and assigned engineers from SpaceX and Tesla to design a transport system between Greater Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area, at an estimated cost of $6 billion.{{cite news |last=Vance |first=Ashlee |author-link=Ashlee Vance |date=August 12, 2013 |title=Revealed: Elon Musk Explains the Hyperloop, the Solar-Powered High-Speed Future of Inter-City Transportation |url=http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-08-12/revealed-elon-musk-explains-the-hyperloop |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150127202031/http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-08-12/revealed-elon-musk-explains-the-hyperloop |archive-date=January 27, 2015 |access-date=April 27, 2016 |work=Bloomberg BusinessWeek}}{{cite news |title=Hyperloop Update: Elon Musk Will Start Developing It Himself |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hannahelliott/2013/08/12/latest-update-elon-musk-will-start-the-hyperloop-himself/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929001211/https://www.forbes.com/sites/hannahelliott/2013/08/12/latest-update-elon-musk-will-start-the-hyperloop-himself/#5143db7047a8 |archive-date=September 29, 2017 |access-date=March 22, 2016 |work=Forbes}} Later that year, Musk unveiled the concept, dubbed the Hyperloop,{{cite news |last=Kolawole |first=Emi |date=August 12, 2013 |title=Elon Musk Unveils 'Hyperloop' Plans |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/innovations/wp/2013/08/12/elon-musk-to-reveal-hyperloop-plans-after-a-trickle-of-hints/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220728181120/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/innovations/wp/2013/08/12/elon-musk-to-reveal-hyperloop-plans-after-a-trickle-of-hints/ |archive-date=July 28, 2022 |access-date=July 24, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post}} intended to make travel cheaper than any other mode of transport for such long distances.{{cite news |last=Ranger |first=Steve |title=What is Hyperloop? Everything you need to know about the race for super-fast travel |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/what-is-hyperloop-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-future-of-transport/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030113256/https://www.zdnet.com/article/what-is-hyperloop-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-future-of-transport/ |archive-date=October 30, 2020 |access-date=September 19, 2020 |publisher=ZDNet}}

{{further|OpenAI|xAI (company)}}

In December 2015, Musk co-founded OpenAI, a not-for-profit artificial intelligence (AI) research company aiming to develop artificial general intelligence, intended to be safe and beneficial to humanity.{{cite news |last=Markoff |first=John |date=December 11, 2015 |title=Artificial-Intelligence Research Center Is Founded by Silicon Valley Investors |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/12/science/artificial-intelligence-research-center-is-founded-by-silicon-valley-investors.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830184433/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/12/science/artificial-intelligence-research-center-is-founded-by-silicon-valley-investors.html |archive-date=August 30, 2020 |access-date=December 15, 2015 |work=The New York Times}} Musk pledged $1 billion of funding to the company,{{cite news |last1=Vincent |first1=James |date=March 24, 2023 |title=Elon Musk reportedly tried and failed to take over OpenAI in 2018 |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/3/24/23654701/openai-elon-musk-failed-takeover-report-closed-open-source |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619032112/https://www.theverge.com/2023/3/24/23654701/openai-elon-musk-failed-takeover-report-closed-open-source |archive-date=June 19, 2023 |access-date=June 19, 2023 |work=The Verge}} but only donated $50 million.{{cite news |date=May 18, 2023 |title=Why Elon Musk's $100 million donation claim to ChatGPT maker OpenAI may be wrong |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/gadgets-news/why-elon-musks-100-million-donation-claim-to-chatgpt-maker-openai-may-be-wrong/articleshow/100335255.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619032116/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/gadgets-news/why-elon-musks-100-million-donation-claim-to-chatgpt-maker-openai-may-be-wrong/articleshow/100335255.cms |archive-date=June 19, 2023 |access-date=June 19, 2023 |work=The Times of India}} In 2018, Musk left the OpenAI board.{{cite news |last=Novet |first=Jordan |date=February 2, 2018 |title=Elon Musk, who has sounded the alarm on AI, leaves the organization he co-founded to make it safer |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/21/elon-musk-is-leaving-the-board-of-openai.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830162809/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/21/elon-musk-is-leaving-the-board-of-openai.html |archive-date=August 30, 2020 |access-date=September 3, 2020 |publisher=CNBC}} Since 2018, OpenAI has made significant advances in machine learning.{{cite news |last=Metz |first=Cade |date=April 6, 2022 |title=Meet DALL-E, the A.I. That Draws Anything at Your Command |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/06/technology/openai-images-dall-e.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220720220209/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/06/technology/openai-images-dall-e.html |archive-date=July 20, 2022 |access-date=July 24, 2022 |work=The New York Times}} In July 2023, Musk launched the artificial intelligence company xAI, which aims to develop a generative AI program that competes with existing offerings like OpenAI's ChatGPT. Musk obtained funding from investors in SpaceX and Tesla,{{cite magazine |last=Henshall |first=Will |date=July 12, 2023 |title=What to Know About Elon Musk's New AI Company, xAI |url=https://time.com/6294278/elon-musk-xai/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906135503/https://time.com/6294278/elon-musk-xai/ |archive-date=September 6, 2023 |access-date=September 24, 2023 |magazine=Time}} and xAI hired engineers from Google and OpenAI.{{cite news |last=Zahn |first=Max |title=Elon Musk launches his own AI company to compete with ChatGPT |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Business/elon-musk-launches-ai-company-compete-chatgpt/story?id=101210078 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230715185603/https://abcnews.go.com/Business/elon-musk-launches-ai-company-compete-chatgpt/story?id=101210078 |archive-date=July 15, 2023 |access-date=July 14, 2023 |publisher=ABC News}}

{{Main|ElonJet|2022 Twitter suspensions}}

{{Tweet

| name = Elon Musk

| username = elonmusk

| time =

| date = December 16, 2022

| text = Same doxxing rules apply to "journalists" as to everyone else

| ID = 1603573725978275841

| image = Elon Musk Royal Society (crop2).jpg

| reference = {{Cite tweet |last=Musk |first=Elon |author-link=Elon Musk |user=elonmusk |number=1603573725978275841 |date=December 16, 2022 |title=Same doxxing rules apply to "journalists" as to everyone else |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221216022311/https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1603573725978275841 |archive-date=December 16, 2022 |access-date=November 20, 2023}}

| url-status = live

|ref-name = Doxxing

}}

Musk uses a private jet owned by Falcon Landing LLC, a SpaceX-linked company, and acquired a second jet in August 2020.{{Cite news |last=Geuss |first=Megan |date=January 30, 2019 |title=Elon Musk's private jet appears to make frivolous flights, per Washington Post |url=https://arstechnica.com/cars/2019/01/elon-musk-private-jet-flew-150000-miles-in-2018-washington-post-reports/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414015748/https://arstechnica.com/cars/2019/01/elon-musk-private-jet-flew-150000-miles-in-2018-washington-post-reports/ |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |access-date=April 14, 2021 |work=Ars Technica}}{{cite news |last=Pierce |first=David |date=August 25, 2020 |title=Elon Musk's new plane |url=https://www.protocol.com/elon-musks-new-plane |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517174126/https://www.protocol.com/elon-musks-new-plane |archive-date=May 17, 2022 |access-date=June 8, 2022 |work=Politico}} His heavy use of the jets and the consequent fossil fuel usage have received criticism.{{cite news |last=Harwell |first=Drew |date=January 29, 2019 |title=Elon Musk's highflying 2018: What 150,000 miles in a private jet reveal about his 'excruciating' year |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/elon-musks-highflying-2018-what-150000-miles-in-a-private-jet-reveal-about-his-excruciating-year/2019/01/29/83b5604e-20ee-11e9-8b59-0a28f2191131_story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504010014/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/elon-musks-highflying-2018-what-150000-miles-in-a-private-jet-reveal-about-his-excruciating-year/2019/01/29/83b5604e-20ee-11e9-8b59-0a28f2191131_story.html |archive-date=May 4, 2021 |access-date=May 14, 2021 |newspaper=The Washington Post}} Musk's flight usage is tracked on social media through ElonJet.{{cite tweet |number=1603190155107794944 |user=elonmusk |title=Last night, car carrying lil X in LA was followed by crazy stalker (thinking it was me), who later blocked car from moving & climbed onto hood. Legal action is being taken against Sweeney & organizations who supported harm to my family. |first=Elon |last=Musk |author-link=Elon Musk |date=December 15, 2022 |access-date=December 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219203040/https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1603190155107794944 |archive-date=December 19, 2022 |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |title=Musk bans Twitter account tracking his jet, threatens to sue creator |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/12/14/elonjet-twitter-suspension-jack-sweeney-talks/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215002815/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/12/14/elonjet-twitter-suspension-jack-sweeney-talks/ |archive-date=December 15, 2022 |access-date=December 15, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post |issn=0190-8286}}{{cite news |date=December 15, 2022 |title='Crazy stalker' attacks Elon Musk's car as Twitter boss threatens legal action against account tracking his private jet |url=https://news.sky.com/story/crazy-stalker-attacks-elon-musks-car-as-twitter-boss-threatens-legal-action-against-account-tracking-his-private-jet-12768404 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221228071605/https://news.sky.com/story/crazy-stalker-attacks-elon-musks-car-as-twitter-boss-threatens-legal-action-against-account-tracking-his-private-jet-12768404 |archive-date=December 28, 2022 |access-date=January 11, 2023 |publisher=Sky News}} In December 2022, Musk banned the ElonJet account on Twitter, as well as temporary bans on the accounts of journalists that posted stories regarding the incident, including Donie O'Sullivan, Keith Olbermann, and journalists from The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, and The Intercept.{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=Josh |date=December 17, 2022 |title=Elon Musk reinstates Twitter accounts of suspended journalists |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/dec/17/elon-musk-reinstates-twitter-accounts-of-suspended-journalists |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119104035/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/dec/17/elon-musk-reinstates-twitter-accounts-of-suspended-journalists |archive-date=January 19, 2023 |access-date=January 24, 2023 |work=The Guardian }}

{{Main|Political activities of Elon Musk}}

{{See also|Protests against Elon Musk}}

File:Trump UFC 2024 03 (cropped).jpg in November 2024]]

Musk is an outlier among business leaders who typically avoid partisan political advocacy.{{Cite web |date=April 18, 2024 |title=How CEOs Can Navigate a Polarized World |url=https://www.bcg.com/publications/2024/how-leaders-can-navigate-a-polarized-world |access-date=January 2, 2025 |website=BCG Global |language=en}}{{cite news |last=Kim |first=Whizy |date=November 25, 2024 |title=Elon Musk and the age of shameless oligarchy |url=https://www.vox.com/money/387348/elon-musk-trump-president-billionaire-oligarchy |access-date=January 2, 2025 |website=Vox |language=en-US}}{{cite news |last=Serwer |first=Andy |date=October 16, 2024 |title=Has There Ever Been a More Partisan CEO Than Elon Musk? |url=https://www.barrons.com/articles/tesla-partisan-ceo-maga-elon-musk-6b83b5e7 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250115002652/https://www.barrons.com/articles/tesla-partisan-ceo-maga-elon-musk-6b83b5e7 |archive-date=January 15, 2025 |access-date=January 2, 2025 |website=Barron's |language=en-US}} Musk was a registered independent voter when he lived in California.{{cite news |last=Ingram |first=David |date=August 30, 2024 |title=Elon Musk says voting by mail is 'insane' — but he has done it himself, records show |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/elon-musks-voting-record-shows-voted-mail-california-rcna168854 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241231163155/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/elon-musks-voting-record-shows-voted-mail-california-rcna168854 |archive-date=December 31, 2024 |access-date=December 31, 2024 |publisher=NBC News}} Historically, he has donated to both Democrats and Republicans,{{cite news |date=February 20, 2013 |title=Elon Musk, SpaceX Founder, Battles Entrenched Rivals Over NASA Contracts |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/20/elon-musk-spacex_n_2727312.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530231139/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/20/elon-musk-spacex_n_2727312.html |archive-date=May 30, 2015 |access-date=May 30, 2015 |work=HuffPost}} many of whom serve in states in which he has a vested interest.{{cite news |last=Peters |first=Jeremy W. |date=April 26, 2022 |title=The Elusive Politics of Elon Musk |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/16/business/elon-musk-politics-twitter.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220611171849/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/16/business/elon-musk-politics-twitter.html |archive-date=June 11, 2022 |access-date=June 13, 2022 |work=The New York Times}} Since 2022, his political 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.{{cite news |last=Robertson |first=Derek |title=Elon Musk Has Become the Villain Liberals Always Imagined Him to Be |url=https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/06/10/elon-musk-twitter-republican-00038671 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221112204036/https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/06/10/elon-musk-twitter-republican-00038671 |archive-date=November 12, 2022 |access-date=November 23, 2022 |work=Politico}}{{cite news |last=Jankowicz |first=Mia |date=November 9, 2022 |title=The House member who received Elon Musk's first vote for a Republican lost her seat after only 5 months |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/mayra-flores-1st-elon-musk-vote-gop-candidate-loses-midterms-2022-11 |url-status=live |access-date=February 4, 2025 |website=Business Insider |archive-date=March 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240312072134/https://www.businessinsider.com/mayra-flores-1st-elon-musk-vote-gop-candidate-loses-midterms-2022-11}} In 2024, he started supporting international far-right political parties, activists, and causes,{{multiref2|1={{Cite news |last=Clayton |first=Freddie |date=December 22, 2024 |title=Elon Musk courts Europe's surging far right |publisher=NBC News |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/elon-musk-europe-surging-far-right-rcna185145 |access-date=January 20, 2025 |archive-date=January 19, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250119003701/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/elon-musk-europe-surging-far-right-rcna185145 |url-status=live |quote=Musk has thrown his support behind far-right politicians in the U.K., Italy and Germany.}}|2={{Cite news |last1=Mac |first1=Ryan |last2=Bensinger |first2=Ken |date=January 8, 2025 |title=As Elon Musk Embraces Far Right, Some of Its Top Figures Reject Him |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/08/technology/elon-musk-far-right.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=January 20, 2025 |archive-date=January 8, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250108183322/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/08/technology/elon-musk-far-right.html |url-status=live |issn=0362-4331 |quote=Mr. Musk's falling-out with some on the far right stands out as he increasingly embraces more extreme parties and figures globally, including in Germany, where he has backed a political party with ties to neo-Nazis and plans to host a livestream with one of its leaders on Thursday.}}|3={{Cite news |last=Lawless |first=Jill |date=January 7, 2025 |title=Elon Musk helped Trump win. Now he's looking at Europe, and many politicians are alarmed |publisher=The Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-europe-politics-germany-uk-f50d69d0d192a2d81c95f5d64c6d4acd |access-date=January 20, 2025 |archive-date=January 8, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250108183646/https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-europe-politics-germany-uk-f50d69d0d192a2d81c95f5d64c6d4acd |url-status=live |quote=The Tesla and SpaceX chief executive has endorsed the far-right Alternative for Germany, demanded the release of jailed U.K. anti-Islam extremist Tommy Robinson and called British Prime Minister Keir Starmer an evil tyrant who should be in prison. Many European politicians have been left concerned by the attention. Musk's feed on his social network X is dotted with abusive language — labeling politicians "stupid cretin" and "sniveling cowards" — as well as retweets of far-right and anti-immigrant accounts.}}|4={{Cite news |last1=Siddiqui |first1=Faiz |last2=Merrill |first2=Jeremy B. |title=Elon Musk's X feed becomes megaphone for his far-right politics |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/08/11/musk-x-feed-politics-trump/ |date=August 11, 2024 |access-date=January 20, 2025 |archive-date=November 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241124030234/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/08/11/musk-x-feed-politics-trump/ |url-status=live |newspaper=The Washington Post |issn=0190-8286}}|5={{Cite news |last1=Darcy |first1=Oliver |title=Radicalized by the right: Elon Musk puts his conspiratorial thinking on display for the world to see |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/03/19/media/elon-musk-don-lemon-interview-analysis-hnk-intl/index.html |date=March 19, 2024 |access-date=January 20, 2025 |publisher=CNN |archive-date=December 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241209211716/https://edition.cnn.com/2024/03/19/media/elon-musk-don-lemon-interview-analysis-hnk-intl/index.html |url-status=live |quote=Musk appears to be growing more intolerant of other viewpoints. While elevating right-wing extremists, he simultaneously seeks to destroy trust in credible news sources.}}}} and has shared far-right misinformation{{Cite news |date=August 8, 2024 |title=Elon Musk's misleading election claims have accrued 1.2 billion views on X, new analysis says |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/misinformation/elon-musk-misleading-election-claims-x-views-report-rcna165599 |access-date=August 12, 2024 |publisher=NBC News |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Tharoor |first=Ishaan |date=August 9, 2024 |title=Column {{!}} Britain's riots put spotlight on far-right misinformation |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/08/09/britain-riots-misinformation-elon-musk/ |access-date=August 12, 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}{{Cite news |date=August 8, 2024 |title=Musk's false X posts on US election viewed 1.2 billion times, says watchdog |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240808-musk-s-misleading-election-posts-viewed-1-2-billion-times-study |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812003828/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240808-musk-s-misleading-election-posts-viewed-1-2-billion-times-study |archive-date=August 12, 2024 |access-date=August 12, 2024 |publisher=France 24 |language=en}} and numerous conspiracy theories.{{Cite news |last=Duffy |first=Clare |date=November 21, 2023 |title=Elon Musk is now boosting the 'Pizzagate' conspiracy theory {{!}} CNN Business |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/20/tech/elon-musk-boosting-pizzagate-conspiracy-theory/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812153200/https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/20/tech/elon-musk-boosting-pizzagate-conspiracy-theory/index.html |archive-date=August 12, 2024 |access-date=August 12, 2024 |publisher=CNN |language=en}}{{Cite news |title=Elon Musk: A timeline of his most recent controversial moments |url=https://news.sky.com/story/elon-musk-what-are-his-most-recent-controversial-moments-13019651 |access-date=August 12, 2024 |publisher=Sky News |language=en}} Since 2024, his views have been generally described as right-wing.{{multiref2|{{Cite news |date=July 17, 2024 |title=Elon Musk's 'Final Straw' Moment Marks Political Transformation |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-17/elon-musk-s-final-straw-moment-marks-political-transformation |access-date=July 31, 2024 |work=Bloomberg.com |language=en |archive-date=July 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240717200027/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-17/elon-musk-s-final-straw-moment-marks-political-transformation |url-status=live}}|{{cite news |last=Dorn |first=Sara |title=Elon Musk's Political Shift: How The Billionaire Moved From Backing Obama To Endorsing DeSantis |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2022/11/27/elon-musks-political-shift-how-the-billionaire-moved-from-backing-obama-to-endorsing-desantis/ |access-date=July 31, 2024 |website=Forbes |language=en |archive-date=August 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806051359/https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2022/11/27/elon-musks-political-shift-how-the-billionaire-moved-from-backing-obama-to-endorsing-desantis/ |url-status=live}}|{{cite news |last=Warzel |first=Charlie |date=December 11, 2022 |title=Elon Musk Is a Far-Right Activist |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2022/12/elon-musk-twitter-far-right-activist/672436/ |access-date=July 31, 2024 |website=The Atlantic |language=en |archive-date=December 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212052001/https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2022/12/elon-musk-twitter-far-right-activist/672436/ |url-status=live}}|{{cite news |title=elon musk far right wing: Led by Elon Musk, Silicon Valley inches to the right |agency=Agence France-Presse |website=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/led-by-elon-musk-silicon-valley-inches-to-the-right/articleshow/108361364.cms?from=mdr |access-date=July 31, 2024 |archive-date=July 31, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240731003556/https://m.economictimes.com/tech/technology/led-by-elon-musk-silicon-valley-inches-to-the-right/amp_articleshow/108361364.cms |url-status=live}}|{{Cite news |last1=Siddiqui |first1=Faiz |last2=Merrill |first2=Jeremy B. |date=August 12, 2024 |title=Elon Musk's X feed becomes megaphone for his far-right politics |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/08/11/musk-x-feed-politics-trump/ |access-date=August 12, 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=August 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240814155420/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/08/11/musk-x-feed-politics-trump/ |url-status=live}}

}}

Musk supported Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012,{{cite news |date=April 29, 2022 |title=Elon Musk confesses which US president he voted for most often |url=https://www.marca.com/en/lifestyle/celebrities/2022/04/29/626bb2bf22601d5e7e8b45a3.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230222203704/https://www.marca.com/en/lifestyle/celebrities/2022/04/29/626bb2bf22601d5e7e8b45a3.html |archive-date=February 22, 2023 |access-date=February 22, 2023 |website=Marca |language=en}} Hillary Clinton in 2016, Joe Biden in 2020,{{cite news |last=Feinberg |first=Andrew |date=April 18, 2023 |title=Trump lashes out at Elon Musk after tech mogul says he voted for Biden |url=https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-elon-musk-tucker-carlson-b2322101.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230919021700/https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-elon-musk-tucker-carlson-b2322101.html |archive-date=September 19, 2023 |access-date=September 18, 2023 |work=The Independent}} and Donald Trump in 2024.{{multiref2|{{cite news |date=May 30, 2022 |title=Accused of not supporting free speech, Elon Musk defends decision to vote Republicans in Nov |url=https://www.firstpost.com/world/accused-of-not-supporting-free-speech-elon-musk-defends-decision-to-vote-republicans-in-nov-10739451.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530224501/https://www.firstpost.com/world/accused-of-not-supporting-free-speech-elon-musk-defends-decision-to-vote-republicans-in-nov-10739451.html |archive-date=May 30, 2022 |access-date=June 14, 2022 |website=Firstpost}}|{{cite news |date=October 14, 2012 |title=Carney: Green stimulus profiteer comes under IRS scrutiny |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/carney-green-stimulus-profiteer-comes-under-irs-scrutiny |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009194900/http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/carney-green-stimulus-profiteer-comes-under-irs-scrutiny/article/2510619 |archive-date=October 9, 2017 |access-date=June 14, 2022 |website=Washington Examiner |language=en}}|{{Cite tweet |last=Musk |first=Elon |user=elonmusk |date=July 13, 2024 |number=1812256998588662068 |title=I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240717020029/https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1812256998588662068 |archive-date=July 17, 2024 |access-date=July 14, 2024}}

}} In the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries, Musk endorsed candidate Andrew Yang and expressed support for Yang's proposed universal basic income,{{cite news |author=Valero |first=Maria Jose |date=August 10, 2019 |title=Elon Musk Says He Supports 2020 White House Hopeful Andrew Yang |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-08-10/elon-musk-says-he-supports-2020-white-house-hopeful-andrew-yang |url-access=limited |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406194427/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-08-10/elon-musk-says-he-supports-2020-white-house-hopeful-andrew-yang |archive-date=April 6, 2020 |access-date=August 10, 2019 |publisher=Bloomberg L.P.}} and endorsed Kanye West's 2020 presidential campaign.{{Cite magazine |last=Kirkpatrick |first=Emily |title=Elon Musk Supports Kanye West's Run for President...Again |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2020/07/elon-musk-kanye-west-president-support-again |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803183739/https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2020/07/elon-musk-kanye-west-president-support-again |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |access-date=September 5, 2020 |magazine=Vanity Fair}} In 2021, Musk publicly expressed opposition to the Build Back Better Act, a $3.5 trillion legislative package endorsed by Joe Biden that ultimately failed to pass due to unanimous opposition from congressional Republicans and several Democrats.{{cite news |last=Isidore |first=Chris |date=February 4, 2022 |title=Why Elon Musk and Joe Biden both love EVs but can't stand each other |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/04/business/elon-musk-vs-joe-biden/index.html |access-date=February 8, 2025 |publisher=CNN }} In 2022, Musk said he would start supporting Republican Party candidates,{{multiref2|{{cite news |date=May 18, 2022 |title=Tesla's Musk says he 'can no longer support' Democrats, 'will vote Republican' |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/tesla-s-musk-says-he-can-no-longer-support-democrats-will-vote-republican-1.5910008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601115713/https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/tesla-s-musk-says-he-can-no-longer-support-democrats-will-vote-republican-1.5910008 |archive-date=June 1, 2022 |access-date=June 13, 2022 |website=CTVNews |language=en}}|{{cite news |last=Kolodny |first=Lora |date=May 18, 2022 |title=Elon Musk says he'll vote Republican, bashes Democrats |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/05/18/elon-musk-says-hell-vote-republican-bashes-democrats.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220608163923/https://www.cnbc.com/2022/05/18/elon-musk-says-hell-vote-republican-bashes-democrats.html |archive-date=June 8, 2022 |access-date=June 13, 2022 |publisher=CNBC |language=en}}|{{cite news |last=Barrabi |first=Thomas |date=May 18, 2022 |title=Elon Musk to vote GOP for first time because Democrats are 'party of division & hate' |url=https://nypost.com/2022/05/18/elon-musk-says-democrats-are-party-of-division-hate/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220718065537/https://nypost.com/2022/05/18/elon-musk-says-democrats-are-party-of-division-hate/ |archive-date=July 18, 2022 |access-date=July 18, 2022 |website=New York Post |language=en-US}}|{{cite news |title="Can No Longer Support Democrats, Will Vote Republican": Elon Musk |url=https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/elon-musk-on-how-his-choice-changed-and-why-in-the-past-i-voted-2989024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220718065537/https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/elon-musk-on-how-his-choice-changed-and-why-in-the-past-i-voted-2989024 |archive-date=July 18, 2022 |access-date=July 18, 2022 |publisher=NDTV}}}} and gave over $50 million to Citizens for Sanity, a conservative political action committee.{{cite news |last1=Mattioli |first1=Dana |last2=Palazzolo |first2=Joe |last3=Safdar |first3=Khadeeja |date=October 2, 2024 |title=Elon Musk Gave Tens of Millions to Republican Causes Far Earlier Than Previously Known |url=https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/elon-musk-political-donations-stephen-miller-desantis-39464294 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241002235549/https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/elon-musk-political-donations-stephen-miller-desantis-39464294 |archive-date=October 2, 2024 |access-date=October 3, 2024 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal}} In 2023, he supported Republican Ron DeSantis for the 2024 U.S. presidential election, giving $10 million to his campaign, and hosted DeSantis's campaign announcement on a Twitter Spaces event.{{cite news |last1=Schonfeld |first1=Zach |date=June 15, 2022 |title=DeSantis on Musk tweet: 'I welcome support from African Americans' |url=https://thehill.com/policy/technology/3525627-desantis-on-musk-tweet-i-welcome-support-from-african-americans/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621033625/https://thehill.com/policy/technology/3525627-desantis-on-musk-tweet-i-welcome-support-from-african-americans/ |archive-date=June 21, 2022 |access-date=July 1, 2022 |work=The Hill}}{{Cite news |last=Siddiqui |first=Faiz |date=May 25, 2023 |title=Twitter repeatedly crashes as DeSantis tries to make presidential announcement |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/05/24/elon-musk-ron-desantis-2024-twitter/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230524233307/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/05/24/elon-musk-ron-desantis-2024-twitter/ |archive-date=May 24, 2023 |access-date=June 8, 2023 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}{{Cite news |title=Twitter Spaces Glitches Plague DeSantis's 2024 Announcement |url=https://www.wsj.com/video/twitter-spaces-glitches-plague-desantiss-2024-announcement/B240C703-2EA7-430C-A709-7C90F2A26CBE.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608011157/https://www.wsj.com/video/twitter-spaces-glitches-plague-desantiss-2024-announcement/B240C703-2EA7-430C-A709-7C90F2A26CBE.html |archive-date=June 8, 2023 |access-date=June 8, 2023 |work=The Wall Street Journal}} From June 2023 to January 2024, Musk hosted a bipartisan set of X Spaces with Republican and Democratic candidates, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr.,{{Cite AV media |date=June 5, 2023 |title=Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks on Twitter Spaces, challenges Biden for 2024 nomination {{!}} NewsNation No |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aDfmN8z5Ik |access-date=February 5, 2025 |website=NewsNation |archive-date=February 5, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250205163827/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aDfmN8z5Ik&gl=US&hl=en |url-status=live }} Vivek Ramaswamy,{{Cite AV media |date=July 30, 2023 |title=Vivek Ramaswamy Speaks with Elon Musk & David Sacks on an X Space |via=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5RyE4d5nBY |access-date=February 5, 2025}} and Dean Phillips.{{cite news |last=Schneider |first=Elena |date=January 15, 2024 |title=Dean Phillips floats a Cabinet post for Musk or Ackman |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/15/dean-phillips-floats-a-cabinet-post-for-musk-or-ackman-00135640 |access-date=February 5, 2025 |website=Politico |archive-date=January 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240116141456/https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/15/dean-phillips-floats-a-cabinet-post-for-musk-or-ackman-00135640 |url-status=live }}File:Trump UFC 2024.jpg

By early 2024, Musk had become a vocal and financial supporter of Donald Trump.{{Cite news |date=July 29, 2024 |title=How Elon Musk came to endorse Donald Trump |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/29/musk-trump-endorsement-immigration/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240919110730/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/29/musk-trump-endorsement-immigration/ |archive-date=September 19, 2024 |access-date=November 9, 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post}} In July 2024, minutes after the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, Musk endorsed him for president.{{Cite news |title=Elon Musk says he 'fully' endorses Donald Trump after shots fired during campaign rally |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-endorses-trump-after-pennsylvania-rally-incident-2024-7 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241112210339/https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-endorses-trump-after-pennsylvania-rally-incident-2024-7 |archive-date=November 12, 2024 |access-date=November 19, 2024 |website=Business Insider}}{{cite news |last1=Rogers |first1=Alex |last2=Morris |first2=Stephen |last3=Inagaki |first3=Kana |year=2024 |title=Elon Musk's riskiest bet yet: Donald Trump |url=https://on.ft.com/406cj3B |website=Financial Times |quote="If he loses, I'm fucked"}} During the presidential campaign, Musk joined Trump on stage at a campaign rally,{{Cite news |last=Kinnard |first=Meg |date=October 5, 2024 |title=Elon Musk makes his first appearance at a Trump rally and casts the election in dire terms |url=https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-donald-trump-rally-butler-election-f718967ec29431a2b9858b1121e70da1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241006061925/https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-donald-trump-rally-butler-election-f718967ec29431a2b9858b1121e70da1 |archive-date=October 6, 2024 |access-date=October 6, 2024 |publisher=Associated Press |language=en}} and during the campaign promoted conspiracy theories and falsehoods about Democrats, election fraud{{Cite news |last=Meyer |first=Josh |date=November 1, 2024 |title=Fake video of Georgia voter fraud is Russian misinformation, US officials say |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/11/01/georgia-voter-fraud-video-fake-russia/75993122007/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241107014209/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/11/01/georgia-voter-fraud-video-fake-russia/75993122007/ |archive-date=November 7, 2024 |access-date=November 3, 2024 |work=USA Today}} and immigration, in support of Trump.{{cite news |last1=Tenbarge |first1=Kat |last2=Goggin |first2=Ben |last3=Barnett |first3=Emma |date=October 17, 2024 |title=Musk pushes debunked Dominion voting conspiracy theory at first Pennsylvania appearance |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/musk-pushes-debunked-dominion-voting-conspiracy-theory-campaign-appear-rcna175985 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241116230513/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/musk-pushes-debunked-dominion-voting-conspiracy-theory-campaign-appear-rcna175985 |archive-date=November 16, 2024 |access-date=November 19, 2024 |publisher=NBC News}}{{Cite news |last1=Ingram |first1=Julia |last2=May |first2=Madeleine |date=October 21, 2024 |title=The X factor: How Trump ally Elon Musk is using social media to prime voter mistrust ahead of 2024 election |publisher=CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/elon-musk-trump-social-media-election-2024/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241109015540/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/elon-musk-trump-social-media-election-2024/ |archive-date=November 9, 2024 |access-date=October 22, 2024 |language=en-US}} Musk was the largest individual donor of the 2024 election.{{Cite news |last1=Thadani |first1=Trisha |last2=Morse |first2=Clara Ence |date=December 6, 2024 |title=Elon Musk is now America's largest political donor |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/12/06/elon-musk-trump-campaign-spending-fec/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250101000528/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/12/06/elon-musk-trump-campaign-spending-fec/ |archive-date=January 1, 2025 |access-date=December 31, 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post |language=en |issn=0190-8286}} In 2025, Musk contributed $19 million to the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, hoping to influence the state's future redistricting efforts and its regulations governing car manufacturers and dealers.{{cite web |last=Schulz |first=Joe |date=3 March 2025 |title=As Musk pours millions into Wisconsin Supreme Court race, Tesla files case that could reach justices |url=https://www.wpr.org/news/elon-musk-pac-millions-wisconsin-supreme-court-race-tesla-lawsuit |website=Wisconsin Public Radio |access-date=26 March 2025}}{{cite web |last=Walker |first=Chris |date=26 March 2025 |title=Musk Pours Millions Into Wisconsin Court Race to Protect Rigged Maps for GOP |url=https://truthout.org/articles/musk-pours-millions-into-wisconsin-court-race-to-protect-rigged-maps-for-gop/ |website=Truthout |access-date=26 March 2025 |archive-date=March 26, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250326185047/https://truthout.org/articles/musk-pours-millions-into-wisconsin-court-race-to-protect-rigged-maps-for-gop/ |url-status=live }}

Musk's international political actions and comments have come under increasing scrutiny and criticism, especially from the governments and leaders of France, Germany, Norway, Spain and the United Kingdom, particularly due to his position in the U.S. government as well as ownership of X.{{Cite news |last=Times |first=The Brussels |title=Musk-AfD: EU Commission to monitor risks of 'preferential treatment' |url=https://www.brusselstimes.com/1380216/musk-afd-debate-eu-commission-to-monitor-risks-of-preferential-treatment |access-date=January 7, 2025 |website=Brussels Times |language=en}}{{multiref2|{{Cite news |last=Henley |first=Jon |last2= |first2= |date=January 6, 2025 |title=Emmanuel Macron joins growing criticism of Elon Musk in Europe |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/06/emmanuel-macron-joins-growing-criticism-elon-musk-europe |access-date=January 7, 2025 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}|{{Cite web |last=Hutchison |first=Peter |title=European leaders in France, Norway and Germany hit back against Elon Musk in UK political meddling row |agency=Agence France-Presse |url=https://fortune.com/europe/2025/01/06/european-leaders-france-norway-germany-hit-back-against-elon-musk-political-meddling/ |access-date=January 7, 2025 |website=Fortune Europe |language=en |archive-date=January 7, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250107032200/https://fortune.com/europe/2025/01/06/european-leaders-france-norway-germany-hit-back-against-elon-musk-political-meddling/ |url-status=live}}|{{Cite news |title=European leaders decry Elon Musk's meddling |date=January 6, 2025 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/european-leaders-decry-elon-musks-meddling/a-71227690 |access-date=January 7, 2025 |publisher=Deutsche Welle |language=en |archive-date=January 7, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250107032159/https://www.dw.com/en/european-leaders-decry-elon-musks-meddling/a-71227690 |url-status=live}}|{{Cite news |date=January 6, 2025 |title=Elon Musk's European political meddling is 'worrying,' says Norway's PM |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/norwegian-pm-jonas-gahr-store-worried-elon-musk-political-meddling/ |access-date=January 7, 2025 |website=Politico |language=en-GB |archive-date=January 6, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250106163545/https://www.politico.eu/article/norwegian-pm-jonas-gahr-store-worried-elon-musk-political-meddling/ |url-status=live}}|{{Cite news |date=January 7, 2025 |title=Musk provokes European leaders ahead of chat with German far-right leader |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crmngpvv08lo.amp |access-date=January 8, 2025 |publisher=BBC News |language=en-gb |archive-date=January 8, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250108060720/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crmngpvv08lo.amp |url-status=live}}

}}{{multiref2|{{Cite news |last=Dorn |first=Sara |title=Foreign Leaders—And The EU—Step Up Challenges To Musk As His Feuds With Global Politicians Heat Up |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2025/01/06/foreign-leaders-and-the-eu-step-up-challenges-to-musk-as-his-feuds-with-global-politicians-heat-up/ |access-date=January 7, 2025 |website=Forbes |language=en |archive-date=January 6, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250106211020/https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2025/01/06/foreign-leaders-and-the-eu-step-up-challenges-to-musk-as-his-feuds-with-global-politicians-heat-up/ |url-status=live}}|{{Cite news |last=Tankersley |first=Jim |date=January 9, 2025 |title=Elon Musk Is Trying to Break Germany's Quarantine on the Far-Right AfD |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/09/world/europe/germany-elon-musk-afd.html |access-date=February 2, 2025 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=January 28, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250128171121/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/09/world/europe/germany-elon-musk-afd.html |url-status=live}}|{{Cite news |last=Psaropoulos |first=John T. |title=Is Elon Musk a Nazi, and can he get European far-right hardliners elected? |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/31/is-elon-musk-a-nazi-and-can-he-get-european-far-right-hardliners-elected |access-date=February 2, 2025 |publisher=Al Jazeera English |language=en}}|{{Cite news |last=Ewing |first=Giselle Ruhiyyih |date=January 25, 2025 |title=Musk tells Germans to get over 'past guilt' in speech to far-right AfD rally |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2025/01/25/musk-german-afd-rally-weidel-00200620 |access-date=February 2, 2025 |website=Politico |language=en |archive-date=January 27, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250127141630/https://www.politico.com/news/2025/01/25/musk-german-afd-rally-weidel-00200620 |url-status=live}}

}} An NBC News analysis found he had boosted far-right political movements to cut immigration and curtail regulation of business in at least 18 countries on six continents since 2023.{{Cite news |last1=Ingram |first1=David |last2=Horvath |first2=Bruna |date=February 16, 2025 |title=How Elon Musk is boosting far-right politics across the globe |work=NBC News |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/elon-musk/elon-musk-boosting-far-right-politics-globe-rcna189505 |access-date=March 20, 2025}}

{{Main|Elon Musk salute controversy}}

File:Elon Musk gesture.gif before saying "My heart goes out to you. It is thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured."{{Cite news |date=January 20, 2025 |title=Elon Musk's gesture at Trump rally draws scrutiny |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/cpdxzjw9p47o |access-date=January 21, 2025 |publisher=BBC News |language=en-GB |archive-date=January 29, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250129023036/https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/cpdxzjw9p47o |url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Elon Musk tried to turn the salute controversy into a joke |url=https://www.npr.org/transcripts/nx-s1-5269719 |publisher=NPR |archive-date=January 28, 2025 |access-date=January 28, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250128110823/https://www.npr.org/transcripts/nx-s1-5269719 |url-status=live}}]]

During his speech after the second inauguration of Donald Trump, Musk twice made a gesture interpreted by many as a Nazi or a fascist Roman salute.{{efn|The "Roman salute" is a gesture which was used by Italian Fascists, then adopted by the Nazis. It is not believed to have been used by ancient Romans.{{Cite book |last=Winkler |first=Martin M. |title=The Roman Salute: Cinema, History, Ideology |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/book/27815 |publisher=Ohio State University Press |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-8142-0864-9 |location=Columbus |page=2}}}} He thumped his right hand over his heart, fingers spread wide, and then extended his right arm out, emphatically, at an upward angle, palm down and fingers together. He then repeated the gesture to the crowd behind him. As he finished the gestures, he said to the crowd, "My heart goes out to you. It is thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured."{{Cite news |last1=Brice |first1=Makini |last2=Chambers |first2=Madeline |last3=Timmons |first3=Heather |last4=Singh |first4=Kanishka |date=January 21, 2025 |title=Musk's hand gesture during Trump inauguration festivities draws scrutiny |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/musks-hand-gesture-during-trump-inauguration-festivities-draws-scrutiny-2025-01-21/ |access-date=January 22, 2025 |publisher=Reuters |archive-date=January 29, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250129220634/https://www.reuters.com/world/us/musks-hand-gesture-during-trump-inauguration-festivities-draws-scrutiny-2025-01-21/ |url-status=live }}

It was widely condemned as an intentional Nazi salute in Germany,{{Cite news |last=Biller |first=Andreas |date=2025-01-24 |title=Nach Hitlergruß-Skandal macht Elon Musk jetzt einfach Nazi-Witze |url=https://www.focus.de/politik/ausland/auf-twitter-nach-hitlergruss-skandal-macht-elon-musk-jetzt-einfach-nazi-witze_607cfc85-d60b-4730-9793-51ab09882f52.html |access-date=2025-04-26 |work=Focus |quote=Elon Musk macht auf X (ehemals Twitter) jetzt Nazi-Witze. Zuvor war er wegen einer gleich mehrfach ausgeführten Geste kritisiert worden, die von den meisten Beobachtern eindeutig als Hitlergruß erkannt wurde.}}{{Cite web |last=Bennhold |first=Katrin |date=January 25, 2025 |orig-date=January 24, 2025 |title=What Elon Musk's Salute Was All About |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/24/world/europe/elon-musk-roman-salute-nazi.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250128201233/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/24/world/europe/elon-musk-roman-salute-nazi.html |archive-date=January 28, 2025 |access-date=February 6, 2025 |website=The New York Times |issn=1553-8095 |oclc=1645522}}Multiple references:

• {{Cite web |last=Stork |first=Stefanie |date=2025-01-31 |title=Wie sieht es das Strafrecht? Elon Musks verbotener Gruß |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/feuilleton/kolumnen/wie-sieht-es-das-strafrecht-elon-musks-verbotener-gruss-110265939.html |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung |language=de}}
• {{Cite news |last=Duhm |first=Lisa |date=2025-01-22 |title=Kira Ayyadi über Musks kontroverse Geste: »Das war definitiv ein Hitlergruß« |url=https://www.spiegel.de/panorama/justiz/elon-musk-geste-bei-trumps-antrittsfeier-das-war-definitiv-ein-hitlergruss-a-82846438-8752-451b-9ece-52b2256d5f24 |access-date=2025-04-25 |work=Der Spiegel |language=de |issn=2195-1349}}
• {{Cite news |last=Jacobsen |first=Lenz |date=2025-01-21 |title=Elon Musk: Ein Hitlergruß ist ein Hitlergruß ist ein Hitlergruß |url=https://www.zeit.de/kultur/2025-01/elon-musk-hitlergruss-amtseinfuehrung-donald-trump |access-date=2025-04-25 |work=Die Zeit |language=de-DE |issn=0044-2070}}
• {{Cite web |last=Feldhaus |first=Timo |date=2025-01-22 |title=Der Hitlergruß von Elon Musk: Nicht von der Kunstfreiheit gedeckt |url=https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/kultur-vergnuegen/jonathan-meese-und-elon-musk-derselbe-hitlergruss-aber-andere-diktaturen-li.2290703 |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=Berliner Zeitung |language=de}}
• {{Cite news |last=Biller |first=Andreas |date=2025-01-24 |title=Nach Hitlergruß-Skandal macht Elon Musk jetzt einfach Nazi-Witze |url=https://www.focus.de/politik/ausland/auf-twitter-nach-hitlergruss-skandal-macht-elon-musk-jetzt-einfach-nazi-witze_607cfc85-d60b-4730-9793-51ab09882f52.html |access-date=2025-04-26 |work=Focus}}
• {{Cite web |last=Beise |first=Marc |date=2025-01-21 |title=Elon Musks rechter Arm in der Luft: kontroverse Geste bei Trumps Amtseinführung |url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/elon-musks-rechter-arm-luft-roemischer-gruss-kontext-bedeutung-li.3186779?reduced=true |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=Süddeutsche Zeitung |language=de}}
• {{Cite web |last=Prange |first=Sven |date=2025-01-24 |title=Darum könnte der Hitlergruß von Elon Musk Strategie sein |url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/us-wahl-darum-koennte-der-hitlergruss-von-elon-musk-strategie-sein/100102595.html |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=Handelsblatt}}
• {{Cite news |last=Joswig |first=Gareth |date=2025-01-21 |title=Elon Musks Hitlergruß: Entscheidend ist der Kontext |url=https://taz.de/Elon-Musks-Hitlergruss/!6060000/ |access-date=2025-04-25 |work=Die Tageszeitung |language=de |issn=0931-9085}}
• {{Cite web |last=Hesse |first=Michael |date=2025-01-22 |title=Elon Musk: Der Gruß der Nazis |url=https://www.fr.de/kultur/gesellschaft/elon-musk-der-gruss-der-nazis-93529461.html |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=Frankfurter Rundschau |language=de}}
• {{Cite web |last=Döbler |first=Moritz |date=2025-01-21 |title=Amtseinführung von Donald Trump: Elon Musk und der Hitlergruß |url=https://rp-online.de/politik/ausland/elon-musk-zeigt-hitlergruss-bei-donald-trumps-amtseinfuehrung_aid-123292621 |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=Rheinische Post |language=de}} where making such gestures is illegal.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-22 |title=Drohen Elon Musk in Deutschland Konsequenzen? |url=https://www.rbb24.de/panorama/beitrag/av24/video-elon-musk-mutmasslicher-hitler-gruss.html |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=rbb24.de |language=de |quote=Elon Musk hat mit einem mutmaßlichen Hitlergruß anlässlich der Amtseinführung von Donald Trump Aufsehen erregt. Diese Geste ist in Deutschland grundsätzlich strafbar. Drohen ihm beim nächsten Besuch deswegen Konsequenzen?}} The Anti-Defamation League said it was not a Nazi salute,{{Cite web |last=Lapin |first=Andrew |date=2025-01-23 |title=How did the ADL conclude Elon Musk didn't give a Nazi salute? It isn't saying |url=https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/how-did-the-adl-conclude-that-elon-musk-didnt-give-a-nazi-salute-it-isnt-saying/ |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=Jewish News |language=en-US}} but other Jewish organizations disagreed and condemned the salute.{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Jaylan |date=2025-01-20 |title=JCPA Condemns Elon Musk's Fascist Salute at Trump Inauguration Rally |url=https://jewishpublicaffairs.org/news/jcpa-condemns-elon-musks-fascist-salute-at-trump-inauguration-rally/ |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=Jewish Council for Public Affairs |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2025-01-20 |title=Statement from The Simon Wiesenthal Center on Elon Musk's 2025 Inauguration Salute |url=https://www.wiesenthal.com/about/news/statement-from-the-simon-4.html |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=Simon Wiesenthal Center}}{{Cite web |date=2025-01-23 |title=Elon Musk makes Holocaust jokes after Netanyahu defends him as 'great friend of Israel' |url=https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-839006 |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=The Jerusalem Post |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Pengelly |first=Martin |date=January 26, 2025 |title=Jewish non-profit chief says Musk will spur violence with his 'Nazi salute' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/26/elon-musk-far-right-antisemitism |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130062917/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/26/elon-musk-far-right-antisemitism |archive-date=January 30, 2025 |access-date=January 29, 2025 |website=The Guardian |issn=1756-3224 |oclc=60623878}} American public opinion was divided on partisan lines as to whether it was a fascist salute.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-01 |title=YouGov Survey: Elon Musk's Gesture |url=https://d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/Elon_Musk_Gesture_poll_results.pdf |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=YouGov}} Musk dismissed the accusations of Nazi sympathies, deriding them as "dirty tricks" and a "tired" attack.{{Cite web |last=Wickman |first=Kase |date=January 21, 2025 |title=Elon Musk Sure Isn't Denying That His Inaugural Gesture Was a Nazi Salute |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/story/elon-musk-inauguration-gesture-nazi-salute |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130160537/https://www.vanityfair.com/style/story/elon-musk-inauguration-gesture-nazi-salute |archive-date=January 30, 2025 |access-date=February 6, 2025 |website=Vanity Fair |publisher=Condé Nast |language=en-US |issn=0733-8899 |oclc=8356733}}{{Cite news |last=Fortinsky |first=Sarah |date=January 21, 2025 |title=Musk on salute blowback: 'Frankly, they need better dirty tricks' |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5097672-elon-musk-responds-salute-criticism/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130130909/https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5097672-elon-musk-responds-salute-criticism/ |archive-date=January 30, 2025 |access-date=February 6, 2025 |website=The Hill |publisher=Nexstar Media Group |issn=1521-1568 |oclc=31153202}} Neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups celebrated it as a Nazi salute.{{Cite news |last=Condon |first=Bernard |date=January 22, 2025 |title=Musk's straight-arm gesture embraced by right-wing extremists regardless of what he meant |url=https://apnews.com/article/musk-gesture-salute-antisemitism-0070dae53c7a73397b104ae645877535 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130185508/https://apnews.com/article/musk-gesture-salute-antisemitism-0070dae53c7a73397b104ae645877535 |archive-date=January 30, 2025 |access-date=February 6, 2025 |work=Associated Press}} Multiple European political parties demanded that Musk be banned from entering their countries.{{cite web |last=Strauß |first=Hagen |date=January 22, 2025 |title='Unterstützer der extremen Rechten': Linke will Einreisesperre für Elon Musk |trans-title='Supporter of the Extreme Right': Die Linke calls for Entry Ban for Elon Musk |url=https://rp-online.de/politik/deutschland/elon-musk-linke-will-einreiseverbot-fuer-trump-berater_aid-123327325 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250123062821/https://rp-online.de/politik/deutschland/elon-musk-linke-will-einreiseverbot-fuer-trump-berater_aid-123327325 |archive-date=January 23, 2025 |access-date=January 22, 2025 |work=Rheinische Post |language=de}}{{cite news |date=January 21, 2025 |title=Österreichs Grüne fordern Einreiseverbot für Elon Musk |trans-title=Austria's Greens Demand Entry Ban for Elon Musk |url=https://kurier.at/politik/ausland/elon-musk-donald-trump-einreiseverbot-oesterreich/403001192 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130023523/https://kurier.at/politik/ausland/elon-musk-donald-trump-einreiseverbot-oesterreich/403001192 |archive-date=January 30, 2025 |access-date=January 22, 2025 |work=Kurier |language=de |issn=2308-0973 |oclc=849575488}}

{{Main|Department of Government Efficiency}}

File:Elon Musk (54350004520).jpg (CPAC) in 2025, imitating a publicity stunt used by Javier Milei symbolic of efficiency, federal mass layoffs and tax cutting]]

The concept of DOGE emerged in a discussion between Musk and Donald Trump, and in August 2024, Trump committed to giving Musk an advisory role, with Musk accepting the offer.{{Cite news |last=Shepardson |first=David |date=August 20, 2024 |title=Trump says he may end EV tax credit; is open to naming Elon Musk as an adviser |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-says-he-would-consider-ending-7500-electric-vehicle-credit-2024-08-19/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241206064735/https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-says-he-would-consider-ending-7500-electric-vehicle-credit-2024-08-19/ |archive-date=December 6, 2024 |access-date=November 13, 2024 |publisher=Reuters}} In November and December 2024, Musk suggested that the organization could help to cut the U.S. federal budget, consolidate the number of federal agencies,{{Cite news |last=Picchi |first=Aimee |date=November 14, 2024 |title=What to know about Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-department-of-government-efficiency-doge-elon-musk-ramaswamy/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241117233859/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-department-of-government-efficiency-doge-elon-musk-ramaswamy/ |archive-date=November 17, 2024 |access-date=November 18, 2024 |publisher=CBS News |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Jones |first=Ja'han |date=November 13, 2024 |title=Trump's meme-ified 'efficiency' 'department' is equal parts cockamamie and conflict |url=https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/reidout-blog/department-government-efficiency-doge-gift-vivek-ramaswamy-elon-musk-rcna179976 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241117155653/https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/reidout-blog/department-government-efficiency-doge-gift-vivek-ramaswamy-elon-musk-rcna179976 |archive-date=November 17, 2024 |access-date=November 18, 2024 |publisher=MSNBC |language=en}} and eliminate the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau,{{Cite news |date=November 27, 2024 |title=Elon Musk wants to 'delete' federal financial watchdog as 'DOGE' begins work |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/11/27/elon-musk-delete-cfpb-doge/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241127191821/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/11/27/elon-musk-delete-cfpb-doge/ |archive-date=November 27, 2024 |access-date=November 27, 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}{{Cite news |date=November 27, 2024 |title=Musk calls for abolishing consumer finance watchdog targeted by Republicans |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/musk-calls-abolishing-consumer-finance-watchdog-targeted-by-republicans-2024-11-27/ |publisher=Reuters}} and that its final stage would be "deleting itself".{{Cite news |last=Siddiqui |first=Faiz |date=December 21, 2024 |title=Elon Musk's wish list for DOGE |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/12/20/elon-musk-doge-priorities/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241222082229/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/12/20/elon-musk-doge-priorities/ |archive-date=December 22, 2024 |access-date=February 8, 2025 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}

In January 2025, the organization was created by executive order, and Musk was designated a "special government employee".{{Cite news |last=Ingram |first=David |date=February 4, 2025 |title=Elon Musk and DOGE are hacking the government |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/elon-musk-doge-usaid-treasury-government-rcna190450 |access-date=February 4, 2025 |publisher=NBC News |language=en |archive-date=February 4, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250204120250/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/elon-musk-doge-usaid-treasury-government-rcna190450 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last1=Madeline |first1=Ngo |last2=Schleifer |first2=Theodore |date=January 21, 2025 |title=How Trump's Department of Government Efficiency Will Work |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/21/us/politics/doge-government-efficiency-trump-musk.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=January 21, 2025 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}} Musk is leading the organization and is a senior advisor to the president,{{Cite news |date=February 18, 2025 |title=Musk is just an adviser with no power to make decisions, White House claims |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/18/turmp-elon-musk-doge |access-date=March 13, 2025 |work=The Guardian}} although his official role is not clear.{{Cite news |last=Wolf |first=Zachary B. |date=February 1, 2025 |title=Analysis: We do not know what exactly Elon Musk is doing to the federal government {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/01/politics/elon-musk-federal-government-what-matters/index.html |access-date=February 1, 2025 |publisher=CNN |language=en |archive-date=February 5, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250205062842/https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/01/politics/elon-musk-federal-government-what-matters/index.html |url-status=live }} In sworn statement during a lawsuit, the director of the White House Office of Administration stated that Musk "is not an employee of the U.S. DOGE Service or U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization", "is not the U.S. DOGE Service administrator", and has "no actual or formal authority to make government decisions himself".{{Cite web |last=Quinn |first=Melissa |date=February 18, 2025 |title=Judge won't block Musk and DOGE from accessing data, making cuts at 7 federal agencies |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/judge-wont-block-musks-doge-from-accessing-data-making-cuts-at-7-federal-agencies/ |access-date=February 19, 2025 |website=CBS News |language=en-US}}{{cite news |last1=Bortos |first1=Alena |title=Elon Musk isn't in charge of DOGE or even an employee of it, White House says |url=https://fortune.com/2025/02/18/elon-musk-doge-head-employee/ |access-date=February 20, 2025 |work=Fortune |date=February 18, 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250218213906/https://fortune.com/2025/02/18/elon-musk-doge-head-employee/ |archive-date=February 18, 2025}} Trump said two days later that he had put Musk in charge of DOGE.{{cite news |last1=Shalal |first1=Andrea |last2=Bose |first2=Nandita |title=Trump appears to contradict White House, says Elon Musk in charge of DOGE |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-appears-contradict-white-house-says-elon-musk-charge-doge-2025-02-20/ |access-date=February 20, 2025 |work=Reuters |date=February 20, 2025}} A federal judge has ruled that Musk acts as the de facto leader of DOGE.{{cite news |last1=Lee |first1=Ella |title=Judge finds Elon Musk likely acted unconstitutionally in shuttering USAID |url=https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5201430-judge-elon-musk-usaid/ |access-date=March 18, 2025 |work=The Hill |date=March 18, 2025 |quote=It marks the first time a judge has ruled that Musk is likely exercising enough independent authority to require him to be confirmed by the Senate under the Constitution's Appointments Clause. "The record of his activities to date establishes that his role has been and will continue to be as the leader of DOGE, with the same duties and degree of continuity as if he was formally in that position,'" wrote Chuang, an appointee of former President Obama. Chuang rejected the Trump administration's argument that Musk is not the DOGE administrator and is instead merely a senior adviser to the president who has no independent authority.}}

In early 2025, Musk was criticized for his treatment of federal government employees,{{cite news |last1=Schleifer |first1=Theodore |last2=Nehamas |first2=Nicholas |last3=Conger |first3=Kate |last4=Mac |first4=Ryan |date=February 7, 2025 |title=Young Aides Emerge as Enforcers in Musk's Broadside Against Government |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/07/us/politics/musk-doge-aides.html |access-date=February 7, 2025 |work=The New York Times |archive-date=February 8, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250208014401/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/07/us/politics/musk-doge-aides.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Swan |first1=Jonathan |last2=Schleifer |first2=Theodore |last3=Haberman |first3=Maggie |last4=Conger |first4=Kate |last5=Mac |first5=Ryan |last6=Ngo |first6=Madeleine |date=February 3, 2025 |title=Inside Musk's Aggressive Incursion Into the Federal Government |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/03/us/politics/musk-federal-government.html |access-date=February 4, 2025 |work=The New York Times |archive-date=February 7, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250207132659/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/03/us/politics/musk-federal-government.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Zakrzewski |first1=Cat |last2=Siddiqui |first2=Faiz |date=February 5, 2025 |title=How Elon Musk's deputies took over the government's most basic functions |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/02/05/elon-musk-federal-technology-takeover/ |access-date=February 5, 2025 |newspaper=The Washington Post |archive-date=February 6, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250206221232/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/02/05/elon-musk-federal-technology-takeover/ |url-status=live }} including his influence over the mass layoffs of the federal workforce.{{cite news |last1=Neely |first1=Brett |last2=Bowman |first2=Emma |title=Elon Musk tells federal employees to document work in email or be fired |url=https://www.npr.org/2025/02/22/nx-s1-5305834/elon-musk-federal-employees-email-opm |access-date=February 23, 2025 |work=NPR |date=February 22, 2025}}{{cite news |last1=Volcovici |first1=Valerie |title=Musk orders US federal workers to report on work by Monday or resign |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/musk-orders-us-federal-workers-report-work-or-get-fired-2025-02-22/ |access-date=February 23, 2025 |work=Reuters |date=February 23, 2025}}{{cite news |last1=Fortinsky |first1=Sarah |title=Musk says failure to respond a second time to email will end in termination |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5162218-musk-says-failure-to-respond-a-second-time-to-email-will-end-in-termination/ |access-date=February 26, 2025 |work=The Hill |date=February 24, 2025}} He has prioritized secrecy within the organization{{cite news |last1=Swan |first1=Jonathan |last2=Schleifer |first2=Theodore |last3=Haberman |first3=Maggie |last4=Conger |first4=Kate |last5=Mac |first5=Ryan |last6=Ngo |first6=Madeleine |date=February 3, 2025 |title=Inside Musk's Aggressive Incursion Into the Federal Government |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/03/us/politics/musk-federal-government.html?unlocked_article_code=1.uU4.HQRZ.uQoWMVaZtOnr&smid=url-share |work=The New York Times}} and has accused others of violating privacy laws. A Senate report alleged that Musk could avoid up to $2 billion in legal liability as a result of DOGE's actions,{{Cite news |last=Nazzaro |first=Miranda |date=2025-04-28 |title=Musk, companies could avoid $2 billion in potential liability over DOGE role: Report |url=https://thehill.com/policy/technology/5271301-elon-musk-government-liability/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250429044224/https://thehill.com/policy/technology/5271301-elon-musk-government-liability/ |archive-date=2025-04-29 |access-date=2025-05-09 |work=The Hill |language=en-US}} and Bill Gates accused Musk of "killing the world’s poorest children" through his cuts to USAID.{{Cite news |last=Pilling |first=David |date=2025-05-08 |title=Bill Gates accuses Elon Musk of ‘killing’ children with USAID cuts |url=https://www.ft.com/content/bdd9bb89-ac3c-4043-9ca4-bc7efbd41fed |archive-url=https://archive.today/2025.05.09-190635/https://www.ft.com/content/bdd9bb89-ac3c-4043-9ca4-bc7efbd41fed |archive-date=2025-05-09 |access-date=2025-05-15 |work=Financial Times}}

On April 30, 2025, Musk would begin his departure from DOGE after exiting the White House.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/04/30/elon-musk-working-remotely-after-being-forced-out-of-doge/ |title=Elon Musk working remotely for Doge |publisher=The Telegraph |date=April 30, 2025 |accessdate=April 30, 2025}} He plans to work remotely until his 130 day deadline as a special government employee expires.{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/elon-musk-receives-applause-from-cabinet-he-begins-planned-departure-from-doge-role |title=Elon Musk receives applause from Cabinet as he begins planned departure from DOGE role |first=Emma |last=Colton |publisher=Fox News |date=April 30, 2025 |accessdate=April 30, 2025}}

{{Main|Views of Elon Musk}}

{{Tweet

| name = Elon Musk

| username = elonmusk

| date = November 6, 2022

| text = My commitment to free speech extends even to not banning the account following my plane, even though that is a direct personal safety risk

| ID = 1589414958508691456

| image = Elon Musk Royal Society (cropped).jpg

| url = https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1589414958508691456/

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221107003700/https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1589414958508691456/

| archive-date = November 7, 2022

| url-status = live

| ref-name = plane

| left =

}}

Rejecting the conservative label,{{Cite news |date=April 30, 2023 |title=Elon Musk: 'I am moderate' |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1065654-elon-musk-i-am-moderate |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812153155/https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1065654-elon-musk-i-am-moderate |archive-date=August 12, 2024 |access-date=August 12, 2024 |website=The News International |language=en}} Musk has described himself as a political moderate, even as his views have become more right-wing over time.{{multiref2|{{Cite news |first1=Eliyahu |last1=Kamisher |first2=Dana |last2=Hull |first3=Julie |last3=Fine |date=July 17, 2024 |title=Elon Musk's 'Final Straw' Moment Marks Political Transformation |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-17/elon-musk-s-final-straw-moment-marks-political-transformation |access-date=July 31, 2024 |work=Bloomberg News |language=en |archive-date=July 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240717200027/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-17/elon-musk-s-final-straw-moment-marks-political-transformation |url-status=live |ref=none}}|{{Cite web |last=Dorn |first=Sara |date=November 27, 2022 |title=Elon Musk's Political Shift: How The Billionaire Moved From Backing Obama To Endorsing DeSantis |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2022/11/27/elon-musks-political-shift-how-the-billionaire-moved-from-backing-obama-to-endorsing-desantis/ |access-date=July 31, 2024 |website=Forbes |language=en |archive-date=August 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806051359/https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2022/11/27/elon-musks-political-shift-how-the-billionaire-moved-from-backing-obama-to-endorsing-desantis/ |url-status=live |ref=none}}|{{Cite web |last=Warzel |first=Charlie |date=December 11, 2022 |title=Elon Musk Is a Far-Right Activist |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2022/12/elon-musk-twitter-far-right-activist/672436/ |access-date=July 31, 2024 |website=The Atlantic |language=en |archive-date=December 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212052001/https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2022/12/elon-musk-twitter-far-right-activist/672436/ |url-status=live |ref=none}}|4={{Cite news |last=Conroy |first=J. Oliver |date=January 4, 2025 |title=How Elon Musk's X became the global right's supercharged front page |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/04/elon-musk-x-trump-far-right |access-date=February 6, 2025 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |ref=none}}}} His views have been characterized as libertarian and far-right,{{multiref2|{{Cite news |last=Foroohar |first=Rana |date=November 25, 2024 |title=Elon Musk's vision for a libertarian utopia |url=https://www.ft.com/content/bb70a07e-0da6-4faf-b69e-fb47ca27ac43 |access-date=February 7, 2025 |work=Financial Times |ref=none}}|{{Cite web |last=Maher |first=Henry |date=January 26, 2025 |title=Elon Musk now has an office in the White House. What's his political game plan? |url=https://theconversation.com/elon-musk-now-has-an-office-in-the-white-house-whats-his-political-game-plan-248011 |access-date=February 7, 2025 |website=The Conversation |language=en-US |archive-date=January 30, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130160632/https://theconversation.com/elon-musk-now-has-an-office-in-the-white-house-whats-his-political-game-plan-248011 |url-status=live |ref=none}}|{{Cite web |last=Davies |first=Pascale |date=October 30, 2024 |title='Techno libertarians': Why Elon Musk is supporting Donald Trump in the US election |url=https://www.euronews.com/next/2024/10/30/techno-libertarians-why-elon-musk-is-supporting-donald-trump-in-the-us-election |access-date=February 7, 2025 |website=Euronews |ref=none}}|{{Cite web |last1=Amlinger |first1=Carolin |last2=Nachtwey |first2=Oliver |date=January 29, 2025 |title=In Elon Musk, Libertarianism and Authoritarianism Combine |url=https://jacobin.com/2025/01/musk-authoritarianism-libertarianism-afd-trump |access-date=February 7, 2025 |website=Jacobin |language=en-US |archive-date=January 30, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130040002/https://jacobin.com/2025/01/musk-authoritarianism-libertarianism-afd-trump/ |url-status=live |ref=none}}

}}{{multiref2|1={{Cite magazine |last=Gilbert |first=David |date=February 5, 2025 |title=The Far Right Has a New Hero: Elon Musk |url=https://www.wired.com/story/far-right-new-leader-elon-musk/ |access-date=February 6, 2025 |magazine=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028 |ref=none}}|2={{Cite web |last=Fitzpatrick |first=Matt |date=February 1, 2025 |title=The far-right is rising at a crucial time in Germany, boosted by Elon Musk |url=https://theconversation.com/the-far-right-is-rising-at-a-crucial-time-in-germany-boosted-by-elon-musk-247895 |access-date=February 6, 2025 |website=The Conversation |language=en-US |ref=none}}|3={{Cite news |last=Nietfeld |first=Kay |date=January 10, 2025 |title=Musk doubles down on support for German far-right leader |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/europe/article/2025/01/10/musk-doubles-down-on-support-for-german-far-right-leader_6736883_143.html |access-date=February 6, 2025 |work=Le Monde |language=en |ref=none}}|4={{Cite web |last=Psaropoulos |first=John T. |date=January 31, 2025 |title=Is Elon Musk a Nazi, and can he get European far-right hardliners elected? |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/31/is-elon-musk-a-nazi-and-can-he-get-european-far-right-hardliners-elected |access-date=February 6, 2025 |publisher=Al Jazeera English |language=en |ref=none}}}} and after his involvement in European politics, they have received criticism from world leaders such as Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz.{{cite web |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/olaf-scholz-elon-musk-is-a-danger-to-european-democracy/ |website=politico.eu |title=Elon Musk is a danger to European democracy |date=January 17, 2025}}{{multiref2|{{Cite news |last=Henley |first=Jon |last2= |first2= |date=January 6, 2025 |title=Emmanuel Macron joins growing criticism of Elon Musk in Europe |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/06/emmanuel-macron-joins-growing-criticism-elon-musk-europe |access-date=January 7, 2025 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |ref=none}}{{Cite web |last=Hutchison,AFP |first=Peter |date=January 6, 2025 |title=European leaders in France, Norway and Germany hit back against Elon Musk in UK political meddling row |url=https://fortune.com/europe/2025/01/06/european-leaders-france-norway-germany-hit-back-against-elon-musk-political-meddling/ |access-date=January 7, 2025 |website=Fortune |language=en |archive-date=January 7, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250107032200/https://fortune.com/europe/2025/01/06/european-leaders-france-norway-germany-hit-back-against-elon-musk-political-meddling/ |url-status=live |ref=none}}|{{Cite web |date=January 6, 2025 |title=European leaders decry Elon Musk's meddling |url=https://www.dw.com/en/european-leaders-decry-elon-musks-meddling/a-71227690 |access-date=January 7, 2025 |publisher=Deutsche Welle |language=en |archive-date=January 7, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250107032159/https://www.dw.com/en/european-leaders-decry-elon-musks-meddling/a-71227690 |url-status=live |ref=none}}|{{Cite web |first=Ketrin |last=Jochecová |date=January 6, 2025 |title=Elon Musk's European political meddling is 'worrying,' says Norway's PM |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/norwegian-pm-jonas-gahr-store-worried-elon-musk-political-meddling/ |access-date=January 7, 2025 |website=Politico |language=en-GB |archive-date=January 6, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250106163545/https://www.politico.eu/article/norwegian-pm-jonas-gahr-store-worried-elon-musk-political-meddling/ |url-status=live |ref=none}}{{Cite web |first1=Paul |last1=Kirby |first2=Laura |last2=Gozzi |date=January 7, 2025 |title=Musk provokes European leaders ahead of chat with German far-right leader |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crmngpvv08lo.amp |access-date=January 8, 2025 |publisher=BBC News |language=en-gb |archive-date=January 8, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250108060720/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crmngpvv08lo.amp |url-status=live |ref=none}}

}}

Within the context of American politics, Musk supported Democratic candidates up until 2022, at which point he voted for a Republican for the first time. He has stated support for universal basic income,{{cite news |last=Strange |first=Adario |date=November 5, 2016 |title=Elon Musk thinks universal income is answer to automation taking human jobs |url=http://mashable.com/2016/11/05/elon-musk-universal-basic-income/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901223023/https://mashable.com/2016/11/05/elon-musk-universal-basic-income/ |archive-date=September 1, 2020 |access-date=February 6, 2017 |website=mashable.com}} gun rights,{{Cite news |date=May 26, 2022 |title=Elon Musk risks MAGA ire by calling for gun control |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/elon-musk-gun-control-texas-b2088098.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527201600/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/elon-musk-gun-control-texas-b2088098.html |archive-date=May 27, 2022 |access-date=June 13, 2022 |website=The Independent |language=en}} freedom of speech,{{Cite news |last=Stimson |first=Brie |date=March 5, 2022 |title=Elon Musk says Starlink won't block Russian state media in Ukraine: 'Sorry to be a free speech absolutist' |url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/business-leaders/elon-musk-starlink-russian-state-media-ukraine-free-speech-absolutist |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313171346/https://www.foxbusiness.com/business-leaders/elon-musk-starlink-russian-state-media-ukraine-free-speech-absolutist |archive-date=March 13, 2022 |access-date=June 13, 2022 |publisher=Fox Business |language=en-US}} a tax on carbon emissions,{{cite news |last1=Birnbaum |first1=Emily |date=December 13, 2021 |title=Musk spurns subsidies, after SpaceX sought them out |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/morning-tech/2021/12/13/musk-spurns-subsidies-after-spacex-sought-them-out-799430 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525134347/https://www.politico.com/newsletters/morning-tech/2021/12/13/musk-spurns-subsidies-after-spacex-sought-them-out-799430 |archive-date=May 25, 2022 |access-date=May 25, 2022 |work=Politico |language=en}} and H-1B visas.{{Cite news |date=December 27, 2024 |title=Musk and Ramaswamy are sparking a debate over the H-1B visa. Here's what to know about the visa |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/musk-vivek-ramaswamy-h1b-visa-maga-immigration-what-to-know/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241227225338/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/musk-vivek-ramaswamy-h1b-visa-maga-immigration-what-to-know/ |archive-date=December 27, 2024 |access-date=December 28, 2024 |publisher=CBS News |language=en-US}} Musk has expressed concern about issues such as artificial intelligence (AI){{cite news |last=Fung |first=Brian |date=July 28, 2015 |title=Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking think we should ban killer robots |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2015/07/28/elon-musk-and-stephen-hawking-think-we-should-ban-killer-robots/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308074506/http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2015/07/28/elon-musk-and-stephen-hawking-think-we-should-ban-killer-robots/ |archive-date=March 8, 2016 |access-date=January 5, 2017 |newspaper=The Washington Post}} and climate change,{{cite news |title=US quits Paris climate pact: Reaction from around the world following the US president's decision on the Paris accord |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-us-canada-40123293 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829015328/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-us-canada-40123293 |archive-date=August 29, 2017 |access-date=June 1, 2017}} and has been a critic of wealth tax,{{Cite news |last1=Levin |first1=Tim |last2=Mitchell |first2=Taiyler S. |date=December 7, 2021 |title=Elon Musk says he supports a controversial tax that many of his billionaire peers despise |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-estate-tax-billionaires-wealth-2021-12 |access-date=December 31, 2024 |work=Business Insider}} short-selling,{{Cite news |last=Mohamed |first=Theron |title='Short selling should be illegal' – Elon Musk praised a crackdown on shorts by the world's biggest pension fund |url=https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/tesla-spacex-ceo-elon-musk-short-selling-should-be-illegal-2019-12-1028733903 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807084710/https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/tesla-spacex-ceo-elon-musk-short-selling-should-be-illegal-2019-12-1028733903 |archive-date=August 7, 2020 |access-date=June 14, 2020 |work=Business Insider |language=en-us}} government subsidies.{{cite news |date=December 7, 2021 |title=Elon Musk doubles down on ending 'subsidies' as competitors now reap more benefits |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/07/tech/elon-musk-wsj-government/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330154400/https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/07/tech/elon-musk-wsj-government/index.html |archive-date=March 30, 2023 |access-date=April 1, 2023 |publisher=CNN }} An immigrant himself, Musk has been accused of being anti-immigration, and regularly blames immigration policies for illegal immigration.{{Cite news |date=March 5, 2024 |title=Elon Musk can't stop fearmongering on immigration |url=https://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/elon-musk-conspiracy-theory-immigration-terror-rcna141827 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240312184020/https://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/elon-musk-conspiracy-theory-immigration-terror-rcna141827 |archive-date=March 12, 2024 |access-date=March 12, 2024 |publisher=MSNBC |language=en}} He is also a pronatalist who believes population decline is the biggest threat to civilization,{{multiref2|1={{cite news |last1=Dodds |first1=Io |date=April 17, 2023 |title=Meet the 'elite' couples breeding to save mankind |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/life/pronatalists-save-mankind-by-having-babies-silicon-valley/ |access-date=October 13, 2024 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |ref=none}}|2={{cite news |last1=Kleeman |first1=Jenny |date=May 25, 2024 |title=The world's most famous pronatalist |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/article/2024/may/25/american-pronatalists-malcolm-and-simone-collins |access-date=October 13, 2024 |website=The Guardian |ref=none}}|3={{cite news |date=December 7, 2021 |title=Elon Musk says there aren't 'enough people,' birthrate could threaten human civilization |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2021/12/07/elon-musk-declining-birthrate-threatens-human-civilization/6414749001/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510142824/https://eu.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2021/12/07/elon-musk-declining-birthrate-threatens-human-civilization/6414749001/ |archive-date=May 10, 2022 |access-date=June 7, 2022 |work=USA Today |ref=none}}|4={{Cite news |last1=Christensen |first1=Jen |date=August 30, 2022 |title=Elon Musk thinks the population will collapse. Demographers say it's not happening |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/30/health/elon-musk-population-collapse-wellness/index.html |access-date=October 13, 2024 |publisher=CNN |ref=none}}}} and believes in the principles of Christianity.{{cite web |last1=O'Mahony |first1=Catherine |date=July 26, 2024 |title=Elon Musk says he's a 'cultural Christian' – why some leading thinkers are embracing Christianity |url=https://www.tcd.ie/news_events/articles/2024/elon-musk-says-hes-a-cultural-christian--why-some-leading-thinkers-are-embracing-christianity |access-date=February 4, 2025 |publisher=Trinity College Dublin |language=en}}{{cite web |last1=Walker |first1=Andrew T. |date=July 24, 2024 |title=Yet another champion for "cultural Christianity" |url=https://wng.org/opinions/yet-another-champion-for-cultural-christianity-1721817015 |access-date=February 4, 2025 |work=World Magazine |language=en}} Musk has long been an advocate for space colonization, especially the colonization of Mars. He has repeatedly pushed for humanity colonizing Mars, in order to become an interplanetary species and lower the risks of human extinction.{{cite web |title=Mars & Beyond: The Road to Making Humanity Interplanetary |url=https://www.spacex.com/human-spaceflight/mars/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221224072526/https://www.spacex.com/human-spaceflight/mars/ |archive-date=December 24, 2022 |access-date=December 27, 2022 |publisher=SpaceX}}

Musk has promoted conspiracy theories and made controversial statements that have led to accusations of racism, sexism, antisemitism,{{Cite news |last=Rosenberg |first=Yair |date=May 16, 2023 |title=Elon Musk Among the Anti-Semites |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/05/elon-musk-george-soros-anti-semites/674072/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604030035/https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/05/elon-musk-george-soros-anti-semites/674072/ |archive-date=June 4, 2023 |access-date=June 5, 2023 |website=The Atlantic |language=en}}{{multiref2 |1={{cite web |url=https://www.mediaite.com/tech/elon-musk-agrees-with-poster-who-says-jews-advocate-hatred-against-whites/ |title=Elon Musk Agrees With Poster Who Says Jews Advocate 'Hatred Against Whites' |last=Bowers Bahney |first=Jennifer |date=November 15, 2023 |website=Mediaite |access-date=November 15, 2023 |archive-date=November 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115231425/https://www.mediaite.com/tech/elon-musk-agrees-with-poster-who-says-jews-advocate-hatred-against-whites/ |url-status=live |ref=none}} |2={{Cite tweet |user=elonmusk |number=1724908287471272299 |title=You have said the actual truth |access-date=November 15, 2023 |ref=none}} |3={{cite magazine |url=https://time.com/6336123/elon-musk-antisemitic-post-x/ |title=Elon Musk Replies to Antisemitic Post on X, Labeling It 'The Actual Truth' |date=November 16, 2023 |magazine=Time |access-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116135128/https://time.com/6336123/elon-musk-antisemitic-post-x/ |url-status=live}} |4={{Cite news |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/11/elon-musks-disturbing-truth/676019/ |title=Elon Musk's Disturbing 'Truth' |date=November 16, 2023 |work=The Atlantic |access-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116054927/https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/11/elon-musks-disturbing-truth/676019/ |url-status=live}}}} transphobia,{{Cite news |last=Garofoli |first=Joe |date=December 13, 2022 |title=Elon Musk is leaning into transphobia |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Elon-Musk-is-leaning-into-transphobia-17649577.php |access-date=June 5, 2023 |website=San Francisco Chronicle |language=en-US |archive-date=June 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628144738/https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Elon-Musk-is-leaning-into-transphobia-17649577.php |url-status=live}} disseminating disinformation, and support of white pride.{{multiref2|{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/16/23964160/elon-musk-antisemitic-x-post-ibm-ads |title=IBM pulls X ads as Elon Musk endorses white pride |last=Kastrenakes |first=Jacob |date=November 16, 2023 |website=The Verge |access-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116213641/https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/16/23964160/elon-musk-antisemitic-x-post-ibm-ads |url-status=live |ref=none}}|{{Cite news |last=Clayton |first=James |date=November 18, 2023 |title=X ad boycott gathers pace amid antisemitism storm |language=en-GB |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67460386 |access-date=November 23, 2023 |archive-date=November 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231118032055/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67460386 |url-status=live |ref=none}}|{{Cite news |last1=Hayes |first1=Dade |last2=Johnson |first2=Ted |last3=Patten |first3=Dominic |date=November 18, 2023 |title=Elon Musk Rips Into "Largest Advertisers" After Disney & Other Media Companies Pause Ads Over Antisemitic Amplification – Update |url=https://deadline.com/2023/11/elon-musk-x-twitter-ibm-1235615481/ |access-date=November 23, 2023 |website=Deadline |language=en-US |archive-date=November 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231118051012/https://deadline.com/2023/11/elon-musk-x-twitter-ibm-1235615481/ |url-status=live |ref=none}}|{{Cite news |last=Samuels |first=Ben |date=November 17, 2023 |title=Elon Musk and Tucker Carlson Lead Explosion of White Nationalist Antisemitism Since Start of Israel-Gaza War |language=en |work=Haaretz |url=https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2023-11-17/ty-article/.premium/elon-musk-and-tucker-carlson-are-only-the-tip-of-the-antisemitic-iceberg-amid-gaza-war/0000018b-dd2d-d168-a3ef-ddff1ce20000 |access-date=November 23, 2023 |archive-date=November 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231119140253/https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2023-11-17/ty-article/.premium/elon-musk-and-tucker-carlson-are-only-the-tip-of-the-antisemitic-iceberg-amid-gaza-war/0000018b-dd2d-d168-a3ef-ddff1ce20000 |url-status=live |ref=none}}

}}{{cite news |last1=Derbyshire |first1=Victoria |last2=Whannel |first2=Kate |date=January 7, 2025 |title=Elon Musk's 'disinformation' endangering me, says Jess Phillips |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn7r0pzz57vo |access-date=January 15, 2025 |publisher=BBC News }} While describing himself as a "pro-Semite",{{Cite news |last=Calia |first=Mike |date=May 16, 2023 |title=Elon Musk: 'I'll say what I want, and if the consequence of that is losing money, so be it' |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/16/elon-musk-defends-inflammatory-tweets-ill-say-what-i-want.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230517101337/https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/16/elon-musk-defends-inflammatory-tweets-ill-say-what-i-want.html |archive-date=May 17, 2023 |access-date=May 17, 2023 |publisher=CNBC}} his comments regarding George Soros and Jewish communities have been condemned by the Anti-Defamation League and the White House.{{multiref2 |1={{Cite news |date=November 18, 2023 |title=White House blasts Musk's 'hideous' antisemitic lie, advertisers pause on X |language=en |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/white-house-condemns-musk-spreading-hideous-antisemitic-lies-2023-11-17/ |access-date=November 23, 2023 |archive-date=November 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117162311/https://www.reuters.com/world/white-house-condemns-musk-spreading-hideous-antisemitic-lies-2023-11-17/ |url-status=live}} |2={{Cite news |last=Wendling |first=Mike |date=November 17, 2023 |title=White House criticises Elon Musk over 'hideous' antisemitic lie |language=en-GB |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67446800 |access-date=November 23, 2023 |archive-date=November 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231118004746/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67446800 |url-status=live |ref=none}} |3={{Cite news |last1=Breuninger |first1=Kevin |last2=Kolodny |first2=Lora |date=November 17, 2023 |title=White House blasts Elon Musk for promoting 'Antisemitic and racist hate' |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/17/white-house-blasts-elon-musk-for-promoting-antisemitic-racist-hate.html |access-date=November 18, 2023 |publisher=CNBC |language=en |archive-date=November 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117233011/https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/17/white-house-blasts-elon-musk-for-promoting-antisemitic-racist-hate.html |url-status=live |ref=none}} |4={{Cite news |last=Montgomery |first=Blake |date=November 17, 2023 |title=White House condemns Elon Musk's 'abhorrent' antisemitic tweets |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/nov/17/white-house-biden-elon-musk-antisemitic-tweet-hate |access-date=November 23, 2023 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=November 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123040538/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/nov/17/white-house-biden-elon-musk-antisemitic-tweet-hate |url-status=live |ref=none}}|5={{cite news |last1=Isidore |first1=Chris |date=May 16, 2023 |title=Elon Musk claims George Soros 'hates humanity.' The ADL says Musk's attacks 'will embolden extremists' |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/16/business/elon-musk-george-soros/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519033532/https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/16/business/elon-musk-george-soros/index.html |archive-date=May 19, 2023 |access-date=May 18, 2023 |publisher=CNN |ref=none}}|6={{cite news |date=November 16, 2023 |title=Elon Musk boosts antisemitic tweet, claims ADL and other groups push 'anti-white' messaging |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/16/elon-musk-calls-antisemitic-tweet-the-actual-truth.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120021848/https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/16/elon-musk-calls-antisemitic-tweet-the-actual-truth.html |archive-date=November 20, 2023 |access-date=November 20, 2023 |publisher=CNBC}}}} Musk was criticized during the COVID-19 pandemic for making unfounded epidemiological claims,{{cite news |last=Kolodny |first=Lora |date=March 17, 2020 |title=Tesla factory is still open for business as Musk tells employees 'I will personally be at work' |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/17/tesla-keeps-fremont-factory-open-amid-covid-19-shelter-in-place-orders.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200510081847/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/17/tesla-keeps-fremont-factory-open-amid-covid-19-shelter-in-place-orders.html |archive-date=May 10, 2020 |access-date=December 13, 2020 |publisher=CNBC}} defied COVID-19 lockdowns restrictions,{{cite news |last1=Rapier |first1=Graham |date=May 12, 2020 |title='If anyone is arrested, I ask that it only be me': Elon Musk confirms Tesla is restarting its factory against local rules |url=https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/news/if-anyone-is-arrested-i-ask-that-it-only-be-me-elon-musk-confirms-tesla-is-restarting-its-factory-against-local-rules/articleshow/75685733.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200526090653/https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/news/if-anyone-is-arrested-i-ask-that-it-only-be-me-elon-musk-confirms-tesla-is-restarting-its-factory-against-local-rules/articleshow/75685733.cms |archive-date=May 26, 2020 |access-date=May 17, 2020 |work=Business Insider}} and supported the Canada convoy protest against vaccine mandates.{{cite news |last1=Ljunggren |first1=David |date=January 27, 2022 |title=Anti-vaccine Canada truckers roll toward Ottawa, praised by Tesla's Musk |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/anti-vaccine-canada-truckers-roll-toward-ottawa-praised-by-teslas-musk-2022-01-27/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127205337/https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/anti-vaccine-canada-truckers-roll-toward-ottawa-praised-by-teslas-musk-2022-01-27/ |archive-date=January 27, 2022 |access-date=April 27, 2022 |publisher=Reuters}}{{cite news |last1=Ling |first1=Justin |date=February 8, 2022 |title=5G and QAnon: how conspiracy theorists steered Canada's anti-vaccine trucker protest |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/08/canada-ottawa-trucker-protest-extremist-qanon-neo-nazi |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220208080607/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/08/canada-ottawa-trucker-protest-extremist-qanon-neo-nazi |archive-date=February 8, 2022 |work=The Guardian}}

{{Main|International relations of Elon Musk}}

File:Isaac_Herzog_in_Beit_HaNassi,_November_2023_(GPOHZ02222_2).jpeg Isaac Herzog, November 2023]]

Musk has been critical of Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip during the Gaza war,{{Cite news |last=Robertson |first=Nick |date=November 10, 2023 |title=Elon Musk says Israel could thwart Hamas with 'conspicuous acts of kindness' |url=https://thehill.com/policy/international/4304954-elon-musk-israel-thwart-hamas-with-acts-of-kindness/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250113190958/https://thehill.com/policy/international/4304954-elon-musk-israel-thwart-hamas-with-acts-of-kindness/ |archive-date=January 13, 2025 |access-date=February 8, 2025 |work=The Hill |language=en-US}} praised China's economic and climate goals,{{cite news |last=He |first=Laura |date=March 24, 2021 |title=Elon Musk is trying to win China back |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/24/tech/elon-musk-china-intl-hnk/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709182137/https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/24/tech/elon-musk-china-intl-hnk/index.html |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |access-date=July 1, 2021 |publisher=CNN}}{{Cite news |last=Choi |first=Martin |date=January 10, 2019 |title=Tesla boss Elon Musk says he loves China, so Premier Li Keqiang offers him a green card |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/2181556/tesla-boss-elon-musk-says-he-loves-china-so-premier-li-keqiang |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110124357/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/2181556/tesla-boss-elon-musk-says-he-loves-china-so-premier-li-keqiang |archive-date=January 10, 2019 |access-date=December 20, 2024 |work=South China Morning Post}} suggested that Taiwan and China should resolve cross-strait relations,{{cite news |last1=Liang |first1=Annabelle |date=October 10, 2022 |title=Elon Musk wades into China and Taiwan tensions |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-63196452 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010034740/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-63196452 |archive-date=October 10, 2022 |access-date=October 10, 2022 |publisher=BBC News}}{{cite news |last1=Khalaf |first1=Roula |date=October 7, 2022 |title=Elon Musk: 'Aren't you entertained?' |url=https://www.ft.com/content/5ef14997-982e-4f03-8548-b5d67202623a |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240514060142/https://www.ft.com/content/5ef14997-982e-4f03-8548-b5d67202623a |archive-date=May 14, 2024 |access-date=December 21, 2024 |work=Financial Times}} and was described as having a close relationship with the Chinese government.

In Europe, Musk expressed support for Ukraine in 2022 during the Russian invasion, recommended referendums and peace deals on the annexed Russia-occupied territories,{{Cite web |last=Oshin |first=Olafimihan |date=March 14, 2022 |title=Elon Musk challenges Putin on Twitter to 'single combat' for Ukraine |url=https://thehill.com/policy/international/europe/598125-elon-musk-challenges-putin-on-twitter-to-single-combat-for/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221015172412/https://thehill.com/policy/international/europe/598125-elon-musk-challenges-putin-on-twitter-to-single-combat-for/ |archive-date=October 15, 2022 |access-date=October 29, 2024 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Joseph |date=October 4, 2022 |title=Musk's plan to end Russian war infuriates Ukraine on Twitter |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/musks-plan-end-russian-war-infuriates-ukraine-twitter-91000281 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221020101000/https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/musks-plan-end-russian-war-infuriates-ukraine-twitter-91000281 |archive-date=October 20, 2022 |access-date=October 16, 2022 |work=ABC News |language=en |agency=Associated Press}} and supported the far-right Alternative for Germany in Germany in 2024.{{cite web |last=Gold |first=Hadas |date=December 20, 2024 |title=Elon Musk endorses far-right German political party, wading deeper into global politics |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/20/media/elon-musk-afd-germany-politics-far-right/index.html |access-date=December 23, 2024 |publisher=CNN}} Regarding British politics, Musk blamed the 2024 UK riots on mass migration and open borders,{{cite news |last1=Gregory |first1=Andy |last2=Cooke |first2=Millie |date=August 5, 2024 |title=Downing Street condemns Elon Musk for claim 'civil war is inevitable' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/elon-musk-civil-war-uk-riots-b2591213.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240805174350/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/elon-musk-civil-war-uk-riots-b2591213.html |archive-date=August 5, 2024 |access-date=November 19, 2024 |newspaper=The Independent}}{{cite web |date=August 7, 2024 |title=What is Elon Musk's game plan? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cze5gd1jzkeo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240807125803/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cze5gd1jzkeo |archive-date=August 7, 2024 |access-date=November 19, 2024 |publisher=BBC News}} criticized Prime Minister Keir Starmer for what he described as a "two-tier" policing system,{{Cite web |date=August 8, 2024 |title=Elon Musk lashes out at the UK again as Sunak holidays in California |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/elon-musk-riots-rishi-sunak-b2593155.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240809041242/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/elon-musk-riots-rishi-sunak-b2593155.html |archive-date=August 9, 2024 |access-date=January 14, 2025 |website=The Independent}}{{cite news |date=August 6, 2024 |title=Musk brands Starmer 'two-tier Keir' amid row over riot policing |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/08/06/riots-police-tackle-all-sides-equal-ferocity-two-tier/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240807004921/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/08/06/riots-police-tackle-all-sides-equal-ferocity-two-tier/ |archive-date=August 7, 2024 |access-date=August 7, 2024 |work=The Daily Telegraph}} and was subsequently attacked as being responsible for spreading misinformation and amplifying the far-right.{{cite news |last1=Francis |first1=Sam |last2=Zeffman |first2=Henry |date=January 6, 2025 |title=PM attacks those 'spreading lies' on grooming gangs as he hits back at Musk |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c75wp53vk1lo |publisher=BBC News}} He has also voiced his support for far-right activist Tommy Robinson and pledged electoral support for Reform UK.{{Cite web |date=January 5, 2025 |title=Elon Musk calls for Nigel Farage to be replaced as Reform UK leader |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c70ep8lp4jjo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250105144056/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c70ep8lp4jjo |archive-date=January 5, 2025 |access-date=January 5, 2025 |publisher=BBC News |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last1=Turvill |first1=William |last2=Shipman |first2=Tim |last3=Wheeler |first3=Caroline |date=November 30, 2024 |title=Will Elon Musk give Nigel Farage $100m to make him PM? |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/elon-musk-pay-nigel-farage-prime-minister-xts720xsp?t=1733042174755 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250127031718/https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/elon-musk-pay-nigel-farage-prime-minister-xts720xsp?t=1733042174755 |archive-date=January 27, 2025 |access-date=February 6, 2025 |website=The Times |language=en}}

{{Main|Legal affairs of Elon Musk}}

{{Further|List of lawsuits involving Tesla, Inc.|Criticism of Tesla, Inc.}}

In 2018, Musk was sued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for a tweet stating that funding had been secured for potentially taking Tesla private.{{cite news |last=Goldstein |first=Matthew |date=September 27, 2018 |title=Tesla Chief Elon Musk Is Sued by S.E.C. in Move That Could Oust Him |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/27/business/elon-musk-sec-lawsuit-tesla.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623023744/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/27/business/elon-musk-sec-lawsuit-tesla.html |archive-date=June 23, 2020 |access-date=September 27, 2018 |work=The New York Times}}{{efn|Musk stated he was considering taking Tesla private at a price of $420 a share, an alleged reference to marijuana.{{Cite news |last=Choudhury |first=Saheli Roy |date=September 28, 2018 |title=SEC says Musk chose $420 price for Tesla shares because it's a pot reference |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/28/sec-says-elon-musk-at-tesla-chose-420-price-as-pot-reference.html |access-date=September 17, 2020 |publisher=CNBC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201006010407/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/28/sec-says-elon-musk-at-tesla-chose-420-price-as-pot-reference.html |archive-date=October 6, 2020}} Members of Tesla's board and rapper Azealia Banks alleged that Musk may have been under the influence of recreational drugs when he wrote the tweet.{{cite news |last=Swisher |first=Kara |date=August 23, 2018 |title=How and Why Silicon Valley Gets High |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/23/opinion/elon-musk-burning-man-drugs-lsd.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180824014428/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/23/opinion/elon-musk-burning-man-drugs-lsd.html |archive-date=August 24, 2018 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=The New York Times |access-date=May 11, 2021}}{{cite news |last=Woodyard |first=Chris |date=August 30, 2018 |title=Elon Musk's tweet on taking Tesla private now dogged by drugs claim from rapper Azealia Banks |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/talkingtech/2018/08/22/elon-musks-tweet-taking-tesla-private-now-dogged-drugs-claims-rapper-azealia-banks/1057815002/ |work=USA Today |access-date=May 11, 2021 |archive-date=May 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512060023/https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/talkingtech/2018/08/22/elon-musks-tweet-taking-tesla-private-now-dogged-drugs-claims-rapper-azealia-banks/1057815002/ |url-status=live}}}} The securities fraud lawsuit characterized the tweet as false, misleading, and damaging to investors, and sought to bar Musk from serving as CEO of publicly traded companies.{{cite news |last1=Patnaik |first1=Subrat |last2=Kalia |first2=Shubham |date=September 28, 2018 |title=Factbox – 'Funding secured': SEC gives timeline surrounding tweet from Tesla's Musk |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tesla-musk-factbox/factbox-funding-secured-sec-gives-timeline-surrounding-tweet-from-teslas-musk-idUSKCN1M8139 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191123175743/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tesla-musk-factbox/factbox-funding-secured-sec-gives-timeline-surrounding-tweet-from-teslas-musk-idUSKCN1M8139 |archive-date=November 23, 2019 |access-date=November 23, 2018 |publisher=Reuters}}{{cite news |last1=O'Kane |first1=Sean |last2=Lopatto |first2=Elizabeth |date=September 27, 2018 |title=Elon Musk sued by SEC for securities fraud |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/9/27/17911428/sec-lawsuit-elon-musk-tesla-funding-tweet |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730025451/https://www.theverge.com/2018/9/27/17911428/sec-lawsuit-elon-musk-tesla-funding-tweet |archive-date=July 30, 2020 |access-date=September 27, 2018 |work=The Verge}} Two days later, Musk settled with the SEC, without admitting or denying the SEC's allegations. As a result, Musk and Tesla were fined $20 million each, and Musk was forced to step down for three years as Tesla chairman but was able to remain as CEO.{{Cite news |title=Elon Musk forced to step down as chairman of Tesla, remains CEO |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/9/29/17918252/elon-musk-tesla-sec-securities-fraud-lawsuit-settlement-fine-penalty |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527131445/https://www.theverge.com/2018/9/29/17918252/elon-musk-tesla-sec-securities-fraud-lawsuit-settlement-fine-penalty |archive-date=May 27, 2020 |access-date=September 29, 2018 |work=The Verge}} Shareholders filed a lawsuit over the tweet,{{Cite web |last=Brodkin |first=Jon |date=April 18, 2022 |title=Musk keeps falsely claiming 'Funding secured' tweet was accurate, judge is told |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2022/04/judge-ruled-elon-musks-funding-secured-tweet-was-false-plaintiffs-say/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220909181731/https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2022/04/judge-ruled-elon-musks-funding-secured-tweet-was-false-plaintiffs-say/ |archive-date=September 9, 2022 |access-date=September 9, 2022 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}} and in February 2023, a jury found Musk and Tesla not liable.{{Cite news |last1=Godoy |first1=Jody |last2=Jin |first2=Hyunjoo |date=February 3, 2023 |title=Tesla's Elon Musk found not liable in trial over 2018 'funding secured' tweets |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/securities-fraud-trial-over-elon-musks-2018-tweets-draws-close-2023-02-03/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204033538/https://www.reuters.com/legal/securities-fraud-trial-over-elon-musks-2018-tweets-draws-close-2023-02-03/ |archive-date=February 4, 2023 |access-date=February 4, 2023 |publisher=Reuters |language=en}} Musk has stated in interviews that he does not regret posting the tweet that triggered the SEC investigation.{{Cite news |date=October 27, 2018 |title=Tesla's Elon Musk says tweet that led to $20 million fine 'Worth It' |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tesla-musk-tweet-idUSKCN1N10K2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200522093710/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tesla-musk-tweet-idUSKCN1N10K2 |archive-date=May 22, 2020 |access-date=December 9, 2018 |publisher=Reuters}}{{cite news |last1=Youn |first1=Soo |last2=Katersky |first2=Aaron |date=October 11, 2018 |title=Elon Musk commits to SEC settlement despite mocking tweets |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Business/elon-musk-commits-sec-settlement-mocking-tweets/story?id=58437587 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023054443/https://abcnews.go.com/Business/elon-musk-commits-sec-settlement-mocking-tweets/story?id=58437587 |archive-date=October 23, 2019 |access-date=October 17, 2018 |publisher=ABC News}}

In 2019, Musk stated in a tweet that Tesla would build half a million cars that year.{{Cite news |last=Ohnsman |first=Alan |date=February 25, 2019 |title=Elon Musk's Tesla Tweet Puts CEO Role at Risk Again |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alanohnsman/2019/02/25/elon-musks-tesla-tweet-puts-ceo-role-at-risk-again/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200528012956/https://www.forbes.com/sites/alanohnsman/2019/02/25/elon-musks-tesla-tweet-puts-ceo-role-at-risk-again/ |archive-date=May 28, 2020 |access-date=February 26, 2019 |work=Forbes}} The SEC reacted by asking a court to hold him in contempt for violating the terms of the 2018 settlement agreement. A joint agreement between Musk and the SEC eventually clarified the previous agreement details,{{Cite news |last=Wattles |first=Jackie |date=April 27, 2019 |title=Elon Musk and SEC reach an agreement over tweeting |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/04/26/tech/elon-musk-sec-settlement/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608013859/https://edition.cnn.com/2019/04/26/tech/elon-musk-sec-settlement/index.html |archive-date=June 8, 2020 |access-date=July 16, 2019 |publisher=CNN Business}} including a list of topics about which Musk needed preclearance.{{cite news |last=Marino-Nachison |first=David |date=April 26, 2019 |title=Tesla CEO Elon Musk Gets a Long Do-Not-Tweet List From the SEC |url=https://www.barrons.com/articles/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-sec-settlement-list-51556317578?mod=article_inline |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122145614/https://www.barrons.com/articles/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-sec-settlement-list-51556317578?mod=article_inline |archive-date=January 22, 2020 |access-date=November 25, 2019 |work=Barron's}} In 2020, a judge blocked a lawsuit that claimed a tweet by Musk regarding Tesla stock price ("too high imo") violated the agreement.{{Cite news |last=Bursztynsky |first=Jessica |date=May 1, 2020 |title=Tesla shares tank after Elon Musk tweets the stock price is 'too high' |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/01/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-says-stock-price-is-too-high-shares-fall.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818102755/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/01/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-says-stock-price-is-too-high-shares-fall.html |archive-date=August 18, 2020 |access-date=June 14, 2020 |publisher=CNBC}}{{Cite news |date=May 20, 2020 |title=Court Rules That No One Can Stop Elon Musk From Tweeting Tesla News—For Now |url=https://observer.com/2020/05/tesla-shareholder-lawsuit-stop-elon-musk-tweeting-on-hold/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030161912/https://observer.com/2020/05/tesla-shareholder-lawsuit-stop-elon-musk-tweeting-on-hold/ |archive-date=October 30, 2020 |access-date=December 1, 2020 |work=The Observer}} Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)-released records showed that the SEC concluded Musk had subsequently violated the agreement twice by tweeting regarding "Tesla's solar roof production volumes and its stock price".{{Cite news |last1=Elliott |first1=Dave |last2=Michaels |first2=Rebecca |date=June 2, 2021 |title=WSJ News Exclusive: Tesla Failed to Oversee Elon Musk's Tweets, SEC Argued in Letters |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/tesla-failed-to-oversee-elon-musk-s-tweets-sec-argued-in-letters-11622582765 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610030929/https://www.wsj.com/articles/tesla-failed-to-oversee-elon-musk-s-tweets-sec-argued-in-letters-11622582765 |archive-date=June 10, 2021 |access-date=June 10, 2021 |work=The Wall Street Journal}}

In October 2023, the SEC sued Musk over his refusal to testify a third time in an investigation into whether he violated federal law by purchasing Twitter stock in 2022.{{Cite web |last=Brodkin |first=Jon |date=October 6, 2023 |title=Musk refused to testify in Twitter stock probe, claimed SEC is harassing him |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/10/sec-sues-musk-saying-he-refuses-to-testify-in-twitter-stock-investigation/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231013040318/https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/10/sec-sues-musk-saying-he-refuses-to-testify-in-twitter-stock-investigation/ |archive-date=October 13, 2023 |access-date=October 7, 2023 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}{{Cite news |last1=Fung |first1=Brian |last2=Duffy |first2=Clare |date=October 5, 2023 |title=US regulator seeks court order to compel Elon Musk to testify about his Twitter acquisition |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/05/tech/elon-musk-sec-twitter-lawsuit/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018114814/https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/05/tech/elon-musk-sec-twitter-lawsuit/index.html |archive-date=October 18, 2023 |access-date=October 7, 2023 |publisher=CNN |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=October 5, 2023 |title=Regulator sues Musk to force testimony in X probe |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-67024538 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022231748/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-67024538 |archive-date=October 22, 2023 |access-date=October 7, 2023 |publisher=BBC News |language=en-GB}} In February 2024, Judge Laurel Beeler ruled that Musk must testify again.{{Cite news |last=Godoy |first=Jody |date=February 12, 2024 |title=US judge orders Elon Musk to testify in SEC's Twitter probe |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/elon-musk-ordered-testify-secs-twitter-probe-2024-02-11/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240219011742/https://www.reuters.com/legal/elon-musk-ordered-testify-secs-twitter-probe-2024-02-11/ |archive-date=February 19, 2024 |access-date=April 21, 2024 |publisher=Reuters}} In January 2025, the SEC filed a lawsuit against Musk for securities violations related to his purchase of Twitter.{{cite news |last1=Goldstein |first1=Matthew |last2=Conger |first2=Kate |date=January 14, 2025 |title=S.E.C. Sues Elon Musk Over Twitter-Related Securities Violations |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/14/technology/sec-elon-musk-securities-violations.html |website=The New York Times}} In January 2024, Delaware judge Kathaleen McCormick ruled in a 2018 lawsuit that Musk's $55 billion pay package from Tesla be rescinded.{{Cite news |last1=Mangan |first1=Dan |author2=Lora Kolodny |author-link2=Lora Kolodny |date=January 30, 2024 |title=Elon Musk's $56 billion Tesla compensation voided by judge, shares slide |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/30/tesla-shares-slide-after-judge-voids-elon-musks-56-billion-compensation.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240131002140/https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/30/tesla-shares-slide-after-judge-voids-elon-musks-56-billion-compensation.html |archive-date=January 31, 2024 |access-date=January 31, 2024 |publisher=CNBC |language=en}} McCormick called the compensation granted by the company's board "an unfathomable sum" that was unfair to shareholders.{{Cite news |last1=Kharpal |first1=Arjun |author2=Lora Kolodny |author-link2=Lora Kolodny |date=February 1, 2024 |title=Elon Musk says Tesla will hold a shareholder vote to incorporate in Texas after Delaware pay snub |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/01/elon-musk-tesla-will-hold-a-shareholder-vote-to-incorporate-in-texas.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206032239/https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/01/elon-musk-tesla-will-hold-a-shareholder-vote-to-incorporate-in-texas.html |archive-date=February 6, 2024 |access-date=February 6, 2024 |publisher=CNBC |language=en}}

Musk became a U.S. citizen in 2002.{{cite news |last1=Shoichet |first1=Catherine E. |title=Elon Musk is one of illegal immigration's harshest critics. He once described his past immigration status as a 'gray area' |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/29/us/elon-musk-immigration-gray-area-cec/index.html |publisher=CNN |date=September 29, 2024 |access-date=November 19, 2024 |archive-date=November 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241113024641/https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/29/us/elon-musk-immigration-gray-area-cec/index.html |url-status=live}} From the early 2000s until late 2020, Musk resided in California, where both Tesla and SpaceX were founded.{{cite news |date=December 8, 2020 |title=Musk Relocates to Texas, Criticizes 'Complacent' California |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-08/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-says-he-has-relocated-to-texas |url-status=live |access-date=December 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210145135/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-08/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-says-he-has-relocated-to-texas |archive-date=December 10, 2020}} He then relocated to Cameron County, Texas,{{cite tweet |last=Musk |first=Elon |user=elonmusk |number=1402718368633745410 |date=June 9, 2021 |title=My primary home is literally a ~$50k house in Boca Chica / Starbase that I rent from SpaceX. It's kinda awesome though.}}{{cite web |last=Williams |first=Claudia |date=June 25, 2024 |title=Where Does Elon Musk Live? Inside the Properties of the World's Richest Man |website=Architectural Digest |url=https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/where-does-elon-musk-live}} saying that California had become "complacent" about its economic success.{{cite news |last=Somerville |first=Heather |date=December 8, 2020 |title=Elon Musk Moves to Texas, Takes Jab at Silicon Valley |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/elon-musk-to-discuss-teslas-banner-year-despite-pandemic-silicon-valleys-future-11607449988 |url-status=live |access-date=December 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212234036/https://www.wsj.com/articles/elon-musk-to-discuss-teslas-banner-year-despite-pandemic-silicon-valleys-future-11607449988 |archive-date=December 12, 2020}}{{Cite news |last=Milmo |first=Dan |date=August 31, 2023 |title=Tesla investigated over funds 'used to build secret Austin house for Elon Musk' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/aug/31/tesla-investigated-over-funds-used-to-build-secret-austin-house-for-elon-musk |access-date=April 30, 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

While hosting Saturday Night Live in 2021, Musk stated that he has Asperger syndrome (now merged with autism spectrum disorder), although he has not been formally diagnosed.{{Cite news |last=Yahr |first=Emily |date=May 8, 2021 |title=Elon Musk reveals he has Asperger's syndrome during SNL monologue |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2021/05/09/elon-musk-hosts-snl/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509204204/https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2021/05/09/elon-musk-hosts-snl/ |archive-date=May 9, 2021 |access-date=May 9, 2021 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}Isaacson (2023), p. 18. Musk suffers from back pain and has undergone several spine-related surgeries, including a disc replacement.{{Cite news |last=IANS |date=April 16, 2024 |title=Elon Musk shares health advice on severe neck and back pain |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/technology/elon-musk-shares-health-advice-on-severe-neck-and-back-pain-1503290796.html |access-date=January 19, 2025 |website=The Statesman |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=August 7, 2023 |title=Musk Says He May Need Surgery, Will Get MRI on Back and Neck |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-08-07/musk-says-he-may-need-surgery-will-get-mri-on-back-and-neck |access-date=January 19, 2025 |work=Bloomberg.com |language=en}} In 2000, he contracted a severe case of malaria while on vacation in South Africa.{{Cite news |last=Locke |first=Taylor |date=November 2, 2019 |title=Why Elon Musk says taking 'vacations will kill you' |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/02/why-elon-musk-says-taking-vacations-will-kill-you.html |access-date=January 19, 2025 |publisher=CNBC |language=en}} Musk has stated he uses doctor-prescribed ketamine for occasional depression and that he doses "a small amount once every other week or something like that";{{Cite news |last=Duffy |first=Clare |date=March 18, 2024 |title=Elon Musk details his prescription ketamine use, says investors should want him to 'keep taking it' {{!}} CNN Business |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/18/tech/elon-musk-ketamine-use-don-lemon-interview/index.html |access-date=October 28, 2024 |publisher=CNN |language=en}} since January 2024, some media outlets have reported that he takes ketamine, marijuana, LSD, ecstasy, mushrooms, cocaine and other drugs. Musk at first refused to comment on his alleged drug use, before responding that he had not tested positive for drugs, and that if drugs somehow improved his productivity, "I would definitely take them!".Multiple sources:

• {{Cite web |date=2018 |title=Elon Musk smokes marijuana live on web show |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-45445554 |website=BBC}}
• {{Cite web |date=2024 |title=Elon Musk's alleged drug use puts 13,000 jobs at risk, report suggests |url=https://www.euronews.com/business/2024/01/08/elon-musks-alleged-drug-use-puts-13000-jobs-at-risk-report-suggests |website=Euronews}}
• {{Cite web |last=Dang |first=Sheila |date=March 18, 2024 |title=Musk defends his ketamine use as beneficial for investors in new video |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/musk-defends-his-ketamine-use-beneficial-investors-new-video-2024-03-18/ |access-date=February 12, 2025 |website=Reuters}}
• {{Cite news |last1=Glazer |first1=Emily |last2=Grind |first2=Kirsten |author-link2=Kirsten Grind |title=Elon Musk Has Used Illegal Drugs, Worrying Leaders at Tesla and SpaceX |url=https://www.wsj.com/business/elon-musk-illegal-drugs-e826a9e1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240402183700/https://www.wsj.com/business/elon-musk-illegal-drugs-e826a9e1 |archive-date=April 2, 2024 |access-date=March 30, 2024 |work=The Wall Street Journal |language=en-US}}
• {{Cite news |author1=Kirsten Grind |author-link1=Kirsten Grind |author2=Emily Glazer |author3=Rebecca Elliott |author4=Coulter Jones |title=The Money and Drugs That Tie Elon Musk to Some Tesla Directors |url=https://www.wsj.com/tech/elon-musk-tesla-money-drugs-board-61af9ac4 |access-date=March 30, 2024 |work=The Wall Street Journal |language=en-US |archive-date=April 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240403182657/https://www.wsj.com/tech/elon-musk-tesla-money-drugs-board-61af9ac4 |url-status=live}}
• [https://www.wsj.com/podcasts/the-journal/money-drugs-elon-musk-and-tesla-board/ Money, Drugs, Elon Musk and Tesla's Board], The Wall Street Journal.
• [https://www.wsj.com/tech/elon-musk-criticizes-wsj-reporting-on-his-use-of-illegal-drugs-c268d0fb Elon Musk Criticizes WSJ Reporting on His Use of Illegal Drugs] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250212040049/https://www.wsj.com/tech/elon-musk-criticizes-wsj-reporting-on-his-use-of-illegal-drugs-c268d0fb}}, The Wall Street Journal.
• [https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/elon-musk-used-illegal-drugs-sparked-concerns-among-tesla-spacex-board-members-report-4815677 Elon Musk Used LSD, Cocaine; Gave Slurred Speech At SpaceX Event: Report] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241201173748/https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/elon-musk-used-illegal-drugs-sparked-concerns-among-tesla-spacex-board-members-report-4815677}}, NDTV.
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NH4_rcq4jgQ Elon Musk uses LSD, cocaine, ecstasy, mushrooms: WSJ] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240516011424/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NH4_rcq4jgQ}}, Bloomberg Television.

Through his own label Emo G Records, Musk released a rap track, "RIP Harambe", on SoundCloud in March 2019.{{cite news |last1=Arcand |first1=Rob |date=March 31, 2019 |title=Elon Musk Drops Surprise Rap Single 'RIP Harambe' |url=https://www.spin.com/2019/03/elon-musk-drops-rap-single-rip-harambe/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401021823/https://www.spin.com/2019/03/elon-musk-drops-rap-single-rip-harambe/ |archive-date=April 1, 2019 |access-date=April 1, 2019 |work=Spin}}{{Cite magazine |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |date=March 31, 2019 |title=Hear Elon Musk's Surprise Rap Song 'RIP Harambe' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/elon-musk-rap-song-rip-harambe-815813/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403213417/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/elon-musk-rap-song-rip-harambe-815813/ |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |access-date=July 9, 2024 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}{{cite news |last1=Fitzgerald |first1=Trent |date=March 31, 2019 |title=Elon Musk Randomly Shares Rap Song Dedicated to Harambe |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/news/2019/03/elon-musk-rap-song-harambe/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403145015/https://www.xxlmag.com/news/2019/03/elon-musk-rap-song-harambe/ |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |access-date=April 10, 2019 |work=XXL}} The following year, he released an EDM track, "Don't Doubt Ur Vibe", featuring his own lyrics and vocals.{{Cite news |last=Etherington |first=Darrell |title=Elon Musk just dropped an EDM track on SoundCloud |url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/01/31/elon-musk-just-dropped-an-edm-track-on-soundcloud/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426204232/https://techcrunch.com/2020/01/31/elon-musk-just-dropped-an-edm-track-on-soundcloud/ |archive-date=April 26, 2021 |access-date=February 3, 2020 |work=TechCrunch }}

Musk plays video games, which he stated has a "'restoring effect' that helps his 'mental calibration'".{{cite news |last1=Harwell |first1=Drew |title=Elon Musk rose to the top of video game charts. Now he has confessed to cheating. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/01/29/elon-musk-video-games-diablo-path-exile/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=February 4, 2025 |language=en |date=January 29, 2025}} Some games he plays include Quake, Diablo IV, Elden Ring, and Polytopia.{{Cite news |date=October 23, 2023 |title=Elon Musk's Intense Obsession With A Video Game Influenced His Business Strategies, Caused Fights In His Relationship And Served As A Reminder Every Move Matters |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/elon-musks-intense-obsession-video-171328115.html#:~:text=His%20latest%20biography%20explains%20his,the%20game's%20developer%20Felix%20Ekenstam. |website=Yahoo Finance |access-date=April 21, 2024 |archive-date=November 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231111201452/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/elon-musks-intense-obsession-video-171328115.html#:~:text=His%20latest%20biography%20explains%20his,the%20game's%20developer%20Felix%20Ekenstam. |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |date=August 11, 2018 |title=Elon Musk loves video games. Here are 10 of his favorites |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-favorite-video-games-2017-6 |website=Business Insider |access-date=April 21, 2024 |archive-date=February 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240218165802/https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-favorite-video-games-2017-6 |url-status=live}} Musk once claimed to be one of the world's top video game players but has since admitted to "account boosting", or cheating by hiring outside services to achieve top player rankings.{{Cite news |last1=Holmes |first1=Oliver |title=Elon Musk admits cheating at video games, chat transcript appears to show |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/22/elon-musk-admits-cheating-at-video-games-chat-transcript-appears-to-show |website=The Guardian |date=January 22, 2025}}{{Cite web |date=January 30, 2025 |title=Gamers Disgusted as Elon Musk Admits to Cheating at Video Games After Bragging About Being Top Player |url=https://futurism.com/gamers-disgusted-musk-cheats-diablo-path-exile |access-date=February 2, 2025 |website=Futurism}}{{cite web |last1=Gault |first1=Matthew |title=Elon Musk Admits to Paying People to Play Video Games for Him |url=https://gizmodo.com/elon-musk-admits-to-paying-people-to-play-video-games-for-him-2000552872 |website=gizmodo.com |date=January 21, 2025 |publisher=Gizmodo |access-date=26 March 2025}} Musk has justified the boosting by claiming that all top accounts do it so he has to as well to remain competitive.{{cite web |last1=Gach |first1=Ethan |title=Elon Musk Admits To Cheating In Path Of Exile 2 And Diablo 4 Amid Fake Gamer Controversy |url=https://kotaku.com/elon-musk-poe2-diablo-4-paid-boosting-fake-controversy-1851743670 |website=kotaku.com |date=January 21, 2025 |publisher=Kotaku |access-date=26 March 2025}}{{cite web |last1=Tan |first1=Eli |last2=Isaac |first2=Mike |title=Elon Musk, video game king? Well, maybe not |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/26/technology/elon-musk-video-games-diablo-path-of-exile.html |website=The New York Times |date=January 26, 2025 |access-date=26 March 2025}} In 2024 and 2025, Musk criticized the video game Assassin's Creed Shadows and its creator Ubisoft for "woke" content.{{cite web |last1=Randall |first1=Harvey |title=Ubisoft scores a legendary ratio against Elon Musk on his own platform—which hopefully marks a final end to all the Assassin's Creed Shadows' culture war nonsense |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/assassins-creed/ubisoft-scores-a-legendary-ratio-against-elon-musk-on-his-own-platform-which-hopefully-marks-a-final-end-to-all-the-assassins-creed-shadows-culture-war-nonsense/ |website=pcgamer.com |date=March 26, 2025 |publisher=PC Gamer}} Musk posted to X that "DEI kills art" and specified the inclusion of the historical figure Yasuke in the Assassin's Creed game as offensive; he also called the game "terrible". Ubisoft responded by saying that Musk's comments were "just feeding hatred" and that they were focused on producing a game not pushing politics.{{cite web |last1=Bošnjak |first1=Dominik |title=Ubisoft Responds to Elon Musk's Assassin's Creed Shadows Criticism |url=https://gamerant.com/assassins-creed-shadows-elon-musk-woke-criticism-ubisoft-response/ |website=gamerant.com |date=June 13, 2024 |publisher=Game Rant |access-date=26 March 2025}}{{cite web |last1=Bošnjak |first1=Dominik |title=Assassin's Creed Throws Shade at Elon Musk After Hasan Comments |url=https://gamerant.com/assassins-creed-shadows-elon-musk-burn-path-of-exile-hasan-comments/ |website=gamerant.com |date=March 26, 2025 |publisher=Game Rant |access-date=26 March 2025}}

{{Further|Musk family}}

File:President Trump Signs Executive Orders in the Oval Office, Feb. 11, 2025 (1080p 60fps H264-128kbit AAC).webm, February 2025]]

Musk has fathered at least fourteen children, one of whom died as an infant.{{cite magazine |last1=Wickman |first1=Kase |title=Elon Musk's 14 Children and Their Mothers (That We Know Of): A Handy Guide |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/story/all-elon-musk-children-and-mothers |magazine=Vanity Fair |date=March 5, 2025 }} The Wall Street Journal reported in 2025 that sources close to Musk suggest that the "true number of Musk's children is much higher than publicly known".{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/politics/elon-musk-children-mothers-ashley-st-clair-grimes-dc7ba05c|title=The Tactics Elon Musk Uses to Manage His 'Legion' of Babies—and Their Mothers|publisher=The Wall Street Journal|last=Mattioli|first=Dana|date=16 April 2025|access-date=16 April 2025|language=en}} He had six children with his first wife, Canadian author Justine Wilson, who he met while attending Queen's University in Ontario, Canada; they married in 2000.{{cite news |last=Durand Streisand |first=Elizabeth |title=A Look at Elon Musk's Rocky Romantic History |url=https://www.yahoo.com/celebrity/blogs/celeb-news/elon-musk-love-life-romantic-history-171340935.html |work=Yahoo |access-date=May 29, 2017 |archive-date=June 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602025744/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/blogs/celeb-news/elon-musk-love-life-romantic-history-171340935.html}} In 2002, their first child Nevada Musk died of sudden infant death syndrome at the age of 10 weeks.Vance (2017), p. 117. After his death, the couple used in vitro fertilization (IVF) to continue their family;{{cite news |last=Crowley |first=James |date=September 14, 2021 |title=Elon Musk's Kids: Meet His 6 Kids From Oldest To Youngest, & Their Moms |url=https://hollywoodlife.com/feature/elon-musk-kids-4516506/ |work=Hollywood Life |access-date=September 16, 2021 |archive-date=September 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916014406/https://hollywoodlife.com/feature/elon-musk-kids-4516506/ |url-status=live}} they had twins in 2004, followed by triplets in 2006. The couple divorced in 2008 and have shared custody of their children.{{cite news |last=Musk |first=Justine |date=September 10, 2010 |title="I Was a Starter Wife": Inside America's Messiest Divorce |url=https://www.marieclaire.com/sex-love/a5380/millionaire-starter-wife/ |work=Marie Claire |access-date=September 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730172806/https://www.marieclaire.com/sex-love/a5380/millionaire-starter-wife/ |archive-date=July 30, 2020}}{{cite news |date=April 27, 2015 |title=Elon Musk's Ex-Wife on What It Takes to Be a Mogul |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/28/business/dealbook/insider-offers-a-view-from-moguls-lofty-heights.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=June 26, 2022 |archive-date=June 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626164639/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/28/business/dealbook/insider-offers-a-view-from-moguls-lofty-heights.html |url-status=live}} The elder twin he had with Wilson came out as a trans woman and, in 2022, officially changed her name to Vivian Jenna Wilson,{{Cite news |date=June 23, 2022 |title=Elon Musk's daughter granted legal name, gender change |url=https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-entertainment-gender-identity-santa-monica-eb64ed75c5e8228ca3cae8e1d836e93d |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626091711/https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-entertainment-gender-identity-santa-monica-eb64ed75c5e8228ca3cae8e1d836e93d |archive-date=June 26, 2022 |access-date=October 7, 2022 |publisher=Associated Press}} adopting her mother's surname because she no longer wished to be associated with Musk.

Musk began dating English actress Talulah Riley in 2008.Vance (2017), pp. 193–195. They married two years later at Dornoch Cathedral in Scotland.{{Cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=March 21, 2016 |title=Actor Talulah Riley files to divorce billionaire Elon Musk, again |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/mar/21/elon-musk-talulah-riley-file-divorce-second-marriage |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=April 20, 2016 |archive-date=June 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616231332/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/mar/21/elon-musk-talulah-riley-file-divorce-second-marriage |url-status=live}}{{cite news |first=Alan |last=Boyle |date=January 18, 2012 |title=SpaceX's millionaire founder tweets about marital split |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/science/spacexs-millionaire-founder-tweets-about-marital-split-6C10402497 |publisher=NBC News |access-date=September 28, 2013 |archive-date=July 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701212028/https://www.nbcnews.com/science/spacexs-millionaire-founder-tweets-about-marital-split-6C10402497 |url-status=live}} In 2012, the couple divorced, before remarrying the following year. After briefly filing for divorce in 2014,{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/22/elon-musk-and-talulah-riley-divorce-for-a-second-time/ |title=Elon Musk and Talulah Riley divorce for a second time |date=October 22, 2016 |work=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=June 29, 2018 |archive-date=June 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630004337/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/22/elon-musk-and-talulah-riley-divorce-for-a-second-time/ |url-status=live}} Musk finalized a second divorce from Riley in 2016.Vance (2017), p. 372. Musk then dated Amber Heard for several months in 2017;{{cite news |last=Jensen |first=Erin |date=April 24, 2017 |title=Amber Heard, Elon Musk make 'Cheeky' public debut together |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2017/04/24/amber-heard-elon-musk-dating-public-debut-instagram-posts/100834568/ |access-date=January 28, 2021 |archive-date=January 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130231024/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2017/04/24/amber-heard-elon-musk-dating-public-debut-instagram-posts/100834568/ |url-status=live}} he had reportedly been "pursuing" her since 2012.{{cite news |last=Sigel |first=Tatiana |date=December 6, 2018 |title=Amber Heard on Her Secret Passion, Elon Musk and a Splashy New Role |work=The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/amber-heard-aquaman-elon-musk-dedication-activism-1166004 |url-status=live |access-date=January 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206185106/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/amber-heard-aquaman-elon-musk-dedication-activism-1166004 |archive-date=December 6, 2018}}

In 2018, Musk and Canadian musician Grimes confirmed they were dating.{{cite news |first=Jordan |last=Darville |title=Grimes talks new music, Elon Musk, plans to publicly execute her musical persona |url=https://www.thefader.com/2019/03/20/grimes-interview-miss-anthropocene |work=The Fader |date=March 20, 2019 |access-date=December 13, 2020 |archive-date=October 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030070534/http://www.thefader.com/2019/03/20/grimes-interview-miss-anthropocene |url-status=live}} Grimes and Musk have three children, born in 2020, 2021, and 2022.{{cite news |last=Kiefer |first=Halle |title=Grimes and Elon Musk's Baby Has Arrived, Just As Legend Foretold |date=May 4, 2020 |url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/05/elon-musk-and-grimes-welcome-first-baby-together.html |work=Vulture |access-date=May 5, 2020 |url-access=limited |archive-date=May 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200505021026/https://www.vulture.com/2020/05/elon-musk-and-grimes-welcome-first-baby-together.html |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last=Trepany |first=Charles |title=Elon Musk shares first photo of his and Grimes' new baby boy: 'Mom and baby all good' |date=May 5, 2020 |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2020/05/05/elon-musk-grimes-welcome-baby/3082615001/ |work=USA Today |access-date=May 5, 2020 |archive-date=May 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529124947/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2020/05/05/elon-musk-grimes-welcome-baby/3082615001/ |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/elon-musk-third-child-grimes-name-techno-mechanicus-tau-b1106201.html |title=Elon Musk confirms third child with Grimes and shares newborn's unusual name |date=September 11, 2023 |last=Hines |first=Dominique |website=The Standard |access-date=February 13, 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-grimes-child-techno-mechanicus-tau-2023-9 |title=New Elon Musk biography says he has 3rd child with Grimes named Techno Mechanicus |author1=Katie Hawkinson |author2=Grace Dean |date=11 September 2023 |website=businessinsider.com}} Musk and Grimes originally gave their eldest child the name "X Æ A-12", which would have violated California regulations as it contained characters that are not in the modern English alphabet;{{cite news |last1=Schwedel |first1=Heather |title=What Does Elon Musk and Grimes' Baby Name Actually Mean? |url=https://slate.com/human-interest/2020/05/elon-musk-grimes-baby-name.html |access-date=May 5, 2020 |work=Slate |date=May 5, 2020 |archive-date=May 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200524150019/https://slate.com/human-interest/2020/05/elon-musk-grimes-baby-name.html |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last=Lerman |first=Rachel |date=May 8, 2020 |title=Elon Musk's baby name isn't just weird, it may be against California regulations |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/05/08/musk-grimes-baby-name/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=January 11, 2021 |archive-date=December 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201231225820/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/05/08/musk-grimes-baby-name/ |url-status=live}} the names registered on the birth certificate are "X" as a first name, "Æ A-Xii" as a middle name, and "Musk" as a last name.{{Cite news |title=Elon Musk and Grimes have changed their baby's name. A bit |first=Jack |last=Guy |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/25/entertainment/grimes-musk-baby-name-tweak-scli-intl/index.html |publisher=CNN |date=May 25, 2020 |access-date=May 25, 2020 |archive-date=May 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200525204407/https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/25/entertainment/grimes-musk-baby-name-tweak-scli-intl/index.html |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last=Cooper |first=Gael Fashingbauer |date=June 16, 2020 |title=Elon Musk and Grimes saved a surprise for son X Æ A-12's birth certificate |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/elon-musk-and-grimes-saved-a-surprise-for-son-x-ae-a-12s-birth-certificate/ |publisher=CNET |access-date=June 17, 2020 |archive-date=June 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617021513/https://www.cnet.com/news/elon-musk-and-grimes-saved-a-surprise-for-son-x-ae-a-12s-birth-certificate/ |url-status=live}} They received criticism for choosing a name perceived to be impractical and difficult to pronounce;{{Cite news |title=Elon Musk and Grimes' newborn name X Æ A-12 'fails at the basic job of being a name,' says author |url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-may-7-2020-1.5559171/elon-musk-and-grimes-newborn-name-x-%C3%A6-a-12-fails-at-the-basic-job-of-being-a-name-says-author-1.5559761 |access-date=August 12, 2024 |publisher=CBC Radio |archive-date=August 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812165748/https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-may-7-2020-1.5559171/elon-musk-and-grimes-newborn-name-x-%C3%A6-a-12-fails-at-the-basic-job-of-being-a-name-says-author-1.5559761 |url-status=live}} Musk has said the intended pronunciation is "X Ash A Twelve". Their second child was born via surrogacy.{{cite magazine |last=Gordon |first=Devin |date=March 10, 2022 |title="Infamy Is Kind Of Fun": Grimes on Music, Mars, and—Surprise!—Her Secret New Baby With Elon Musk |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2022/03/grimes-cover-story-on-music-and-mars |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521235459/https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2022/03/grimes-cover-story-on-music-and-mars |archive-date=May 21, 2022 |access-date=March 10, 2022 |magazine=Vanity Fair}} Despite the pregnancy, Musk confirmed reports that the couple were "semi-separated" in September 2021; in an interview with Time in December 2021, he said he was single.{{Cite news |last=Ivie |first=Devon |date=September 24, 2021 |title=Elon Musk and Grimes Took the Red Pill and Broke Up |url=https://www.vulture.com/2021/09/elon-musk-and-grimes-break-up-after-3-years-together.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924171854/https://www.vulture.com/2021/09/elon-musk-and-grimes-break-up-after-3-years-together.html |archive-date=September 24, 2021 |access-date=September 28, 2021 |work=Vulture}}{{Cite news |date=September 24, 2021 |title=Elon Musk says he and partner Grimes are semi-separated |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-58684724 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928064543/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-58684724 |archive-date=September 28, 2021 |access-date=September 28, 2021 |publisher=BBC News }} In October 2023, Grimes sued Musk over parental rights and custody of X Æ A-Xii.{{cite news |date=November 11, 2023 |title=Grimes Says Elon Musk Evaded Being Served With Child Custody Papers At Least 12 Times |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/grimes-says-elon-musk-evaded-being-served-with-child-custody-papers-at-least-12-times_n_654f920ce4b0c9f24660475c |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240217191409/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/grimes-says-elon-musk-evaded-being-served-with-child-custody-papers-at-least-12-times_n_654f920ce4b0c9f24660475c |archive-date=February 17, 2024 |access-date=April 21, 2024 |website=HuffPost}}{{cite web |date=December 7, 2023 |title=Elon Musk Drags Grimes' Tweets Into Increasingly Nasty Custody Battle |url=https://futurism.com/the-byte/elon-musk-grimes-tweets-custody |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231216111458/https://futurism.com/the-byte/elon-musk-grimes-tweets-custody |archive-date=December 16, 2023 |access-date=April 21, 2024 |publisher=Futurism}}{{Cite news |title=Musk Sued By Ex-Girlfriend Grimes Over Parental Rights: Report |url=https://www.ndtv.com/feature/elon-musk-sued-by-ex-girlfriend-grimes-over-parental-rights-report-4447991 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240311001659/https://www.ndtv.com/feature/elon-musk-sued-by-ex-girlfriend-grimes-over-parental-rights-report-4447991 |archive-date=March 11, 2024 |access-date=April 21, 2024 |publisher=NDTV}}

Musk also has four children with Shivon Zilis, director of operations and special projects at Neuralink: twins born via IVF in 2021, a child born in 2024 via surrogacy and a child born in 2025.{{Cite news |last=Ankel |first=Sophia |date=August 27, 2022 |title=Elon Musk and Neuralink exec had twins via IVF, no romance: report |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-neuralink-exec-twins-via-ivf-no-romance-report-2022-8 |access-date=July 9, 2024 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US |archive-date=July 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709140834/https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-neuralink-exec-twins-via-ivf-no-romance-report-2022-8 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Szalai |first1=Jennifer |date=September 9, 2023 |title=Elon Musk Wants to Save Humanity. The Only Problem: People. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/09/books/review/elon-musk-walter-isaacson.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230909163003/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/09/books/review/elon-musk-walter-isaacson.html |archive-date=September 9, 2023 |access-date=September 19, 2023 |work=The New York Times}}{{Cite web |date=June 24, 2024 |title=Who Is Shivon Zilis? Meet the Mother of 3 of Elon Musk's 12 Children |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1404242/who-is-shivon-zilis-meet-the-mother-of-3-of-elon-musks-12-children |access-date=July 9, 2024 |website=E! Online |archive-date=July 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709140834/https://www.eonline.com/news/1404242/who-is-shivon-zilis-meet-the-mother-of-3-of-elon-musks-12-children |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |last1=Alexander |first1=Sophie |last2=Hull |first2=Dana |date=June 21, 2024 |title=Elon Wants YOU to Have More Babies |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2024-elon-musk-population-collapse-baby-push/ |access-date=June 21, 2024 |publisher=Bloomberg News}}{{Cite web |title=Elon Musk Welcomes 14th Child, His Fourth Baby with Shivon Zilis |url=https://people.com/elon-musk-welcomes-14th-child-with-shivon-zilis-11688958 |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=People.com |language=en}} Musk allegedly had a child with author Ashley St. Clair in 2024.{{Cite web |title=Author Ashley St. Clair Says She Gave Birth to Elon Musk's 13th Child 5 Months Ago |url=https://people.com/elon-musk-welcomed-13th-child-5-months-ago-with-ashley-st-clair-11680525 |access-date=2025-03-28 |website=People.com |language=en}}

{{excerpt|Wealth of Elon Musk|only=paragraphs|paragraphs=1-4}}

{{Main|Musk Foundation}}

Musk is president of the Musk Foundation he founded in 2001,{{cite news |date=May 9, 2013 |title=Musk Foundation |url=https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/770587507 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210000223/https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/770587507 |archive-date=February 10, 2022 |work=ProPublica}}{{cite news |last=Carlson |first=Kara |date=December 13, 2022 |title=Mapping Musklandia: A guide to Elon Musk-related activity in the Austin area |url=https://www.statesman.com/story/business/technology/2022/12/12/elon-musk-austin-map-guide-twitter-tesla-spacex-boring-company/69614830007/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20221215142547/https://www.statesman.com/story/business/technology/2022/12/12/elon-musk-austin-map-guide-twitter-tesla-spacex-boring-company/69614830007/ |archive-date=December 15, 2022 |work=Austin American-Statesman |quote="Musk's private foundation was founded in 2001 and is focused on renewable energy, ..."}} whose stated purpose is to provide solar-power energy systems in disaster areas, with an interest in human space exploration, pediatrics, renewable energy, and "safe artificial intelligence".{{cite news |last=Harris |first=Mark |date=January 23, 2019 |title=How Elon Musk's secretive foundation hands out his billions |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/jan/23/how-elon-musks-secretive-foundation-benefits-his-own-family#img-1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728130757/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/jan/23/how-elon-musks-secretive-foundation-benefits-his-own-family |archive-date=July 28, 2020 |access-date=September 3, 2020 |work=The Guardian }} From 2002 to 2018, the foundation donated nearly half of its $25 million directly to Musk's OpenAI.{{cite news |last=Schleifer |first=Theodore |date=January 11, 2021 |title=The big decision before Elon Musk, now the richest person in the world |url=https://www.vox.com/recode/22221173/elon-musk-tesla-foundation-philanthropy-wealthiest-person |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217230456/https://www.vox.com/recode/22221173/elon-musk-tesla-foundation-philanthropy-wealthiest-person |archive-date=February 17, 2021 |access-date=February 17, 2021 |work=Vox}}{{cite web |date=March 11, 2019 |title=OpenAI shifts from nonprofit to 'capped-profit' to attract capital |url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/03/11/openai-shifts-from-nonprofit-to-capped-profit-to-attract-capital/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425163152/https://techcrunch.com/2019/03/11/openai-shifts-from-nonprofit-to-capped-profit-to-attract-capital/ |archive-date=April 25, 2021 |access-date=April 25, 2021}} The foundation's assets reached $9.4 billion by the end of 2021, but it only dispensed $160 million to charities that year.{{Cite news |last1=Fahrenthold |first1=David A. |last2=Mac |first2=Ryan |date=March 10, 2024 |title=Elon Musk Has a Giant Charity. Its Money Stays Close to Home. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/10/us/elon-musk-charity.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240310071427/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/10/us/elon-musk-charity.html |archive-date=March 10, 2024 |access-date=March 10, 2024 |work=The New York Times}}

The Musk Foundation has been criticized for its "self-serving" donations to efforts close to Musk's family and companies,{{Cite news |last=Harris |first=Mark |date=January 23, 2019 |title=How Elon Musk's secretive foundation hands out his billions |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/jan/23/how-elon-musks-secretive-foundation-benefits-his-own-family |access-date=February 25, 2025 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} as well as its low payout ratio.{{Cite news |last1=Fahrenthold |first1=David A. |last2=Schleifer |first2=Theodore |date=December 12, 2024 |title=Musk's Foundation Gave Away Less Money Than Required in 2023 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/12/us/politics/musk-foundation-taxes-donations.html |access-date=February 25, 2025 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} In 2021, after Musk challenged World Food Programme director David Beasley to draft a plan to use money of Musk's that Beasley said could contribute to ending world hunger,{{Cite web |last=Wattles |first=Jackie |date=November 18, 2021 |title=UN to Elon Musk: Here's that $6 billion plan to fight world hunger {{!}} CNN Business |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/18/tech/elon-musk-world-hunger-wfp-donation/index.html |access-date=February 25, 2025 |website=CNN |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Lu |first=Joanne |date=November 11, 2021 |title=How $6 billion from Elon Musk could feed millions on the brink of famine |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2021/11/11/1052719247/how-6-billion-from-elon-musk-could-feed-millions-on-the-brink-of-famine |access-date=February 25, 2025 |work=NPR |language=en}} Musk instead donated the $6 billion in question to his own foundation even after Beasley's plan showed that the money could feed 42 million people for a year.{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Amiah |title=Elon Musk gave a mysterious $5.7 billion donation weeks after he dared the UN to show him its plan for solving world hunger |url=https://fortune.com/2022/02/15/elon-musk-5-7-billion-donation-weeks-after-asking-un-world-hunger/ |access-date=February 25, 2025 |website=Fortune |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Zhang |first=Sharon |date=December 13, 2022 |title=Musk Pledged $6B to Solve World Hunger But Gave It to His Own Foundation Instead |url=https://truthout.org/articles/musk-pledged-6b-to-solve-world-hunger-but-gave-it-to-his-own-foundation-instead/ |access-date=February 21, 2025 |website=Truthout |language=en-US}}

{{Main|Public image of Elon Musk}}

Although his ventures have been highly influential within their separate industries starting in the 2000s, Musk only became a public figure in the early 2010s. He has been described as an eccentric who makes spontaneous and impactful decisions, while also often making controversial statements, contrary to other billionaires who prefer reclusiveness to protect their businesses. Musk's actions and his expressed views have made him a polarizing figure.{{Cite web |last=Ghaffary |first=Shirin |date=May 20, 2023 |title=Elon Musk won't stop tweeting his way into trouble |url=https://www.vox.com/technology/2023/5/20/23730607/elon-musk-conspiracy-twitter-texas-shooting-bellingcat-taylor-lorenz-psyops |access-date=October 28, 2023 |website=Vox |language=en |archive-date=October 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027100923/https://www.vox.com/technology/2023/5/20/23730607/elon-musk-conspiracy-twitter-texas-shooting-bellingcat-taylor-lorenz-psyops |url-status=live}} Biographer Ashlee Vance described people's opinions of Musk as polarized due to his "part philosopher, part troll" persona on Twitter.{{Cite news |last1=Maloy |first1=Ashley Fetters |last2=Tiku |first2=Nitasha |date=July 16, 2022 |title=How Elon Musk became a new kind of celebrity |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2022/07/16/elon-musk-twitter-celebrity/ |access-date=February 4, 2023 |archive-date=February 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223072115/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2022/07/16/elon-musk-twitter-celebrity/ |url-status=live}}

Musk has been described as an American oligarch due to his extensive influence over public discourse, social media, industry, politics, and government policy.{{multiref2|1={{Cite news |last=Reynolds |first=Maura |date=October 28, 2024 |title='Everything Is Subservient to the Big Guy': Fiona Hill on Trump and America's Emerging Oligarchy |url=https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/10/28/fiona-hill-explains-trump-musk-putin-00185820 |access-date=November 30, 2024 |website=Politico}}|2={{Cite news |date=September 7, 2024 |title=Donald Trump could turn Elon Musk into an American oligarch |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/09/07/trump-elon-musk-government-position-00177845 |access-date=November 30, 2024 |website=Politico}}|3={{Cite news |last=Borger |first=Julian |date=October 25, 2024 |title=Elon Musk has been in regular contact with Putin for two years, says report |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/oct/25/elon-musk-has-been-in-regular-contact-with-putin-for-two-years-say-reports |access-date=November 30, 2024 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077}}|4={{Cite news |last=Krugman |first=Paul |date=December 19, 2022 |title=Why Petulant Oligarchs Rule Our World |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/19/opinion/columnists/elon-musk-twitter-oligarchs.html?smid=url-share |access-date=November 29, 2024 |work=The New York Times}}|5={{Cite news |first=Whizy |last=Kim |date=November 25, 2024 |title=Elon Musk and the age of shameless oligarchy |url=https://www.vox.com/money/387348/elon-musk-trump-president-billionaire-oligarchy |access-date=November 29, 2024 |work=Vox}}}} After Trump's re-election, Musk's influence and actions during the transition period and the second presidency of Donald Trump led some to call him "President Musk", the "actual president-elect", "shadow president" or "co-president".{{Cite news |last1=Parker |first1=Ashley |last2=Dawsey |first2=Josh |last3=Scherer |first3=Michael |date=November 13, 2024 |title=Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, becomes Donald Trump's 'first buddy' |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/11/13/elon-musk-trump-presidential-transition/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=December 19, 2024 |quote=Now, during the transition, Musk has emerged somewhere between unofficial co-president and "first buddy", as he put it in an X posting — bounding in and out of meetings, sitting in on phone calls, weighing résumés and generally becoming as ubiquitous at Mar-a-Lago as the club's gilded inlay. |issn=0190-8286}}{{Cite news |last=Metzger |first=Bryan |date=December 19, 2024 |title=Trump team makes clear Elon Musk isn't the leader of the GOP |work=Business Insider |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-team-says-elon-musk-is-not-actually-in-charge-2024-12 |url-access=subscription |access-date= |quote=It came after scores of Democrats baited Trump with social media posts accusing Musk of being the actual president-elect, the "shadow president", "President Musk" or the "co-president".}}

{{Main|List of awards and honors received by Elon Musk}}

File:Conectividade e Proteção da Amazônia com Elon Musk - 52089866211.png from the Brazilian Armed Forces in 2022{{Cite news |last=Costa |first=Mariana |date=May 20, 2022 |title=Musk recebe de Bolsonaro a medalha de Ordem do Mérito da Defesa |language=pt-BR |trans-title=Musk receives the Order of Defense Merit medal from Bolsonaro |work=Metrópoles |url=https://www.metropoles.com/brasil/musk-recebe-de-bolsonaro-a-medalha-de-ordem-do-merito-da-defesa |access-date=November 4, 2022 |archive-date=February 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205115416/https://www.metropoles.com/brasil/musk-recebe-de-bolsonaro-a-medalha-de-ordem-do-merito-da-defesa |url-status=live}}]]

Awards for his contributions to the development of the Falcon rockets include the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics George Low Transportation Award in 2008,{{cite web |title=George M. Low Space Transportation Award |url=https://www.aiaa.org/get-involved/honors-awards/awards/award-george-m-low-space-transportation-award |access-date=August 14, 2021 |publisher=American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics |archive-date=August 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814194408/https://www.aiaa.org/get-involved/honors-awards/awards/award-george-m-low-space-transportation-award |url-status=live}} the {{lang|fr|Fédération Aéronautique Internationale|italic=no}} Gold Space Medal in 2010,{{cite web |url=https://www.fai.org/news/barron-hilton-and-elon-musk-honoured-highest-fai-awards |title=Barron Hilton and Elon Musk honoured with the highest FAI awards |publisher=Fédération Aéronautique Internationale |date=December 16, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419204916/http://www.fai.org/envc-awards/envc-news-awards/35094-barron-hilton-and-elon-musk-honoured-with-the-highest-awards |archive-date=April 19, 2015 |url-status=live}} and the Royal Aeronautical Society Gold Medal in 2012.{{cite web |title=2012 RAeS Gold Medal |url=http://media.aerosociety.com/aerospace-insight/2012/11/23/video-elon-musk-interview/7553 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121128025956/http://media.aerosociety.com/aerospace-insight/2012/11/23/video-elon-musk-interview/7553/ |archive-date=November 28, 2012}} In 2015, he received an honorary doctorate in engineering and technology from Yale University{{cite web |url=https://seas.yale.edu/news-events/news/seas-celebrates-class-2015-honors-innovators-elon-musk-and-dean-kamen |title=SEAS Celebrates Class of 2015, Honors Innovators Elon Musk and Dean Kamen |publisher=Yale School of Engineering & Applied Science |date=May 18, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150520024948/http://seas.yale.edu/news-events/news/seas-celebrates-class-2015-honors-innovators-elon-musk-and-dean-kamen |archive-date=May 20, 2015}} and an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Honorary Membership.{{cite web |url=https://www.ieee.org/content/dam/ieee-org/ieee/web/org/about/awards/recipients/hon_mem_rl.pdf |title=IEEE Honorary Membership Recipients |publisher=Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629021316/http://www.ieee.org/documents/hon_mem_rl.pdf |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |url-status=dead}} Musk was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 2018.{{cite news |date=May 9, 2018 |title=Elon Musk elected as Fellow of the Royal Society |url=https://news.sky.com/story/elon-musk-elected-as-fellow-of-the-royal-society-11365298 |publisher=Sky News |access-date=February 28, 2021 |archive-date=January 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104135155/https://news.sky.com/story/elon-musk-elected-as-fellow-of-the-royal-society-11365298 |url-status=live}}{{efn|In 2024, Musk's Royal Society membership was criticized by 74 members over his alleged anti-scientific behavior and promotion of misinformation, prompting debates about the society's standards on membership and leading to the resignation of Dorothy Bishop, a neuropsychologist at the University of Oxford, who cited her dissatisfaction with the Society's response.{{Cite news |title=Elon Musk is causing problems for the Royal Society |url=https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2024/11/28/elon-musk-is-causing-problems-for-the-royal-society |access-date=December 1, 2024 |newspaper=The Economist |issn=0013-0613}}}} In 2022, Musk was elected to the National Academy of Engineering.{{cite web |title=For breakthroughs in the design, engineering, manufacturing, and operation of reusable launch vehicles and sustainable transportation and energy systems. |url=https://www.nae.edu/271501.aspx |publisher=National Academy of Engineering |date=February 9, 2022 |access-date=March 25, 2022 |archive-date=March 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325232302/https://www.nae.edu/271501.aspx |url-status=live}}

Time has listed Musk as one of the most influential people in the world in 2010,{{cite magazine |last=Favreau |first=Jon |date=April 29, 2010 |title=Elon Musk |url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1984685_1984745_1985495,00.html |magazine=Time |access-date=February 28, 2021 |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112035646/http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1984685_1984745_1985495,00.html |url-status=live}} 2013,{{cite magazine |last=Branson |first=Richard |date=April 18, 2013 |title=Elon Musk |url=https://time100.time.com/2013/04/18/time-100/slide/elon-musk/ |magazine=Time |access-date=February 28, 2021 |archive-date=February 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212203010/https://time100.time.com/2013/04/18/time-100/slide/elon-musk/ |url-status=live}} 2018,{{cite magazine |last=Milner |first=Yuri |title=Elon Musk |url=https://time.com/collection/most-influential-people-2018/5217614/elon-musk/ |magazine=Time |access-date=February 28, 2021 |archive-date=January 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103222113/https://time.com/collection/most-influential-people-2018/5217614/elon-musk/ |url-status=live}} and 2021.{{Cite magazine |title=Elon Musk: The 100 Most Influential People of 2021 |url=https://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people-2021/6095970/elon-musk-innovators/ |access-date=September 21, 2021 |magazine=Time |archive-date=May 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530144543/https://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people-2021/6095970/elon-musk-innovators/ |url-status=live}} Musk was selected as Time{{'}}s "Person of the Year" for 2021. Then Time editor-in-chief Edward Felsenthal wrote that, "Person of the Year is a marker of influence, and few individuals have had more influence than Musk on life on Earth, and potentially life off Earth too."{{cite news |last=Flynn |first=Kerry |date=December 13, 2021 |title=Time Person of the Year: Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, named most influential of 2021 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/12/13/media/slug-time-person-year-elon-musk/index.html |publisher=CNN |access-date=December 13, 2021 |archive-date=December 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211213131207/https://edition.cnn.com/2021/12/13/media/slug-time-person-year-elon-musk/index.html |url-status=live}}{{cite magazine |last=Felsenthal |first=Edward |author-link=Edward Felsenthal |date=December 13, 2021 |title=Time 2021 The choice Elon Musk |url=https://time.com/person-of-the-year-2021-elon-musk-choice/ |magazine=Time |access-date=December 13, 2021 |archive-date=December 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211213124509/https://time.com/person-of-the-year-2021-elon-musk-choice/ |url-status=live}}

{{See also|Elon Musk filmography}}

Musk was a partial inspiration for the characterization of Tony Stark in the Marvel film Iron Man (2008).{{cite news |last=Langman |first=Brady |date=August 11, 2022 |title=You're Going to Have Feelings About Tony Stark's Biggest Real-World Inspiration |url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a40871355/tony-stark-iron-man-elon-musk/ |work=Esquire |access-date=November 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101153058/https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a40871355/tony-stark-iron-man-elon-musk/ |archive-date=November 1, 2022 |url-status=live}} Musk also had a cameo appearance in the film's 2010 sequel, Iron Man 2.{{cite magazine |last1=Tate |first1=Ryan |date=September 20, 2012 |title=10 Awkward Hollywood Cameos by Tech Founders |url=https://www.wired.com/2012/09/founders-awkward-hollywood-cameos/ |magazine=Wired |access-date=December 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201034116/https://www.wired.com/2012/09/founders-awkward-hollywood-cameos/ |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |url-status=live}} Other films that he has made cameos and appearances include Machete Kills (2013),{{cite news |last=Wurzburger |first=Andrea |title=Ahead Elon Musk's Acting Cameos Through the Years |url=https://people.com/tv/elon-musk-snl-acting-cameos/?slide=8faa5caf-b18a-43c8-9982-e12a37846603#8faa5caf-b18a-43c8-9982-e12a37846603 |access-date=April 27, 2022 |work=People |date=May 8, 2021 |archive-date=April 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220427020829/https://people.com/tv/elon-musk-snl-acting-cameos/?slide=8faa5caf-b18a-43c8-9982-e12a37846603#8faa5caf-b18a-43c8-9982-e12a37846603 |url-status=live}} Why Him? (2016),{{cite news |title='Why Him?' Director on Elon Musk's Amazing 'I Can't Come to Work Today' Excuse |first=Dan |last=Bova |date=December 21, 2016 |work=Entrepreneur |url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/video/286858 |access-date=January 29, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200826161409/https://www.entrepreneur.com/video/286858 |archive-date=August 26, 2020}} and Men in Black: International (2019).{{cite news |last=Alexander |first=Bryan |date=June 17, 2019 |title=Which celebrities are revealed as space aliens in 'Men in Black: International'? (spoilers) |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2019/06/17/men-black-international-reveals-celebrity-aliens-spoilers/1459811001/ |access-date=January 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205152713/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2019/06/17/men-black-international-reveals-celebrity-aliens-spoilers/1459811001/ |archive-date=February 5, 2021 |url-status=live}} Television series in which he has appeared include The Simpsons ("The Musk Who Fell to Earth", 2015),{{cite news |last=Cain |first=Sian |date=April 26, 2022 |title=From The Simpsons to Iron Man: Elon Musk's Twitter takeover is just his latest desperate bid for celebrity |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2022/apr/26/elon-musks-twitter-takeover-is-just-his-latest-desperate-bid-for-celebrity |work=The Guardian |access-date=June 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615190636/https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2022/apr/26/elon-musks-twitter-takeover-is-just-his-latest-desperate-bid-for-celebrity |archive-date=June 15, 2022 |url-status=live}} The Big Bang Theory ("The Platonic Permutation", 2015),{{cite news |title=Tesla CEO Elon Musk To Appear on Upcoming Episode of the Big Bang Theory |publisher=CBS |url=http://www.cbs.com/shows/big_bang_theory/news/1004869/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-to-appear-on-upcoming-episode-of-the-big-bang-theory/ |access-date=December 4, 2015 |archive-date=February 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223001910/http://www.cbs.com/shows/big_bang_theory/news/1004869/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-to-appear-on-upcoming-episode-of-the-big-bang-theory/ |url-status=live}} South Park ("Members Only", 2016),{{cite news |last=Hansen |first=Louis |work=The Denver Post |date=November 25, 2016 |title=Elon Musk uses 'South Park' to fire back at trolls |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2016/11/25/elon-musk-south-park/ |access-date=August 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702010155/https://www.denverpost.com/2016/11/25/elon-musk-south-park/ |archive-date=July 2, 2019 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last=Kurp |first=Josh |date=November 18, 2016 |title=Elon Musk Joins The Short List Of 'South Park' Guest Stars To Voice Themselves |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/elon-musk-joins-short-list-165033463.html |work=Yahoo News |access-date=August 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119144158/https://www.yahoo.com/news/elon-musk-joins-short-list-165033463.html |archive-date=November 19, 2016 |url-status=live}} Young Sheldon ("A Patch, a Modem, and a Zantac®", 2017),{{Cite web |last=Dayani |first=Aahil |date=April 1, 2022 |title=The Young Sheldon Episode You Likely Forgot Starred Elon Musk |url=https://www.looper.com/818734/the-young-sheldon-episode-you-likely-forgot-starred-elon-musk/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520152447/https://www.looper.com/818734/the-young-sheldon-episode-you-likely-forgot-starred-elon-musk/ |archive-date=May 20, 2024 |access-date=February 25, 2025 |website=Looper}} Rick and Morty ("One Crew over the Crewcoo's Morty", 2019).{{cite news |last=Schedeen |first=Jesse |date=November 25, 2019 |title=Elon Musk's Rick and Morty Cameo Finally Explains His 'Elon Tusk' Twitter Joke |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/11/25/elon-musk-rick-and-morty-cameo-elon-tusk |work=IGN |access-date=November 25, 2019 |archive-date=January 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131050424/https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/11/25/elon-musk-rick-and-morty-cameo-elon-tusk}}{{cite news |last=Cooper |first=Gael Fashingbauer |date=November 25, 2019 |title=Elon Musk shows up on Rick and Morty as Elon Tusk, head of Tuskla |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/elon-musk-shows-up-on-rick-and-morty-as-elon-tusk-head-of-tuskla/ |publisher=CNET |access-date=August 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200821033512/https://www.cnet.com/news/elon-musk-shows-up-on-rick-and-morty-as-elon-tusk-head-of-tuskla/ |archive-date=August 21, 2020}} He contributed interviews to the documentaries Racing Extinction (2015) and Lo and Behold (2016).{{cite news |last=Field |first=Kyle |title=Tesla Stars In 'Racing Extinction' Documentary |date=December 2, 2015 |url=http://cleantechnica.com/2015/12/02/tesla-stars-racing-extinction-documentary/ |work=CleanTechnica |access-date=July 11, 2016 |archive-date=August 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824201304/https://cleantechnica.com/2015/12/02/tesla-stars-racing-extinction-documentary/}}{{cite news |last=Ladan |first=Tanja M. |date=August 24, 2016 |work=Vice |title=Werner Herzog Hacks the Horrors of Connectivity in 'Lo and Behold' |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/werner-herzog-lo-and-behold-documentary/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204205058/https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/nz4p58/werner-herzog-lo-and-behold-documentary |archive-date=February 4, 2020 |url-status=live |access-date=September 4, 2020}}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

{{refbegin|30em}}

• {{Cite book |last=Belfiore |first=Michael |author-link=Michael Belfiore |date=2007 |title=Rocketeers |location=New York |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=978-0-06-114902-3 |ref=Belfiore}}
• {{Cite book |last=Berger |first=Eric |author-link=Eric Berger (journalist) |year=2021 |title=Liftoff |publisher=William Morrow and Company |isbn=978-0-06-297997-1}}
• {{cite book |last=Isaacson |first=Walter |author-link=Walter Isaacson |date=2023 |title=Elon Musk |location=New York |publisher=Simon & Schuster |isbn=978-1-9821-8128-4 |oclc=1395888338 |ref=Isaacson}}
• {{Cite book |last=Jackson |first=Eric M. |author-link=Eric M. Jackson |year=2004 |title=The PayPal Wars: Battles with eBay, the Media, the Mafia, and the Rest of Planet Earth |location=Los Angeles, California |publisher=World Ahead Publishing |isbn=978-0-9746701-0-2 |ref=Jackson}}
• {{Cite book |last1=Kidder |first1=David |last2=Hoffman |first2=Reid |author-link2=Reid Hoffman |year=2013 |title=The Startup Playbook: Secrets of the Fastest Growing Start-Ups from the founding Entrepreneurs |location=San Francisco, California |publisher=Chronicle Books |isbn=978-1-4521-0504-8 |ref=Kidder}}
• {{Cite book |last=Vance |first=Ashlee |author-link=Ashlee Vance |year=2017 |orig-date=2015 |title=Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future |edition=2nd |location=New York |publisher=Ecco |isbn=978-0-06-230125-3 |ref=Vance}}

{{refend}}

• {{Cite book |last1=Conger |first1=Kate |author1-link=Kate Conger |last2=Mac |first2=Ryan |author2-link=Ryan Mac |year=2024 |title=Character Limit: How Elon Musk Destroyed Twitter |title-link=Character Limit: How Elon Musk Destroyed Twitter |edition=1st hardcover |location=New York |publisher=Penguin Press |isbn=978-0593656136 |oclc=1432234243}}
• {{Cite magazine |last=Farrow |first=Ronan |author-link=Ronan Farrow |date=August 28, 2023 |orig-date=August 21, 2023 (online) |title=Elon Musk's Shadow Rule |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/08/28/elon-musks-shadow-rule |department=A Reporter at Large (story series) |magazine=The New Yorker |access-date=August 25, 2023}}
• Tarnoff, Ben, [https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2024/01/18/ultra-hardcore-elon-musk-walter-isaacson/ "Ultra Hardcore"] {{subscription required}} (review of Walter Isaacson, Elon Musk, Simon and Schuster, 2023, 670 pp.), The New York Review of Books, vol. LXXI, no. 1 (January 18, 2024), pp. 6, 8, 10. "There is an anti-modern impulse to Musk, a craving for lordship that can't be entirely satisfied within the confines of a capitalist economy. A king doesn't have advertisers or shareholders or customers, and Musk, if he continues on his current trajectory, may very well be abandoned by all three. Aristotle says a good ending should be surprising but inevitable. It's possible to imagine multiple finales for Musk that meet these criteria, but the story always begins the same way. Once upon a time in Pretoria, there was a boy who wanted to be a man." (p. 10.)

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