You only know Elon Musk as the richest man in the world through Tesla and Space X. What’s more surprising is that he owns 7 companies and the growth rate of these companies is amazing.
Elon Musk is a name that’s become synonymous with innovation, controversy, and, occasionally, being the richest person on the planet. From shaking up online payments to launching rockets and dabbling in artificial intelligence, Musk’s journey is a wild ride of visionary ideas, dramatic boardroom battles, and headline-making decisions. While he’s left behind several ventures—like PayPal, Zip2, SolarCity, and OpenAI—he currently holds major stakes in seven remarkable companies. Let’s dive into the Musk empire.
1. Tesla
When most people think of Elon Musk, they think of Tesla—the electric car giant that’s redefining transportation. Interestingly, Musk didn’t found Tesla; he joined as an early investor and later took the reins as CEO in 2008, ousting the original founders. Today, Tesla offers a range of vehicles: the sporty Model S, affordable Model 3, versatile Model Y, luxury Model X, and the bold Cybertruck. Tesla’s ambitions go beyond cars, with ventures into robotics, solar energy, and EV charging, raking in $15 billion in 2023 alone. And yes, Musk once tried to sell Tesla to Apple—imagine how different things could have been!
2. X (formerly Twitter)
Musk’s takeover of Twitter was nothing short of dramatic. After offering $44 billion and nearly backing out, a Delaware court forced him to seal the deal. Musk quickly made his mark—firing the board, slashing remote work, and turning the iconic blue checkmark into a subscription service. These moves polarized users and sent X’s valuation tumbling by over 70%. Yet, Musk remains undeterred, steering the platform into new territory with features like long-form posts and AI integration.
3. xAI
Launched in 2023, xAI is Musk’s enigmatic artificial intelligence venture, headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area. Its mission? To “understand the true nature of the universe”—a typically Muskian ambition. In early 2025, Musk orchestrated a headline-grabbing all-stock merger, selling X to xAI at an $80 billion valuation. Critics speculate xAI was created mainly to facilitate this deal, but Musk’s play has kept him ahead, with xAI now valued at $33 billion.
4. SpaceX
SpaceX is Musk’s interplanetary dream machine. With reusable rockets, satellite launches, and the Starlink internet constellation, SpaceX is pushing humanity closer to Mars. The company’s Falcon 9 rocket is a testament to Musk’s relentless drive for innovation. Today, SpaceX not only launches astronauts and supplies to the International Space Station but also controls a major share of the global commercial spaceflight market. Musk personally owns 54% of SpaceX’s equity, but his voting power is even greater, giving him near-total control.
5. The Boring Company
Founded in 2017, The Boring Company aims to revolutionize urban transportation by moving traffic underground. Its most famous stunt? Shooting a Tesla Model X through a tunnel beneath Los Angeles. While the company’s “Loop” concept and hyperloop projects have generated buzz (and skepticism), TBC’s mission remains bold: solve traffic and beautify cities. Valued at $7 billion in 2023, The Boring Company is still searching for scalable solutions, but Musk’s vision keeps it in the spotlight.
6. The Musk Foundation
Philanthropy, Musk-style, comes via The Musk Foundation, established in 2002 with his brother Kimbal. Despite having no employees and facing scrutiny over donations to Musk’s own ventures, the foundation has distributed over $257 million (as of 2022). Musk’s strategic donations—often in the form of Tesla shares—have saved him billions in taxes, though the foundation’s missed donation quotas have drawn IRS attention.
7. Neuralink
Perhaps Musk’s most futuristic company, Neuralink, is developing brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) that could one day allow humans to control devices with their minds. The N1 prototype, implanted in the skull, reads neural signals and has already begun human trials. While the technology is still in its infancy, Neuralink’s potential to help people with neurological conditions is immense—and its ethical implications are being hotly debated.
Conclusion
Elon Musk’s business empire is a testament to his relentless pursuit of the extraordinary. Whether he’s building electric cars, launching rockets, or connecting brains to computers, Musk continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible—often stirring up controversy along the way. For now, these seven companies form the core of his ever-evolving legacy. But if history is any guide, the only certainty is change.