Elon Musk often grabs headlines for his bold ideas and, at times, his controversial public presence. The media coverage focusing on his political opinions or eccentric behavior can sometimes overshadow the nuts-and-bolts work he does day in and day out. That might leave you wondering: Which companies is Elon Musk actually involved in, and what does he do there? In this article, we’ll take a clearer look at the major enterprises he has founded, the ones he owns, and the roles he plays within them.
Musk’s entrepreneurial journey began nearly three decades ago when he launched his first startup, Zip2, back in 1995. Since then, he’s built a sprawling business network that touches nearly every corner of modern innovation—from sending rockets into space, to accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles, to pioneering advances in artificial intelligence.
And, as if he hasn’t already worn enough hats, in 2025 he’s slated to take on a new role in the Trump administration, heading up the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This unexpected pivot will likely spark fresh debate about his influence on technology, policy, and society at large.
What Has Musk Founded?
Over the years, Musk has had a hand in creating eight major companies:
- Zip2 (1995): Musk’s first venture was an online business directory. Compaq eventually purchased Zip2 in 1999, giving Musk his initial financial springboard.
- PayPal (1999): Musk served as a cofounder and CEO of what would become one of the world’s most recognizable online payment systems. Though he left in 2000, PayPal remains a fixture in global e-commerce.
- SpaceX (2002): With SpaceX, Musk set out to revolutionize space exploration. The company’s pioneering reusable rockets, Starlink satellite network, and missions to the International Space Station are all steps toward Musk’s ultimate dream: enabling humans to become a multi-planetary species, starting with Mars.
- Tesla, Inc. (2004): Although Musk wasn’t Tesla’s original founder, he joined early and became a driving force as the company set its sights on making electric vehicles both cool and practical. Today, Tesla leads the charge in EV technology and clean energy solutions. Interestingly, the company’s name pays homage to Nikola Tesla, the brilliant inventor who championed alternating current electricity.
- OpenAI (2015): Musk joined a team of notable tech innovators—including Sam Altman and Reid Hoffman—to found OpenAI, aiming to ensure that artificial intelligence benefits everyone. Although Musk later stepped away from direct involvement, OpenAI has since created widely acclaimed AI models, including the GPT series.
- Neuralink (2016): Neuralink focuses on creating brain-machine interfaces. By integrating the human brain with AI, the goal is to treat neurological disorders and potentially enhance human capabilities.
- The Boring Company (2016): Spun out from a SpaceX subsidiary into its own entity in 2018, The Boring Company tries to solve traffic congestion through underground tunnels. The “boring” part? It’s quite literal—digging tunnels in the ground.
- xAI (2023): Musk’s latest AI enterprise, xAI, was established in tandem with the registration of X Corp. The company has already released the Grok AI chatbot models for X Premium subscribers.
What Does Musk Actually Own?
While Musk has founded or led multiple companies, his ownership varies:
- The Boring Company: Musk holds over 90% of it, making him its primary owner.
- X Corp. (formerly Twitter): Musk acquired Twitter in 2022 and later rebranded it to X. He owns about 79% of X Corp., giving him substantial influence over the platform’s direction.
- xAI: He reportedly owns about 54% of xAI, guiding its strategic vision in the AI landscape.
- SpaceX: Musk maintains 42% equity ownership and a commanding 79% voting control at SpaceX, allowing him to steer the company’s ambitious spacefaring goals.
- Neuralink: While Neuralink had multiple cofounders, Musk emerged as the main stakeholder, especially as most original founders moved on.
- Tesla, Inc.: Tesla is a publicly traded company, and Musk holds roughly 13–15% of its shares, making him the largest individual shareholder. This gives him significant but not sole control over Tesla’s future.
What Does Musk Run?
Ownership aside, Musk is hands-on in several companies, influencing both their high-level strategy and the nitty-gritty details:
- Tesla, Inc.: Serving as CEO and product architect since 2008, Musk guides everything from the design of new vehicles (like the Model 3 and Cybertruck) to advancements in solar energy solutions (Solar Roof, Powerwall).
- SpaceX: As CEO and chief engineer, Musk shapes the company’s mission design and engineering decisions—from the Falcon rockets to the Starship prototypes.
- The Boring Company: Though day-to-day management isn’t solely in Musk’s hands, he provides the vision for scaling up tunneling infrastructure and reducing urban congestion.
- X Corp.: With Linda Yaccarino as CEO, Musk now focuses on executive oversight and technology strategy, holding roles as executive chairman and CTO.
- xAI: Acting as CEO, Musk leads the team’s efforts to develop and deploy next-generation AI tools.
A Note on the Musk Foundation
Musk and his brother, Kimbal, run the Musk Foundation—a philanthropic endeavor rather than a company. Its grants focus on areas like renewable energy research, human space exploration, pediatric research, and more.
In short, Elon Musk’s influence reaches far beyond his public persona and flashy headlines. He’s intricately involved in shaping the future of transportation, energy, space travel, and AI. Whether you admire him, question his methods, or remain somewhere in between, understanding the breadth of his entrepreneurial ventures offers a more complete picture of the man behind the controversy.
