Zip2 Corporation Founded
Elon Musk co-founded Zip2, a company that provided newspapers with maps and business directories. This was his first significant venture in the tech industry.
1995
1999
Sale of Zip2 and Founding of X.com
Compaq acquired Zip2 for nearly $300 million. Musk then founded X.com, an online payment company that later became PayPal.
2002
Founding of SpaceX
Musk founded Space Exploration Technologies Corp., or SpaceX, with the goal of reducing space transportation costs to enable the colonization of Mars.
2004
Joining Tesla Motors
Musk joined Tesla Motors, Inc. (now Tesla, Inc.) as chairman of its board of directors and later became CEO and product architect, significantly influencing the company's direction toward electric vehicles.
2006
Founding of SolarCity
Musk co-founded SolarCity, a solar energy services company, which later became a subsidiary of Tesla, Inc.
2008
First Successful Launch of Falcon 1
SpaceX's Falcon 1 became the first privately developed liquid-fueled rocket to reach orbit, marking a significant milestone for the company.
2010
Tesla's IPO
Tesla went public, becoming the first American car company to do so since Ford Motor Company in 1956. The IPO raised $226 million.
2012
Dragon Capsule Docks with ISS
SpaceX's Dragon capsule successfully docked with the International Space Station, making it the first commercial spacecraft to do so.
2015
Founding of OpenAI
Musk co-founded OpenAI, a research organization aimed at promoting and developing friendly AI to benefit humanity.
2016
Founding of Neuralink and The Boring Company
Musk co-founded Neuralink, a neurotechnology company focused on developing brain-computer interfaces, and also founded The Boring Company, which focuses on tunnel construction and infrastructure.
2018
Falcon Heavy's Maiden Flight
SpaceX successfully launched the Falcon Heavy, the most powerful operational rocket in the world, carrying Musk's Tesla Roadster into space.
2019
Starship Prototype Unveiled
SpaceX unveiled the Starship prototype, a fully reusable spacecraft designed for missions to Mars and beyond.
2020
Crew Dragon's First Manned Mission
SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft successfully carried NASA astronauts to the International Space Station, marking the first manned mission launched from U.S. soil since 2011.
2021
Tesla Becomes World's Most Valuable Car Company
Tesla's market capitalization surpassed $1 trillion, making it the world's most valuable car company.
2022
Acquisition of Twitter
Elon Musk acquired Twitter, Inc. for approximately $44 billion, taking the social media platform private.
2023
Starship's First Orbital Test Flight
SpaceX's Starship completed its first orbital test flight, a crucial step toward Musk's vision of interplanetary travel.
2024
Advancements in Neuralink
Neuralink achieved significant milestones in its brain-machine interface technology, moving closer to human trials.
