Tesla To xAI: Elon Musk's Tech Empire Making Him a Trillion-Dollar CEO
Elon Musk has secured the largest corporate pay package in history, a $1 trillion deal from Tesla. This milestone has made him the first "trillion-dollar CEO," with his personal net worth estimated at around $500 billion as of October 2025, according to Forbes. The $1 trillion pay exceeds the GDP of most countries.
Elon Musk's Business Ventures
Musk’s influence spans multiple industries beyond Tesla, including space exploration, artificial intelligence, neurotechnology, and social media. Below is an overview of some key companies associated with him, their origins, functions, and current valuations.
Tesla
Founded in 2003 by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning, Tesla focuses on electric vehicles, solar panels, and batteries for cars and home energy storage. The company is headquartered in Austin, Texas.
- In February 2004, Elon Musk led Tesla’s Series A funding, investing $6.5 million.
- He became chairman of the board and took on the roles of CEO and product architect in 2008.
- As of October 2025, Tesla's market capitalization is around $1.5 trillion.
SpaceX
Founded by Musk in 2002 and based in Hawthorne, California, SpaceX is an aerospace company specializing in rockets, spacecraft, and satellites, including the Starlink satellite network.
SpaceX is the first private company to send a spacecraft into space and safely return it to Earth.
Author’s Summary
Elon Musk's vast business empire spans industries from electric cars to space, solidifying his role as the first CEO with a $1 trillion compensation package.