What are Elon Musk's companies? The empire that redefines global markets

When it comes to Elon Musk in 2025, it’s not just about a billionaire. It’s about an entrepreneur who manages a portfolio of businesses spanning from urban mobility to space exploration and artificial intelligence. The question “what are Elon Musk’s companies” may seem simple, but the answer reveals one of the most influential corporate empires on the planet.

Born in Pretoria, South Africa, in 1971, Elon Reeve Musk took an unconventional path. Son of a nutritionist and an electromechanical engineer, he developed a fascination with technology from a young age — by 12, he was creating his first programs. At 17, he left South Africa in search of opportunities, passing through Canada before settling in the USA. He graduated in Economics and Physics from the University of Pennsylvania, a combination that would explain his future ability to merge business with technological innovation.

The starting point: PayPal and X.com

Before building his empire, Musk needed initial capital. During the internet boom of the 1990s, he founded Zip2 (1995), an online maps and directories platform sold to Compaq for US$ 307 million in 1999. At 28, he became a millionaire.

Next, he created X.com, a digital payments startup that evolved into PayPal. In 2002, PayPal was acquired by eBay for US$ 1.5 billion. Musk exited the deal with approximately US$ 180 million — the capital needed to fund his most ambitious projects.

Elon Musk’s companies: the current portfolio

Today, which are Elon Musk’s companies that truly move markets? The answer includes five main businesses:

Tesla: The electric mobility revolution

Tesla is not just a car manufacturer. Under Musk’s leadership, it has become the global reference in premium electric vehicles, lithium battery technology, and energy storage systems. The company also develops:

• Autopilot: assisted and autonomous driving technology
• Gigafactories: automated factories in multiple countries
• Solar panels and renewable energy: expanding beyond automobiles

Tesla directly influences competitors like BYD, Volkswagen, GM, and Stellantis. For Brazilian investors, any Tesla movement impacts the energy, mobility, and lithium mining sectors.

SpaceX: Privatizing space exploration

Founded in 2002, SpaceX entered a sector historically dominated by government agencies. It developed reusable rockets, reducing launch costs by up to 90%. Today:

• It holds billion-dollar contracts with NASA and the US Space Force
• Funds research for human flights to Mars
• Operates Starlink, its satellite internet service present in over 70 countries, including Brazil

SpaceX is valued at over US$ 200 billion, making it the most valuable private startup in the US.

xAI: AI with its own vision

Created in 2023, xAI emerged as Musk’s response to OpenAI and Google dominating the AI market. Its chatbot Grok gained significant traction in 2024–2025, offering a differentiated approach to natural language processing.

Neuralink: Brain-machine interface

Ambitious and controversial, Neuralink works on neural interfaces capable of connecting the human brain to computer systems. The declared goal is to help patients with motor paralysis, evolving toward integration with AI systems.

The Boring Company: Underground mobility

Focusing on reducing urban congestion through tunnels, the company executes projects in the US aimed at future cities.

Wealth and distribution of riches

In 2025, Elon Musk’s fortune exceeds US$ 350 billion, mainly distributed in:

• Tesla: a significant portion, subject to daily stock market volatility
• SpaceX: private stake in a company valued at US$ 200+ billion
• xAI, Neuralink, The Boring Company, and Starlink: various holdings

Each fluctuation in Tesla’s stock can alter his fortune by billions within hours — a reflection of the impact these companies have on the global market.

How Elon Musk’s companies impact markets

Musk’s business portfolio creates cascading effects:

Mobility and energy: Tesla and Starlink influence battery manufacturers, lithium mining, and telecommunications infrastructure.

Artificial intelligence: xAI directly competes with Google, Meta, Microsoft, and OpenAI for dominance in generative AI.

Defense and geopolitics: Starlink has become critical infrastructure in conflicts and military operations.

Cryptocurrencies: Musk’s statements about Bitcoin and Dogecoin have already caused price movements of up to 30%.

Aerospace sector: SpaceX has sparked a new private space race, redefining the industry.

For investors, following Musk’s strategy is essential to anticipate technological and sectoral trends.

Conclusion

Understanding what are Elon Musk’s companies is understanding the vectors of transformation in the coming years. It’s not just about business — it’s about how mobility, energy, space exploration, communication, and artificial intelligence will be reimagined. His US$ 350 billion fortune reflects the relevance of this portfolio. For any investor, following these companies is investing in understanding the future of the economy and technology.