An early internet business: Zip2
Musk co-founds a software business serving media companies.
Density
Companies, engineering teams and public accountabilityOur World
Elon Musk
Follow selected business milestones from Zip2 to spaceflight, Tesla leadership and the Twitter acquisition.
Subject guide · scope, chapters & sources ↗Nine documented public-business milestones, 1995–2022. This is a selected history, not a full biography or live inventory of roles, wealth, ventures or political activity. Company and NASA team achievements are not credited to one person. Later developments remain outside this road’s documented endpoint.
Zip2 is sold to Compaq
The software venture changes ownership.
SpaceX becomes a new venture
Musk moves into the rocket and spacecraft business.
Musk joins Tesla’s board
His involvement in the electric-car company predates his CEO role.
Musk becomes Tesla’s CEO
A board member takes on executive leadership.
Dragon returns after a station-supply mission
SpaceX’s spacecraft completes a major cargo demonstration.
A settlement changes Tesla’s governance
Court-approved terms separate the chair and CEO roles.
Crew Dragon launches astronauts
NASA and SpaceX fly the Demo-2 test mission.
The Twitter acquisition closes
Control of the social platform passes to a Musk-controlled parent.