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1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 148 (from laksa128)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa148.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/031316/elon-musks-5-best-investments-tsla-pypl.asp\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/031316/elon-musks-5-best-investments-tsla-pypl.asp\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/articles\/investing\/031316\/elon-musks-5-best-investments-tsla-pypl.asp","crawl_time":1776818314,"first_indexed_time":1511781441,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,investopedia!www,\/articles\/investing\/031316\/elon-musks-5-best-investments-tsla-pypl.asp s443","src_root_hash":"7273739457760125548","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Top 5 Investments by Elon Musk: From Tesla to SpaceX","meta_descriptions":["Discover Elon Musk’s top investments, including Tesla, SpaceX, and more, that have shaped his financial empire and made him a leader in tech innovation."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Elon Musk's investment strategies have greatly contributed to his status as a global tech icon and visionary. From co-founding PayPal to leading SpaceX and Tesla (\nTSLA\n), Musk has consistently invested in innovative ventures that redefine industries. Each endeavor showcases his commitment to pushing technological boundaries and building a sustainable future.\nElon Musk has generated his wealth primarily through companies that he founded but part of his fortune also comes from\npassive investments\n. These make it into the top five.\nKey Takeaways\nMusk’s best investments include PayPal, SpaceX, DeepMind Technologies, Tesla, and The Boring Company.\nElon Musk is an engineer, industrial designer, and technology entrepreneur known for disrupting multiple industries.\nMusk often ranks among the world's richest individuals.\nMusk's net worth has fluctuated significantly in recent years, reflecting the value of his investments.\nGet personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise.\nInvestopedia \/ Bailey Mariner\nHow PayPal Propelled Musk's Entrepreneurial Journey\nMusk co-founded X.com, an online financial services and email payment company, in 1999. X.com merged with Confinity a year later and renamed PayPal (\nPYPL\n) in 2001.\nPayPal was purchased by eBay (\nEBAY\n) for $1.5 billion on Oct. 3, 2002. Musk owned 7,109,989 shares of PayPal at the time of the sale and this made him the largest shareholder with a stake of 11.7%.\nMusk no longer holds a stake in PayPal. He exited his position after the sale of the company and used his proceeds to fund investments including SpaceX, Tesla, and SolarCity.\nSpaceX: Pioneering Private Space Exploration\nMusk founded\nSpace Exploration Technologies Corp., commonly known as SpaceX, in 2002. The company's founding mission is to revolutionize space technology by developing spacecraft that carries humans to Mars and other places in the solar system.\nNASA awarded SpaceX a lucrative contract in 2006. SpaceX launched Falcon 1, the first private liquid-propellant rocket to reach orbit, in 2008. SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft reached the International Space Station (ISS) in 2010. NASA granted SpaceX a second contract to help shuttle crew members between the ISS and Earth in 2012.\nSpaceX has also been heavily involved in NASA's Artemis program which seeks to place humans on the moon again and eventually Mars. SpaceX has received multiple contracts for the Artemis program, underscoring its significant role in NASA's lunar exploration efforts. The goal is to transport astronauts aboard its Starship vehicles from lunar orbit to the surface of the moon.\nDeepMind: Musk's Strategic AI Investment\nThe artificial intelligence (AI) company DeepMind Technologies was launched in late 2010 with Musk as one of its key angel investors. Google acquired DeepMind Technologies, highlighting its interest in advancing AI research.\nGoogle (\nGOOGL\n) announced that it had\nacquired\nthe company for an undisclosed amount in January 2014.\nImportant\nElon Musk’s reported net worth was $424.1 billion as of Jan. 6, 2025.\nMusk is famously worried about AI overtaking humans and is reported to have invested in DeepMind to stay abreast of how rapidly the technology behind AI is developing rather than to make money.\nDeepMind has focused much of its research on deep reinforcement learning which is an AI technique that combines deep learning which is primarily for recognizing patterns with reinforcement learning. DeepMind developed this type of learning based on reward signals such as a score in a game and gave the technique its name in a 2013 white paper.\nGoogle merged DeepMind with its Brain team from Google Research to consolidate its AI efforts. The new group was tagged Google DeepMind. Google has used AI to improve some of its core products such as Search, YouTube, and Gmail and it continues to make developments in the AI space.\nTesla Motors: Accelerating the Electric Vehicle Revolution\nMusk was not a founding member of Tesla but he led an early round of financing in 2004. He went from being a board member of Tesla to its CEO in 2008 even while still serving as the CEO of SpaceX.\nTesla launched its\ninitial public offering\n(IPO) on Nasdaq on June 28, 2010 with shares of common stock initially available to the public at $17 per share. Its share price has peaked at about $400 since then.\nTesla’s mission is to accelerate sustainable transportation by introducing mass-market electric cars to the public. Tesla announced the creation of fully electric tractor-trailer trucks in November 2017. They were preordered by companies including United Parcel Service (UPS) and PepsiCo. The company’s electric vehicles include the Model S, Model Y, Model X, the Model 3, and the high-end Roadster supercar.\nFast Fact\nMusk has historically been one of Tesla's largest shareholders.\nRedefining Urban Transit With The Boring Company\nMusk founded the infrastructure and tunnel construction company known as The Boring Company in 2017. The company was founded on the premise that traffic is awful but traveling above ground isn’t necessary. Traffic woes can be \"solved\" by using the miles and miles of earth beneath roadways. The company’s goal is to reduce the cost of tunneling while also making production more efficient.\nThe Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority approved a $48.6 million proposal from The Boring Company in March 2019 to build an underground tunnel called the LVCC Loop. It travels beneath the Las Vegas Convention Center and features three stations and a pedestrian tunnel.\nThe Boring Company officially opened the LVCC Loop in April 2021. The company has additional projects in Hawthorne, California and Las Vegas.\nShould You Invest Like Elon Musk?\nMusk is one of the world’s richest people and the founder of more than one company that has disrupted its respective industry. People around the world are interested in him and how he’s accumulated such a fortune. You can choose to invest in one or more of Musk's companies but your investment and business decisions are personal choices that you should customize.\nWhat Companies Does Elon Musk Own?\nMusk is primarily known for his leadership of the electric vehicle company Tesla although he also leads SpaceX, the neurotechnology company Neuralink, Twitter, and The Boring Company.\nHow Much Money Did Elon Musk Make From PayPal?\nMusk earned upward of $175 million when PayPal was sold to eBay in 2002, based on the total estimated purchase price of $1.5 billion. He was the largest shareholder at the time of the sale holding 7,109,989 shares of PayPal, an 11.7% stake.\nThe Bottom Line\nElon Musk's strategic investments in PayPal, SpaceX, DeepMind Technologies, Tesla, and The Boring Company have not only disrupted multiple industries but have also cemented his status as one of the world's wealthiest individuals. Through these ventures, Musk has significantly advanced areas such as online payments, aerospace, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, and infrastructure. By understanding his visionary approach and commitment to innovation, investors can gain insights into building similarly impactful investment portfolios. Musk's journey underscores the importance of pursuing projects with transformative potential and remaining at the forefront of technological advancements.","attrs_markdown":"\n\n[Skip to content](https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/articles\/investing\/031316\/elon-musks-5-best-investments-tsla-pypl.asp#main)\n\n[Investopedia](https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/)\n\n[Trade](https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/simulator\/?inv_to_sim=global_nav)\n\n- Please fill out this field.\n- [Newsletters](https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/articles\/investing\/031316\/elon-musks-5-best-investments-tsla-pypl.asp)\n\nPlease fill out this field.\n\n- [News](https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/news-4427706)\n  News\n  \n  - [Markets](https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/markets-news-4427704)\n  - [Companies](https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/company-news-4427705)\n  - [Earnings](https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/earnings-reports-5218419)\n  - [CD Rates](https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/certificates-deposit-news-7111770)\n  - [Mortgage Rates](https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/mortgage-rates-5184598)\n  - 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He is a Chartered Market Technician (CMT).\n\nLearn about our  [Financial Review Board](https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/investopedia-financial-review-board-5076269)\n\nFact checked by\n\n[Ryan Eichler](https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/ryan-eichler-5217138)\n\n![Headshot]()\n\n![Headshot](https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/thmb\/0OW9HfIR55KN5h8kIlkqUtmufnc=\/200x200\/filters:no_upscale\$\$:max_bytes\$150000\$:strip_icc\$\$\/InvestopediaHeadShot-988693bb87b54bb095bd3789cd117a50.jpg)\n\nFact checked by Ryan Eichler\n\n[Full Bio](https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/ryan-eichler-5217138)\n\nRyan Eichler holds a B.S.B.A with a concentration in Finance from Boston University. He has held positions in, and has deep experience with, expense auditing, personal finance, real estate, as well as fact checking & editing.\n\nLearn about our  [editorial policies](https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/legal-4768893#editorial-policy)\n\n![Elon Musk arriving at an event in Indonesia](https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/thmb\/AwJ49QcpAx34Pd-b_4RzTalRuHg=\/1500x0\/filters:no_upscale\$\$:max_bytes\$150000\$:strip_icc\$\$\/GettyImages-21531350581-85a40514851049fba2cacd2f17dd22df.jpg)\n\n![Elon Musk arriving at an event in Indonesia](https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/thmb\/AwJ49QcpAx34Pd-b_4RzTalRuHg=\/1500x0\/filters:no_upscale\$\$:max_bytes\$150000\$:strip_icc\$\$\/GettyImages-21531350581-85a40514851049fba2cacd2f17dd22df.jpg)\n\n[SONNY TUMBELAKA](https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/search\/photographer?photographer=SONNY%20TUMBELAKA) \/ Contributor \/ Getty Images\n\nClose\n\nElon Musk's investment strategies have greatly contributed to his status as a global tech icon and visionary. From co-founding PayPal to leading SpaceX and Tesla ([TSLA](https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/markets\/quote?tvwidgetsymbol=tsla)), Musk has consistently invested in innovative ventures that redefine industries. Each endeavor showcases his commitment to pushing technological boundaries and building a sustainable future.\n\nElon Musk has generated his wealth primarily through companies that he founded but part of his fortune also comes from [passive investments](https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/terms\/p\/passiveinvesting.asp). These make it into the top five.\n\n### Key Takeaways\n- Musk’s best investments include PayPal, SpaceX, DeepMind Technologies, Tesla, and The Boring Company.\n- Elon Musk is an engineer, industrial designer, and technology entrepreneur known for disrupting multiple industries.\n- Musk often ranks among the world's richest individuals.\n- Musk's net worth has fluctuated significantly in recent years, reflecting the value of his investments.\n\nGet personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise.\n\nASK\n\n![Image]()\n\n![Image](https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/thmb\/sFi7zDFVLekmI6JiMcrLsNOyKAU=\/1500x0\/filters:no_upscale\$\$:max_bytes\$150000\$:strip_icc\$\$\/how-elon-musk-became-elon-musk_final-43ef802cd2414d14a8bf3967f319ce18.png)\n\nInvestopedia \/ Bailey Mariner\n## How PayPal Propelled Musk's Entrepreneurial Journey\nMusk co-founded X.com, an online financial services and email payment company, in 1999. X.com merged with Confinity a year later and renamed PayPal ([PYPL](https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/markets\/quote?tvwidgetsymbol=pypl)) in 2001.\n\nPayPal was purchased by eBay ([EBAY](https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/markets\/quote?tvwidgetsymbol=ebay)) for \\$1.5 billion on Oct. 3, 2002. Musk owned 7,109,989 shares of PayPal at the time of the sale and this made him the largest shareholder with a stake of 11.7%.\n\nMusk no longer holds a stake in PayPal. He exited his position after the sale of the company and used his proceeds to fund investments including SpaceX, Tesla, and SolarCity.\n\n## SpaceX: Pioneering Private Space Exploration\n[Musk founded](https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/elon-musk-estate-plan-8771714) Space Exploration Technologies Corp., commonly known as SpaceX, in 2002. The company's founding mission is to revolutionize space technology by developing spacecraft that carries humans to Mars and other places in the solar system.\n\nNASA awarded SpaceX a lucrative contract in 2006. SpaceX launched Falcon 1, the first private liquid-propellant rocket to reach orbit, in 2008. SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft reached the International Space Station (ISS) in 2010. NASA granted SpaceX a second contract to help shuttle crew members between the ISS and Earth in 2012.\n\nSpaceX has also been heavily involved in NASA's Artemis program which seeks to place humans on the moon again and eventually Mars. SpaceX has received multiple contracts for the Artemis program, underscoring its significant role in NASA's lunar exploration efforts. The goal is to transport astronauts aboard its Starship vehicles from lunar orbit to the surface of the moon.\n\n## DeepMind: Musk's Strategic AI Investment\nThe artificial intelligence (AI) company DeepMind Technologies was launched in late 2010 with Musk as one of its key angel investors. Google acquired DeepMind Technologies, highlighting its interest in advancing AI research.\n\nGoogle ([GOOGL](https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/markets\/quote?tvwidgetsymbol=googl)) announced that it had [acquired](https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/terms\/a\/acquisition.asp) the company for an undisclosed amount in January 2014.\n\n### Important\nElon Musk’s reported net worth was \\$424.1 billion as of Jan. 6, 2025.\n\nMusk is famously worried about AI overtaking humans and is reported to have invested in DeepMind to stay abreast of how rapidly the technology behind AI is developing rather than to make money.\n\nDeepMind has focused much of its research on deep reinforcement learning which is an AI technique that combines deep learning which is primarily for recognizing patterns with reinforcement learning. DeepMind developed this type of learning based on reward signals such as a score in a game and gave the technique its name in a 2013 white paper.\n\nGoogle merged DeepMind with its Brain team from Google Research to consolidate its AI efforts. The new group was tagged Google DeepMind. Google has used AI to improve some of its core products such as Search, YouTube, and Gmail and it continues to make developments in the AI space.\n\n## Tesla Motors: Accelerating the Electric Vehicle Revolution\nMusk was not a founding member of Tesla but he led an early round of financing in 2004. He went from being a board member of Tesla to its CEO in 2008 even while still serving as the CEO of SpaceX.\n\nTesla launched its [initial public offering](https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/terms\/i\/ipo.asp) (IPO) on Nasdaq on June 28, 2010 with shares of common stock initially available to the public at \\$17 per share. Its share price has peaked at about \\$400 since then.\n\nTesla’s mission is to accelerate sustainable transportation by introducing mass-market electric cars to the public. Tesla announced the creation of fully electric tractor-trailer trucks in November 2017. They were preordered by companies including United Parcel Service (UPS) and PepsiCo. The company’s electric vehicles include the Model S, Model Y, Model X, the Model 3, and the high-end Roadster supercar.\n\n### Fast Fact\nMusk has historically been one of Tesla's largest shareholders.\n## Redefining Urban Transit With The Boring Company\nMusk founded the infrastructure and tunnel construction company known as The Boring Company in 2017. The company was founded on the premise that traffic is awful but traveling above ground isn’t necessary. Traffic woes can be \"solved\" by using the miles and miles of earth beneath roadways. The company’s goal is to reduce the cost of tunneling while also making production more efficient.\n\nThe Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority approved a \\$48.6 million proposal from The Boring Company in March 2019 to build an underground tunnel called the LVCC Loop. It travels beneath the Las Vegas Convention Center and features three stations and a pedestrian tunnel.\n\nThe Boring Company officially opened the LVCC Loop in April 2021. The company has additional projects in Hawthorne, California and Las Vegas.\n\n## Should You Invest Like Elon Musk?\nMusk is one of the world’s richest people and the founder of more than one company that has disrupted its respective industry. People around the world are interested in him and how he’s accumulated such a fortune. You can choose to invest in one or more of Musk's companies but your investment and business decisions are personal choices that you should customize.\n\n## What Companies Does Elon Musk Own?\nMusk is primarily known for his leadership of the electric vehicle company Tesla although he also leads SpaceX, the neurotechnology company Neuralink, Twitter, and The Boring Company.\n\n## How Much Money Did Elon Musk Make From PayPal?\nMusk earned upward of \\$175 million when PayPal was sold to eBay in 2002, based on the total estimated purchase price of \\$1.5 billion. He was the largest shareholder at the time of the sale holding 7,109,989 shares of PayPal, an 11.7% stake.\n## The Bottom Line\nElon Musk's strategic investments in PayPal, SpaceX, DeepMind Technologies, Tesla, and The Boring Company have not only disrupted multiple industries but have also cemented his status as one of the world's wealthiest individuals. Through these ventures, Musk has significantly advanced areas such as online payments, aerospace, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, and infrastructure. By understanding his visionary approach and commitment to innovation, investors can gain insights into building similarly impactful investment portfolios. Musk's journey underscores the importance of pursuing projects with transformative potential and remaining at the forefront of technological advancements.\n\nGet personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise.\n\nASK\n\nArticle Sources\n\nInvestopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in our [editorial policy.](https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/legal-4768893#EditorialPolicy)\n\n1. PayPal. \"[History & Facts](https:\/\/about.pypl.com\/who-we-are\/history-and-facts\/default.aspx).\"\n2. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. \"[eBay to Acquire PayPal.](https:\/\/www.sec.gov\/Archives\/edgar\/data\/1103415\/000091205702026650\/a2084015zex-99_1.htm)\"\n3. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Filing. \"[PayPal Inc., 2001 Form 10-K](https:\/\/www.sec.gov\/Archives\/edgar\/data\/1103415\/000091205702009834\/a2073071z10-k405.htm).\"\n4. NASA. “[SpaceX CRS-5 Mission Cargo Resupply Services](https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/files\/SpaceX_NASA_CRS-5_PressKit-105.pdf),” Pages 22–23.\n5. SpaceX. \"[Mission.](https:\/\/www.spacex.com\/mission\/)\"\n6. NASA. \"[NASA Awards SpaceX Second Contract Option for Artemis Moon Landing](https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/press-release\/nasa-awards-spacex-second-contract-option-for-artemis-moon-landing-0).\"\n7. NASA. \"[As Artemis Moves Forward, NASA Picks SpaceX to Land Next Americans on Moon.](https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/press-release\/as-artemis-moves-forward-nasa-picks-spacex-to-land-next-americans-on-moon)\"\n8. DeepMind. “[Build AI Responsibly to Benefit Humanity](https:\/\/deepmind.com\/about).”\n9. Forbes. \"[Elon Musk](https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/profile\/elon-musk\/).\"\n10. DeepMind. “[Playing Atari With Deep Reinforcement Learning](https:\/\/arxiv.org\/pdf\/1312.5602.pdf).”\n11. Google. \"[Google DeepMind: Bringing Together Two World-Class AI Teams](https:\/\/blog.google\/technology\/ai\/april-ai-update\/).\"\n12. Tesla. “[Corporate Governance: Elon Musk](https:\/\/ir.tesla.com\/corporate\/elon-musk).”\n13. Tesla. “[Tesla Announces Pricing of Initial Public Offering](https:\/\/ir.tesla.com\/news-releases\/news-release-details\/tesla-announces-pricing-initial-public-offering).”\n14. Yahoo! Finance. “[Tesla, Inc. (TSLA)](https:\/\/finance.yahoo.com\/quote\/TSLA\/history?p=TSLA).”\n15. Tesla. “[Semi](https:\/\/www.tesla.com\/semi).”\n16. Tesla. “[Tesla Gallery](https:\/\/www.tesla.com\/tesla-gallery).”\n17. Boring Company. \"[Boring Company](https:\/\/www.boringcompany.com\/).\"\n18. Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. \"[LVCVA Board of Directors Votes to Move Forward With Elon Musk's The Boring Company](https:\/\/press.lvcva.com\/events\/lvcva-board-of-directors-votes-to-move-forward-with-elon-musk-s-the-boring-company\/s\/ef4db4ea-f604-4028-be6d-feb1017376df).\"\n19. Boring Company. “[Projects](https:\/\/www.boringcompany.com\/projects).”\n20. Tesla. \"[Elon Musk](https:\/\/www.tesla.com\/elon-musk).\"\n\nCompare Accounts\n\nAdvertiser Disclosure\n\n×\n\nThe offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Investopedia receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where listings appear. Investopedia does not include all offers available in the marketplace.\n\nRead more\n\n- [Investing](https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/investing-4427685)\n- [Stocks](https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/stocks-4427785)\n- [Top Stocks](https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/top-stocks-4689741)\n\nPartner Links\n\nTake the Next Step to Invest\n\nAdvertiser Disclosure\n\n×\n\nThe offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Investopedia receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where listings appear. 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From co-founding PayPal to leading SpaceX and Tesla ([TSLA](https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/markets\/quote?tvwidgetsymbol=tsla)), Musk has consistently invested in innovative ventures that redefine industries. Each endeavor showcases his commitment to pushing technological boundaries and building a sustainable future.\n\nElon Musk has generated his wealth primarily through companies that he founded but part of his fortune also comes from [passive investments](https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/terms\/p\/passiveinvesting.asp). These make it into the top five.\n\n### Key Takeaways\n- Musk’s best investments include PayPal, SpaceX, DeepMind Technologies, Tesla, and The Boring Company.\n- Elon Musk is an engineer, industrial designer, and technology entrepreneur known for disrupting multiple industries.\n- Musk often ranks among the world's richest individuals.\n- Musk's net worth has fluctuated significantly in recent years, reflecting the value of his investments.\n\nGet personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise.\n\nInvestopedia \/ Bailey Mariner\n\n## How PayPal Propelled Musk's Entrepreneurial Journey\nMusk co-founded X.com, an online financial services and email payment company, in 1999. X.com merged with Confinity a year later and renamed PayPal ([PYPL](https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/markets\/quote?tvwidgetsymbol=pypl)) in 2001.\n\nPayPal was purchased by eBay ([EBAY](https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/markets\/quote?tvwidgetsymbol=ebay)) for \\$1.5 billion on Oct. 3, 2002. Musk owned 7,109,989 shares of PayPal at the time of the sale and this made him the largest shareholder with a stake of 11.7%.\n\nMusk no longer holds a stake in PayPal. He exited his position after the sale of the company and used his proceeds to fund investments including SpaceX, Tesla, and SolarCity.\n\n## SpaceX: Pioneering Private Space Exploration\n[Musk founded](https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/elon-musk-estate-plan-8771714) Space Exploration Technologies Corp., commonly known as SpaceX, in 2002. The company's founding mission is to revolutionize space technology by developing spacecraft that carries humans to Mars and other places in the solar system.\n\nNASA awarded SpaceX a lucrative contract in 2006. SpaceX launched Falcon 1, the first private liquid-propellant rocket to reach orbit, in 2008. SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft reached the International Space Station (ISS) in 2010. NASA granted SpaceX a second contract to help shuttle crew members between the ISS and Earth in 2012.\n\nSpaceX has also been heavily involved in NASA's Artemis program which seeks to place humans on the moon again and eventually Mars. SpaceX has received multiple contracts for the Artemis program, underscoring its significant role in NASA's lunar exploration efforts. The goal is to transport astronauts aboard its Starship vehicles from lunar orbit to the surface of the moon.\n\n## DeepMind: Musk's Strategic AI Investment\nThe artificial intelligence (AI) company DeepMind Technologies was launched in late 2010 with Musk as one of its key angel investors. Google acquired DeepMind Technologies, highlighting its interest in advancing AI research.\n\nGoogle ([GOOGL](https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/markets\/quote?tvwidgetsymbol=googl)) announced that it had [acquired](https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/terms\/a\/acquisition.asp) the company for an undisclosed amount in January 2014.\n\n### Important\nElon Musk’s reported net worth was \\$424.1 billion as of Jan. 6, 2025.\n\nMusk is famously worried about AI overtaking humans and is reported to have invested in DeepMind to stay abreast of how rapidly the technology behind AI is developing rather than to make money.\n\nDeepMind has focused much of its research on deep reinforcement learning which is an AI technique that combines deep learning which is primarily for recognizing patterns with reinforcement learning. DeepMind developed this type of learning based on reward signals such as a score in a game and gave the technique its name in a 2013 white paper.\n\nGoogle merged DeepMind with its Brain team from Google Research to consolidate its AI efforts. The new group was tagged Google DeepMind. Google has used AI to improve some of its core products such as Search, YouTube, and Gmail and it continues to make developments in the AI space.\n\n## Tesla Motors: Accelerating the Electric Vehicle Revolution\nMusk was not a founding member of Tesla but he led an early round of financing in 2004. He went from being a board member of Tesla to its CEO in 2008 even while still serving as the CEO of SpaceX.\n\nTesla launched its [initial public offering](https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/terms\/i\/ipo.asp) (IPO) on Nasdaq on June 28, 2010 with shares of common stock initially available to the public at \\$17 per share. Its share price has peaked at about \\$400 since then.\n\nTesla’s mission is to accelerate sustainable transportation by introducing mass-market electric cars to the public. Tesla announced the creation of fully electric tractor-trailer trucks in November 2017. They were preordered by companies including United Parcel Service (UPS) and PepsiCo. The company’s electric vehicles include the Model S, Model Y, Model X, the Model 3, and the high-end Roadster supercar.\n\n### Fast Fact\nMusk has historically been one of Tesla's largest shareholders.\n## Redefining Urban Transit With The Boring Company\nMusk founded the infrastructure and tunnel construction company known as The Boring Company in 2017. The company was founded on the premise that traffic is awful but traveling above ground isn’t necessary. Traffic woes can be \"solved\" by using the miles and miles of earth beneath roadways. The company’s goal is to reduce the cost of tunneling while also making production more efficient.\n\nThe Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority approved a \\$48.6 million proposal from The Boring Company in March 2019 to build an underground tunnel called the LVCC Loop. It travels beneath the Las Vegas Convention Center and features three stations and a pedestrian tunnel.\n\nThe Boring Company officially opened the LVCC Loop in April 2021. The company has additional projects in Hawthorne, California and Las Vegas.\n\n## Should You Invest Like Elon Musk?\nMusk is one of the world’s richest people and the founder of more than one company that has disrupted its respective industry. People around the world are interested in him and how he’s accumulated such a fortune. You can choose to invest in one or more of Musk's companies but your investment and business decisions are personal choices that you should customize.\n\n## What Companies Does Elon Musk Own?\nMusk is primarily known for his leadership of the electric vehicle company Tesla although he also leads SpaceX, the neurotechnology company Neuralink, Twitter, and The Boring Company.\n\n## How Much Money Did Elon Musk Make From PayPal?\nMusk earned upward of \\$175 million when PayPal was sold to eBay in 2002, based on the total estimated purchase price of \\$1.5 billion. He was the largest shareholder at the time of the sale holding 7,109,989 shares of PayPal, an 11.7% stake.\n## The Bottom Line\nElon Musk's strategic investments in PayPal, SpaceX, DeepMind Technologies, Tesla, and The Boring Company have not only disrupted multiple industries but have also cemented his status as one of the world's wealthiest individuals. Through these ventures, Musk has significantly advanced areas such as online payments, aerospace, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, and infrastructure. By understanding his visionary approach and commitment to innovation, investors can gain insights into building similarly impactful investment portfolios. Musk's journey underscores the importance of pursuing projects with transformative potential and remaining at the forefront of technological advancements.","meta_canonical":null}

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URL	https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/031316/elon-musks-5-best-investments-tsla-pypl.asp
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Meta Title	Top 5 Investments by Elon Musk: From Tesla to SpaceX
Meta Description	Discover Elon Musk’s top investments, including Tesla, SpaceX, and more, that have shaped his financial empire and made him a leader in tech innovation.
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Boilerpipe Text	Elon Musk's investment strategies have greatly contributed to his status as a global tech icon and visionary. From co-founding PayPal to leading SpaceX and Tesla ( TSLA ), Musk has consistently invested in innovative ventures that redefine industries. Each endeavor showcases his commitment to pushing technological boundaries and building a sustainable future. Elon Musk has generated his wealth primarily through companies that he founded but part of his fortune also comes from passive investments . These make it into the top five. Key Takeaways Musk’s best investments include PayPal, SpaceX, DeepMind Technologies, Tesla, and The Boring Company. Elon Musk is an engineer, industrial designer, and technology entrepreneur known for disrupting multiple industries. Musk often ranks among the world's richest individuals. Musk's net worth has fluctuated significantly in recent years, reflecting the value of his investments. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. Investopedia / Bailey Mariner How PayPal Propelled Musk's Entrepreneurial Journey Musk co-founded X.com, an online financial services and email payment company, in 1999. X.com merged with Confinity a year later and renamed PayPal ( PYPL ) in 2001. PayPal was purchased by eBay ( EBAY ) for $1.5 billion on Oct. 3, 2002. Musk owned 7,109,989 shares of PayPal at the time of the sale and this made him the largest shareholder with a stake of 11.7%. Musk no longer holds a stake in PayPal. He exited his position after the sale of the company and used his proceeds to fund investments including SpaceX, Tesla, and SolarCity. SpaceX: Pioneering Private Space Exploration Musk founded Space Exploration Technologies Corp., commonly known as SpaceX, in 2002. The company's founding mission is to revolutionize space technology by developing spacecraft that carries humans to Mars and other places in the solar system. NASA awarded SpaceX a lucrative contract in 2006. SpaceX launched Falcon 1, the first private liquid-propellant rocket to reach orbit, in 2008. SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft reached the International Space Station (ISS) in 2010. NASA granted SpaceX a second contract to help shuttle crew members between the ISS and Earth in 2012. SpaceX has also been heavily involved in NASA's Artemis program which seeks to place humans on the moon again and eventually Mars. SpaceX has received multiple contracts for the Artemis program, underscoring its significant role in NASA's lunar exploration efforts. The goal is to transport astronauts aboard its Starship vehicles from lunar orbit to the surface of the moon. DeepMind: Musk's Strategic AI Investment The artificial intelligence (AI) company DeepMind Technologies was launched in late 2010 with Musk as one of its key angel investors. Google acquired DeepMind Technologies, highlighting its interest in advancing AI research. Google ( GOOGL ) announced that it had acquired the company for an undisclosed amount in January 2014. Important Elon Musk’s reported net worth was $424.1 billion as of Jan. 6, 2025. Musk is famously worried about AI overtaking humans and is reported to have invested in DeepMind to stay abreast of how rapidly the technology behind AI is developing rather than to make money. DeepMind has focused much of its research on deep reinforcement learning which is an AI technique that combines deep learning which is primarily for recognizing patterns with reinforcement learning. DeepMind developed this type of learning based on reward signals such as a score in a game and gave the technique its name in a 2013 white paper. Google merged DeepMind with its Brain team from Google Research to consolidate its AI efforts. The new group was tagged Google DeepMind. Google has used AI to improve some of its core products such as Search, YouTube, and Gmail and it continues to make developments in the AI space. Tesla Motors: Accelerating the Electric Vehicle Revolution Musk was not a founding member of Tesla but he led an early round of financing in 2004. He went from being a board member of Tesla to its CEO in 2008 even while still serving as the CEO of SpaceX. Tesla launched its initial public offering (IPO) on Nasdaq on June 28, 2010 with shares of common stock initially available to the public at $17 per share. Its share price has peaked at about $400 since then. Tesla’s mission is to accelerate sustainable transportation by introducing mass-market electric cars to the public. Tesla announced the creation of fully electric tractor-trailer trucks in November 2017. They were preordered by companies including United Parcel Service (UPS) and PepsiCo. The company’s electric vehicles include the Model S, Model Y, Model X, the Model 3, and the high-end Roadster supercar. Fast Fact Musk has historically been one of Tesla's largest shareholders. Redefining Urban Transit With The Boring Company Musk founded the infrastructure and tunnel construction company known as The Boring Company in 2017. The company was founded on the premise that traffic is awful but traveling above ground isn’t necessary. Traffic woes can be "solved" by using the miles and miles of earth beneath roadways. The company’s goal is to reduce the cost of tunneling while also making production more efficient. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority approved a $48.6 million proposal from The Boring Company in March 2019 to build an underground tunnel called the LVCC Loop. It travels beneath the Las Vegas Convention Center and features three stations and a pedestrian tunnel. The Boring Company officially opened the LVCC Loop in April 2021. The company has additional projects in Hawthorne, California and Las Vegas. Should You Invest Like Elon Musk? Musk is one of the world’s richest people and the founder of more than one company that has disrupted its respective industry. People around the world are interested in him and how he’s accumulated such a fortune. You can choose to invest in one or more of Musk's companies but your investment and business decisions are personal choices that you should customize. What Companies Does Elon Musk Own? Musk is primarily known for his leadership of the electric vehicle company Tesla although he also leads SpaceX, the neurotechnology company Neuralink, Twitter, and The Boring Company. How Much Money Did Elon Musk Make From PayPal? Musk earned upward of $175 million when PayPal was sold to eBay in 2002, based on the total estimated purchase price of $1.5 billion. He was the largest shareholder at the time of the sale holding 7,109,989 shares of PayPal, an 11.7% stake. The Bottom Line Elon Musk's strategic investments in PayPal, SpaceX, DeepMind Technologies, Tesla, and The Boring Company have not only disrupted multiple industries but have also cemented his status as one of the world's wealthiest individuals. Through these ventures, Musk has significantly advanced areas such as online payments, aerospace, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, and infrastructure. By understanding his visionary approach and commitment to innovation, investors can gain insights into building similarly impactful investment portfolios. Musk's journey underscores the importance of pursuing projects with transformative potential and remaining at the forefront of technological advancements.
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[Why Iceland Ranks as the Safest Country for Retirees, According to the Global Peace Index](https://www.investopedia.com/why-iceland-ranks-as-the-safest-country-for-retirees-according-to-the-global-peace-index-11946750) Table of Contents Expand Table of Contents - [PayPal](https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/031316/elon-musks-5-best-investments-tsla-pypl.asp#toc-how-paypal-propelled-musks-entrepreneurial-journey) - [SpaceX](https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/031316/elon-musks-5-best-investments-tsla-pypl.asp#toc-spacex-pioneering-private-space-exploration) - [DeepMind](https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/031316/elon-musks-5-best-investments-tsla-pypl.asp#toc-deepmind-musks-strategic-ai-investment) - [Tesla Motors](https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/031316/elon-musks-5-best-investments-tsla-pypl.asp#toc-tesla-motors-accelerating-the-electric-vehicle-revolution) - [The Boring Company](https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/031316/elon-musks-5-best-investments-tsla-pypl.asp#toc-redefining-urban-transit-with-the-boring-company) - [FAQs](https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/031316/elon-musks-5-best-investments-tsla-pypl.asp#toc-should-you-invest-like-elon-musk) - [The Bottom Line](https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/031316/elon-musks-5-best-investments-tsla-pypl.asp#toc-the-bottom-line) # Top 5 Investments by Elon Musk: From Tesla to SpaceX By [Sean Ross](https://www.investopedia.com/contributors/53893/) ![]() ![](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/qQRKC9KPcUgmZrsca81iNLspbHo=/200x200/filters:no_upscale:max_bytes$150000$:strip_icc/picture-53893-1440688982-5bfc2a88c9e77c005143c705.png) [Full Bio](https://www.investopedia.com/contributors/53893/) Sean Ross is a strategic adviser at 1031x.com, Investopedia contributor, and the founder and manager of Free Lances Ltd. Learn about our [editorial policies](https://www.investopedia.com/legal-4768893#editorial-policy) Updated August 31, 2025 Reviewed by [Gordon Scott](https://www.investopedia.com/contributors/82594/) ![]() ![](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/ONkGcALhxqKz7-OKReR1Lh4IcjE=/200x200/filters:no_upscale:max_bytes$150000$:strip_icc/gordonscottphoto-5bfc26c446e0fb00265b0ed4.jpg) Reviewed by Gordon Scott [Full Bio](https://www.investopedia.com/contributors/82594/) Gordon Scott has been an active investor and technical analyst or 20+ years. He is a Chartered Market Technician (CMT). Learn about our [Financial Review Board](https://www.investopedia.com/investopedia-financial-review-board-5076269) Fact checked by [Ryan Eichler](https://www.investopedia.com/ryan-eichler-5217138) ![Headshot]() ![Headshot](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/0OW9HfIR55KN5h8kIlkqUtmufnc=/200x200/filters:no_upscale:max_bytes$150000$:strip_icc/InvestopediaHeadShot-988693bb87b54bb095bd3789cd117a50.jpg) Fact checked by Ryan Eichler [Full Bio](https://www.investopedia.com/ryan-eichler-5217138) Ryan Eichler holds a B.S.B.A with a concentration in Finance from Boston University. He has held positions in, and has deep experience with, expense auditing, personal finance, real estate, as well as fact checking & editing. Learn about our [editorial policies](https://www.investopedia.com/legal-4768893#editorial-policy) ![Elon Musk arriving at an event in Indonesia](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/AwJ49QcpAx34Pd-b_4RzTalRuHg=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale:max_bytes$150000$:strip_icc/GettyImages-21531350581-85a40514851049fba2cacd2f17dd22df.jpg) ![Elon Musk arriving at an event in Indonesia](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/AwJ49QcpAx34Pd-b_4RzTalRuHg=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale:max_bytes$150000$:strip_icc/GettyImages-21531350581-85a40514851049fba2cacd2f17dd22df.jpg) [SONNY TUMBELAKA](https://www.gettyimages.com/search/photographer?photographer=SONNY%20TUMBELAKA) / Contributor / Getty Images Close Elon Musk's investment strategies have greatly contributed to his status as a global tech icon and visionary. From co-founding PayPal to leading SpaceX and Tesla ([TSLA](https://www.investopedia.com/markets/quote?tvwidgetsymbol=tsla)), Musk has consistently invested in innovative ventures that redefine industries. Each endeavor showcases his commitment to pushing technological boundaries and building a sustainable future. Elon Musk has generated his wealth primarily through companies that he founded but part of his fortune also comes from [passive investments](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/passiveinvesting.asp). These make it into the top five. ### Key Takeaways - Musk’s best investments include PayPal, SpaceX, DeepMind Technologies, Tesla, and The Boring Company. - Elon Musk is an engineer, industrial designer, and technology entrepreneur known for disrupting multiple industries. - Musk often ranks among the world's richest individuals. - Musk's net worth has fluctuated significantly in recent years, reflecting the value of his investments. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. ASK ![Image]() ![Image](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/sFi7zDFVLekmI6JiMcrLsNOyKAU=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale:max_bytes$150000$:strip_icc/how-elon-musk-became-elon-musk_final-43ef802cd2414d14a8bf3967f319ce18.png) Investopedia / Bailey Mariner ## How PayPal Propelled Musk's Entrepreneurial Journey Musk co-founded X.com, an online financial services and email payment company, in 1999. X.com merged with Confinity a year later and renamed PayPal ([PYPL](https://www.investopedia.com/markets/quote?tvwidgetsymbol=pypl)) in 2001. PayPal was purchased by eBay ([EBAY](https://www.investopedia.com/markets/quote?tvwidgetsymbol=ebay)) for \$1.5 billion on Oct. 3, 2002. Musk owned 7,109,989 shares of PayPal at the time of the sale and this made him the largest shareholder with a stake of 11.7%. Musk no longer holds a stake in PayPal. He exited his position after the sale of the company and used his proceeds to fund investments including SpaceX, Tesla, and SolarCity. ## SpaceX: Pioneering Private Space Exploration [Musk founded](https://www.investopedia.com/elon-musk-estate-plan-8771714) Space Exploration Technologies Corp., commonly known as SpaceX, in 2002. The company's founding mission is to revolutionize space technology by developing spacecraft that carries humans to Mars and other places in the solar system. NASA awarded SpaceX a lucrative contract in 2006. SpaceX launched Falcon 1, the first private liquid-propellant rocket to reach orbit, in 2008. SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft reached the International Space Station (ISS) in 2010. NASA granted SpaceX a second contract to help shuttle crew members between the ISS and Earth in 2012. SpaceX has also been heavily involved in NASA's Artemis program which seeks to place humans on the moon again and eventually Mars. SpaceX has received multiple contracts for the Artemis program, underscoring its significant role in NASA's lunar exploration efforts. The goal is to transport astronauts aboard its Starship vehicles from lunar orbit to the surface of the moon. ## DeepMind: Musk's Strategic AI Investment The artificial intelligence (AI) company DeepMind Technologies was launched in late 2010 with Musk as one of its key angel investors. Google acquired DeepMind Technologies, highlighting its interest in advancing AI research. Google ([GOOGL](https://www.investopedia.com/markets/quote?tvwidgetsymbol=googl)) announced that it had [acquired](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/acquisition.asp) the company for an undisclosed amount in January 2014. ### Important Elon Musk’s reported net worth was \$424.1 billion as of Jan. 6, 2025. Musk is famously worried about AI overtaking humans and is reported to have invested in DeepMind to stay abreast of how rapidly the technology behind AI is developing rather than to make money. DeepMind has focused much of its research on deep reinforcement learning which is an AI technique that combines deep learning which is primarily for recognizing patterns with reinforcement learning. DeepMind developed this type of learning based on reward signals such as a score in a game and gave the technique its name in a 2013 white paper. Google merged DeepMind with its Brain team from Google Research to consolidate its AI efforts. The new group was tagged Google DeepMind. Google has used AI to improve some of its core products such as Search, YouTube, and Gmail and it continues to make developments in the AI space. ## Tesla Motors: Accelerating the Electric Vehicle Revolution Musk was not a founding member of Tesla but he led an early round of financing in 2004. He went from being a board member of Tesla to its CEO in 2008 even while still serving as the CEO of SpaceX. Tesla launched its [initial public offering](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/ipo.asp) (IPO) on Nasdaq on June 28, 2010 with shares of common stock initially available to the public at \$17 per share. Its share price has peaked at about \$400 since then. Tesla’s mission is to accelerate sustainable transportation by introducing mass-market electric cars to the public. Tesla announced the creation of fully electric tractor-trailer trucks in November 2017. They were preordered by companies including United Parcel Service (UPS) and PepsiCo. The company’s electric vehicles include the Model S, Model Y, Model X, the Model 3, and the high-end Roadster supercar. ### Fast Fact Musk has historically been one of Tesla's largest shareholders. ## Redefining Urban Transit With The Boring Company Musk founded the infrastructure and tunnel construction company known as The Boring Company in 2017. The company was founded on the premise that traffic is awful but traveling above ground isn’t necessary. Traffic woes can be "solved" by using the miles and miles of earth beneath roadways. The company’s goal is to reduce the cost of tunneling while also making production more efficient. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority approved a \$48.6 million proposal from The Boring Company in March 2019 to build an underground tunnel called the LVCC Loop. It travels beneath the Las Vegas Convention Center and features three stations and a pedestrian tunnel. The Boring Company officially opened the LVCC Loop in April 2021. The company has additional projects in Hawthorne, California and Las Vegas. ## Should You Invest Like Elon Musk? Musk is one of the world’s richest people and the founder of more than one company that has disrupted its respective industry. People around the world are interested in him and how he’s accumulated such a fortune. You can choose to invest in one or more of Musk's companies but your investment and business decisions are personal choices that you should customize. ## What Companies Does Elon Musk Own? Musk is primarily known for his leadership of the electric vehicle company Tesla although he also leads SpaceX, the neurotechnology company Neuralink, Twitter, and The Boring Company. ## How Much Money Did Elon Musk Make From PayPal? Musk earned upward of \$175 million when PayPal was sold to eBay in 2002, based on the total estimated purchase price of \$1.5 billion. He was the largest shareholder at the time of the sale holding 7,109,989 shares of PayPal, an 11.7% stake. ## The Bottom Line Elon Musk's strategic investments in PayPal, SpaceX, DeepMind Technologies, Tesla, and The Boring Company have not only disrupted multiple industries but have also cemented his status as one of the world's wealthiest individuals. Through these ventures, Musk has significantly advanced areas such as online payments, aerospace, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, and infrastructure. By understanding his visionary approach and commitment to innovation, investors can gain insights into building similarly impactful investment portfolios. Musk's journey underscores the importance of pursuing projects with transformative potential and remaining at the forefront of technological advancements. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. ASK Article Sources Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in our [editorial policy.](https://www.investopedia.com/legal-4768893#EditorialPolicy) 1. PayPal. "[History & Facts](https://about.pypl.com/who-we-are/history-and-facts/default.aspx)." 2. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. "[eBay to Acquire PayPal.](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1103415/000091205702026650/a2084015zex-99_1.htm)" 3. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Filing. "[PayPal Inc., 2001 Form 10-K](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1103415/000091205702009834/a2073071z10-k405.htm)." 4. NASA. “[SpaceX CRS-5 Mission Cargo Resupply Services](https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/SpaceX_NASA_CRS-5_PressKit-105.pdf),” Pages 22–23. 5. SpaceX. "[Mission.](https://www.spacex.com/mission/)" 6. NASA. "[NASA Awards SpaceX Second Contract Option for Artemis Moon Landing](https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-awards-spacex-second-contract-option-for-artemis-moon-landing-0)." 7. NASA. "[As Artemis Moves Forward, NASA Picks SpaceX to Land Next Americans on Moon.](https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/as-artemis-moves-forward-nasa-picks-spacex-to-land-next-americans-on-moon)" 8. DeepMind. “[Build AI Responsibly to Benefit Humanity](https://deepmind.com/about).” 9. Forbes. "[Elon Musk](https://www.forbes.com/profile/elon-musk/)." 10. DeepMind. “[Playing Atari With Deep Reinforcement Learning](https://arxiv.org/pdf/1312.5602.pdf).” 11. Google. "[Google DeepMind: Bringing Together Two World-Class AI Teams](https://blog.google/technology/ai/april-ai-update/)." 12. Tesla. “[Corporate Governance: Elon Musk](https://ir.tesla.com/corporate/elon-musk).” 13. Tesla. “[Tesla Announces Pricing of Initial Public Offering](https://ir.tesla.com/news-releases/news-release-details/tesla-announces-pricing-initial-public-offering).” 14. Yahoo! Finance. “[Tesla, Inc. (TSLA)](https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/TSLA/history?p=TSLA).” 15. Tesla. “[Semi](https://www.tesla.com/semi).” 16. Tesla. “[Tesla Gallery](https://www.tesla.com/tesla-gallery).” 17. Boring Company. "[Boring Company](https://www.boringcompany.com/)." 18. Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. "[LVCVA Board of Directors Votes to Move Forward With Elon Musk's The Boring Company](https://press.lvcva.com/events/lvcva-board-of-directors-votes-to-move-forward-with-elon-musk-s-the-boring-company/s/ef4db4ea-f604-4028-be6d-feb1017376df)." 19. Boring Company. “[Projects](https://www.boringcompany.com/projects).” 20. Tesla. "[Elon Musk](https://www.tesla.com/elon-musk)." 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Readable Markdown	Elon Musk's investment strategies have greatly contributed to his status as a global tech icon and visionary. From co-founding PayPal to leading SpaceX and Tesla ([TSLA](https://www.investopedia.com/markets/quote?tvwidgetsymbol=tsla)), Musk has consistently invested in innovative ventures that redefine industries. Each endeavor showcases his commitment to pushing technological boundaries and building a sustainable future. Elon Musk has generated his wealth primarily through companies that he founded but part of his fortune also comes from [passive investments](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/passiveinvesting.asp). These make it into the top five. ### Key Takeaways - Musk’s best investments include PayPal, SpaceX, DeepMind Technologies, Tesla, and The Boring Company. - Elon Musk is an engineer, industrial designer, and technology entrepreneur known for disrupting multiple industries. - Musk often ranks among the world's richest individuals. - Musk's net worth has fluctuated significantly in recent years, reflecting the value of his investments. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. Investopedia / Bailey Mariner ## How PayPal Propelled Musk's Entrepreneurial Journey Musk co-founded X.com, an online financial services and email payment company, in 1999. X.com merged with Confinity a year later and renamed PayPal ([PYPL](https://www.investopedia.com/markets/quote?tvwidgetsymbol=pypl)) in 2001. PayPal was purchased by eBay ([EBAY](https://www.investopedia.com/markets/quote?tvwidgetsymbol=ebay)) for \$1.5 billion on Oct. 3, 2002. Musk owned 7,109,989 shares of PayPal at the time of the sale and this made him the largest shareholder with a stake of 11.7%. Musk no longer holds a stake in PayPal. He exited his position after the sale of the company and used his proceeds to fund investments including SpaceX, Tesla, and SolarCity. ## SpaceX: Pioneering Private Space Exploration [Musk founded](https://www.investopedia.com/elon-musk-estate-plan-8771714) Space Exploration Technologies Corp., commonly known as SpaceX, in 2002. The company's founding mission is to revolutionize space technology by developing spacecraft that carries humans to Mars and other places in the solar system. NASA awarded SpaceX a lucrative contract in 2006. SpaceX launched Falcon 1, the first private liquid-propellant rocket to reach orbit, in 2008. SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft reached the International Space Station (ISS) in 2010. NASA granted SpaceX a second contract to help shuttle crew members between the ISS and Earth in 2012. SpaceX has also been heavily involved in NASA's Artemis program which seeks to place humans on the moon again and eventually Mars. SpaceX has received multiple contracts for the Artemis program, underscoring its significant role in NASA's lunar exploration efforts. The goal is to transport astronauts aboard its Starship vehicles from lunar orbit to the surface of the moon. ## DeepMind: Musk's Strategic AI Investment The artificial intelligence (AI) company DeepMind Technologies was launched in late 2010 with Musk as one of its key angel investors. Google acquired DeepMind Technologies, highlighting its interest in advancing AI research. Google ([GOOGL](https://www.investopedia.com/markets/quote?tvwidgetsymbol=googl)) announced that it had [acquired](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/acquisition.asp) the company for an undisclosed amount in January 2014. ### Important Elon Musk’s reported net worth was \$424.1 billion as of Jan. 6, 2025. Musk is famously worried about AI overtaking humans and is reported to have invested in DeepMind to stay abreast of how rapidly the technology behind AI is developing rather than to make money. DeepMind has focused much of its research on deep reinforcement learning which is an AI technique that combines deep learning which is primarily for recognizing patterns with reinforcement learning. DeepMind developed this type of learning based on reward signals such as a score in a game and gave the technique its name in a 2013 white paper. Google merged DeepMind with its Brain team from Google Research to consolidate its AI efforts. The new group was tagged Google DeepMind. Google has used AI to improve some of its core products such as Search, YouTube, and Gmail and it continues to make developments in the AI space. ## Tesla Motors: Accelerating the Electric Vehicle Revolution Musk was not a founding member of Tesla but he led an early round of financing in 2004. He went from being a board member of Tesla to its CEO in 2008 even while still serving as the CEO of SpaceX. Tesla launched its [initial public offering](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/ipo.asp) (IPO) on Nasdaq on June 28, 2010 with shares of common stock initially available to the public at \$17 per share. Its share price has peaked at about \$400 since then. Tesla’s mission is to accelerate sustainable transportation by introducing mass-market electric cars to the public. Tesla announced the creation of fully electric tractor-trailer trucks in November 2017. They were preordered by companies including United Parcel Service (UPS) and PepsiCo. The company’s electric vehicles include the Model S, Model Y, Model X, the Model 3, and the high-end Roadster supercar. ### Fast Fact Musk has historically been one of Tesla's largest shareholders. ## Redefining Urban Transit With The Boring Company Musk founded the infrastructure and tunnel construction company known as The Boring Company in 2017. The company was founded on the premise that traffic is awful but traveling above ground isn’t necessary. Traffic woes can be "solved" by using the miles and miles of earth beneath roadways. The company’s goal is to reduce the cost of tunneling while also making production more efficient. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority approved a \$48.6 million proposal from The Boring Company in March 2019 to build an underground tunnel called the LVCC Loop. It travels beneath the Las Vegas Convention Center and features three stations and a pedestrian tunnel. The Boring Company officially opened the LVCC Loop in April 2021. The company has additional projects in Hawthorne, California and Las Vegas. ## Should You Invest Like Elon Musk? Musk is one of the world’s richest people and the founder of more than one company that has disrupted its respective industry. People around the world are interested in him and how he’s accumulated such a fortune. You can choose to invest in one or more of Musk's companies but your investment and business decisions are personal choices that you should customize. ## What Companies Does Elon Musk Own? Musk is primarily known for his leadership of the electric vehicle company Tesla although he also leads SpaceX, the neurotechnology company Neuralink, Twitter, and The Boring Company. ## How Much Money Did Elon Musk Make From PayPal? Musk earned upward of \$175 million when PayPal was sold to eBay in 2002, based on the total estimated purchase price of \$1.5 billion. He was the largest shareholder at the time of the sale holding 7,109,989 shares of PayPal, an 11.7% stake. ## The Bottom Line Elon Musk's strategic investments in PayPal, SpaceX, DeepMind Technologies, Tesla, and The Boring Company have not only disrupted multiple industries but have also cemented his status as one of the world's wealthiest individuals. Through these ventures, Musk has significantly advanced areas such as online payments, aerospace, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, and infrastructure. By understanding his visionary approach and commitment to innovation, investors can gain insights into building similarly impactful investment portfolios. Musk's journey underscores the importance of pursuing projects with transformative potential and remaining at the forefront of technological advancements.
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