Elon Musk is best known for Tesla and SpaceX, but his influence stretches far beyond rockets and EVs.
Through stealth acquisitions, quiet funding, or layered ownership structures, Musk has tucked himself into unexpected corners of tech, energy, and AI.
Still, according to Kalshi traders, there a nonzero (12%) chance he gets ousted as Tesla’s CEO.
Here are the lesser-known companies—some owned outright, others heavily influenced—that show just how wide his empire really reaches.
AdAstra School
A secretive experimental school Musk founded on SpaceX’s campus, originally for his children. It later morphed into Astra Nova, which explores radical education models and is quietly backed by Musk’s funding.
The Boring Company
You may have heard of it, but most don’t realize it’s fully under Musk’s control. Originally a joke about traffic, it’s now building real underground tunnel systems in Las Vegas and beyond—though critics say it’s more marketing than infrastructure revolution.
xAI
Launched in 2023, this AI company aims to “understand the universe.” Musk created xAI to rival OpenAI, claiming it will be more transparent and truth-seeking. It’s already integrated with Twitter/X and Tesla systems, giving Musk control across platforms.
Neuralink
Musk co-founded this brain-computer interface startup aiming to connect human brains with machines. Despite ethical concerns and regulatory scrutiny, Neuralink has started human trials—and Musk’s role as lead funder gives him full command.
Groq (via connections)
Musk doesn’t officially own Groq, the AI chip company, but he’s deeply tied to its ecosystem. Groq’s chips power some of xAI’s systems, and the close relationships between engineers suggest Musk’s sphere of influence reaches inside.
SolarCity (absorbed by Tesla)
SolarCity was founded by Musk’s cousins, but Musk was its chairman and largest investor. It was folded into Tesla in 2016—critics called it a bailout, but it gave Musk massive sway in the solar energy world.
Twitter/X Acquisition Shells
To buy Twitter, Musk used holding companies like X Holdings I, II, and III. These now control the platform, which he’s rebranding into “X”—a super app meant to blend messaging, banking, and AI.
Zip2 (Legacy Ownership)
While no longer under his control, Zip2 was Musk’s first company. After its acquisition in 1999, he rolled the profits into what would become PayPal—and eventually, everything else. The ownership trail starts here.
Tesla’s Subsidiaries
From battery tech to insurance and AI chips, Tesla owns dozens of quietly absorbed companies Musk has acquired to strengthen vertical control. Some, like Maxwell Technologies (supercapacitors), go almost entirely unnoticed.
SpaceX’s Starlink Division
Starlink is under SpaceX, but it operates like its own entity—and is one of Musk’s most strategically important holdings. He’s mused about spinning it off, and its role in geopolitics (like Ukraine) underscores just how powerful it’s become.
