Tesla CEO, SpaceX founder, and South African-born billionaire Elon Musk now holds a special federal employee status, granting him the ability to work for the U.S. government temporarily, with or without compensation.
While there are certain exceptions, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management states that federal employment typically requires U.S. citizenship.
Since voicing his support for President Trump’s 2024 campaign, Musk has faced a wave of social media speculation questioning whether he is a U.S. citizen.
Following news of his government role, and given both his and President Donald Trump’s firm stance on immigration, the question has resurfaced: Is Elon Musk a U.S. citizen? The answer: yes.
Elon Musk’s Citizenship Status and Background
“Musk has been a U.S. citizen since 2002, according to a 2023 biography by journalist Walter Isaacson,” reported Politifact and CNN.
Born in Pretoria, South Africa, in 1971, Musk comes from a family with South African and Canadian roots. His father, Errol Musk, is a businessman and property developer in South Africa, while his mother, Maye Musk, is Canadian, which granted Musk Canadian citizenship.
During his college years, Musk entered the U.S. on an Exchange Visitor Visa, which allows individuals to participate in research, teaching, and academic programs.
In October, The Washington Post reported that Musk may have worked illegally in Silicon Valley in the early days of his career while he and his brother built PayPal. President Biden later referenced this report, amplifying the discussion on Musk’s platform, X (formerly Twitter).
Musk swiftly responded on X, stating that he “was in fact allowed to work in the U.S.” and described his immigration experience as a “gray area," according to CNN.
Regardless of his employment status during his early career, Musk is now a confirmed U.S. citizen and resides primarily in the United States.
Elon Musk’s Early Life and Education
Musk spent most of his childhood in South Africa before relocating to Canada at age 17 to attend Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario.
In 1992, he transferred to the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, where he earned bachelor’s degrees in economics and physics.
Where Does Elon Musk Currently Live?
Yes, Musk resides in the U.S. His primary home is in Boca Chica, Texas, near SpaceX Headquarters.
According to Architectural Digest, Musk owns both a compact residence and a modest two-bedroom home in the area.
“In 2021, Musk revealed in a post on X that he was living in a three-bedroom ranch, also in Boca Chica. He claimed to be renting the $50,000 property from SpaceX,” Architectural Digest reported in January.
“Like his tiny home, the property is a short drive from his company’s beachfront launch site, SpaceX Starbase.”
Elon Musk’s Wealth and Global Standing
As of Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, Forbes’ real-time billionaires list ranks Musk as the wealthiest person in the world, slightly ahead of Jeff Bezos.
According to Reuters, Musk’s net worth exceeds $400 billion, solidifying his position as the richest billionaire globally.
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