What do Elon Musk’s 4 companies actually do? The world’s richest man just bought Twitter for US$44 billion – finally – but he also owns Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink and The Boring Company

Nov 1 , 2022

Elon Musk just bought Twitter – finally – but what other companies does he own? Photo: DPA

The billionaire closed his social media deal after a months-long legal battle, adding his fifth company to his portfolio, claiming a ‘digital town square’ is ‘important to the future of civilisation’

He leads Tesla and SpaceX, of course, but how much do you know about start-ups Neuralink and The Boring Company, which aim to treat brain issues using microchips, and improve traffic with tunnels?

Elon Musk now owns Twitter, making it the fifth company led by the world’s richest man.

Twitter and Musk formally closed on the billionaire’s deal to take the company private on Thursday, October 27.

Elon Musk plans to begin lay-offs at Twitter Inc. as early as October 29, after completing his acquisition of the social media platform. Photo: Los Angeles Times/TNS

The US$44 billion deal follows a months-long legal battle between the social media company and Musk, who attempted backing out of the deal over claims regarding the number of inauthentic accounts on the app.

“The reason I acquired Twitter is because it is important to the future of civilisation to have a common digital town square,” Musk wrote in a letter addressed to Twitter advertisers, which he tweeted Thursday.

Elon Musk bought Twitter for US$44 billion on October 27. Photo: Reuters

The tech mogul now must divide his attention between five companies spanning transport, neuroscience and social media. Musk runs Tesla and SpaceX alongside two smaller start-ups, Neuralink and The Boring Company.

From building rockets and brain chips to digging tunnels, here’s what all of Musk’s companies do.