Kimbal Musk: billionaire, policy critic, and planet defender

Older brother of OpenAI founder, Kimbal Musk, has recently attracted attention for his criticism of Trump administration policies, despite his younger brother Elon supporting the president. At 52 years old, Kimbal has already built a reputation in both business and environmental protection, maintaining his signature look of always wearing a cowboy hat.

A few days ago, Kimbal Musk shared his views on economic policy on X, stating that Trump’s tariffs create a “structural and long-term tax on American consumers.” His statement indicates a growing divergence of opinions between the two brothers, who, despite their disagreements, love each other very much.

Kimbal Musk’s Wealth and Sources

Kimbal Musk owns a fortune of $700 million, largely accumulated through his 0.04% stake in Tesla. However, his wealth is not limited to income from the electric car company’s shares. Throughout his entrepreneurial career, Kimbal has achieved significant success, positioning him as one of the wealthiest members of the Musk family.

Notable Similarities Between the Brothers

Kimbal and Elon Musk share many personal traits, likely inherited from their common roots. Both brothers were born in Pretoria, South Africa, and have distinctive features: square jaw, straight nose, and green eyes. Moreover, both hold citizenship in three countries: South Africa, Canada, and the United States.

What mainly sets the younger brother of Neuralink and Tesla’s founder apart is his constant style of wearing a cowboy hat, which Kimbal considers an integral part of his image and fully aligns with his environmentally conscious lifestyle.

Family History and Their First Joint Business

Like his younger sister Tosca (50) and brother Elon, Kimbal experienced a difficult childhood. The family faced domestic violence, leading their mother, Mayu, to decide on a divorce in 1979. Later, the family emigrated to Canada, then to the United States, where a new chapter of their lives began.

In America, both brothers, Kimbal and Elon, founded their first joint project — Zip2, a company specializing in developing software for online business. The startup achieved impressive results: in 1999, it was sold to Compaq for $307 million, marking the beginning of both brothers’ entrepreneurial careers and laying the foundation for their future successes. This success of Zip2 demonstrates how Kimbal Musk contributed significantly to the tech business alongside his now-famous brother.