Kimbal Musk, the younger brother of Elon Musk, has made a name for himself as a successful entrepreneur. He co-founded Zip2 with Elon, a software company later acquired by Compaq in 1999 for $307 million. Now with an estimated net worth of $700 million, Kimbal has pursued a multifaceted career across food, sustainability, and philanthropy.
Meet Kimbal Musk, co-founded famous company with Elon Musk, later sold it for million dollars and then…
Kimbal Musk is a brother of Elon Musk and an entrepreneur, chef, and activist who has worked in a variety of industries, including technology, hospitality, entertainment, and agriculture.
Kimbal Musk, younger brother of Elon Musk, is a multi-talented person. While Elon dominates headlines with ambitious ventures and provocative tweets, Kimbal has quietly established himself as a successful entrepreneur, restaurateur, and investor. With interests spanning the culinary and tech worlds, Kimbal has built a unique empire with innovation and sustainability that gave him significant wealth.
Kimbal Musk Early Life
Born Kimbal James Musk on September 20, 1972, in Pretoria, South Africa, he is the son of Errol Musk, an engineer, and Maye Musk, a model and dietitian. He grew up alongside his siblings Elon and Tosca, and is a first cousin to Lyndon Rive, co-founder of SolarCity.
After completing high school, Kimbal moved to Canada, where Elon was already living. He attended Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, graduating with a business degree in 1995. During his college years, Kimbal gained valuable experience working at Scotiabank.
Musk Brothers’ First Major Venture: Zip2
Kimbal began his entrepreneurial journey in 1994 by founding a residential painting business with College Pro Painters. The next year, he joined forces with Elon to launch Zip2, an online city guide that provided digital content to major newspapers like the Chicago Tribune and The New York Times. Their efforts paid off when Compaq acquired the company in 1999 for USD 307 million.
From the sale, Elon earned USD 22 million, and Kimbal made USD 15 million. This money Kimbal used to explore investments in emerging technology, including X.com, Elon’s online financial services company that later became PayPal. When eBay acquired PayPal in 2002 for USD 1.5 billion, Kimbal benefited from this massive deal.
Kimbal Diverse Business Ventures
Kimbal continued his entrepreneurial streak by launching Nova Sky Stories in 2002, a company specializing in drone light shows. Between 2006 and 2011, he served as CEO of OneRiot, an advertising network, which was later acquired by Walmart-Labs.
In 2016, Kimbal co-founded Square Roots, an urban farming initiative that grows food in hydroponic, climate-controlled shipping containers. The venture reflects Kimbal’s deep commitment to sustainability and addressing global food challenges.
Though Kimbal Musk’s ventures often intersect with Elon’s, he has crafted a distinct identity in business and philanthropy. A board member of Tesla and SpaceX, Kimbal also channels his efforts into sustainable food and clean energy, demonstrating a passion for innovation that improves everyday lives.
