Kimbal Musk is a Canadian-South African American businessman, restaurateur, and philanthropist.
He is co-owner of The Kitchen Restaurant Group, a collection of community-focused restaurants across the United States, and co-founder of Big Green, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building outdoor classrooms and Teaching gardens in schools.
Musk also co-founded Square Roots, an urban farming company focused on sustainable food production, and serves on the boards of Tesla and SpaceX.
File
- Full name: Kimbal James Musk
- Stage name: Kimbal Musk
- Date of birth: September 20, 1972
- Age: 52 years old
- Place of birth: Pretoria, South Africa Pretoria, South Africa
- Nationality: South African, Canadian, United States
- Occupation: South African Canadian, Chef, entrepreneur, environmentalist and venture capitalist
- Height: Unknown
- Parents: W. Maye Musk, Errol Musk
- Siblings: Tosca Musk, Elon Musk
- Spouse: Jen Lewin (m. 2001–2010), Christiana Wyly (m. 2018)
- Children: Luca Musk, Stella Musk, August Musk
- Relationship: Married
- Net worth: $658 million and $777.8 million
Early life and education
Kimbal James Musk was born on September 20, 1972 in Pretoria, South Africa, to Maye Musk, a model and nutritionist, and Errol Musk, an electrical engineer and real estate developer.
He grew up with his older brother, Elon Musk, and younger sister, Tosca. At age 17, Kimbal moved to Canada and later studied at Queen’s University, earning a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1995.
He then trained in culinary arts at the French Culinary Institute in New York City. Musk is of South African descent, although his religious beliefs are not public.
Career
Kimbal Musk began his entrepreneurial journey in the technology field by co-founding Zip2 in 1995 with his brother Elon Musk.
Zip2 was an innovative online city guide that provided mapping and directory services, a new concept at the time.
Compaq achieved considerable success and acquired the company for $307 million in 1999, marking one of the first major successes of the Musk family’s business ventures.
Building on this achievement, Kimbal invested in other tech startups, including X.com, which later evolved into PayPal, further cementing his reputation as a tech entrepreneur .
After success in the technology field, Musk shifted his focus to community-oriented business projects. He co-founded The Kitchen Restaurant Group, a collection of restaurants in Colorado, Chicago and Austin that emphasizes sustainable and locally sourced ingredients.
Passionate about education and food, he co-founded Big Green, a nonprofit organization that has built hundreds of Learning Gardens in schoolyards across America.
These outdoor classes aim to inspire children with healthier eating habits and environmental awareness.
Musk also co-founded Square Roots, an urban agriculture company that uses hydroponic technology to grow fresh produce in climate-controlled shipping containers, promoting sustainable food production in urban areas .
In addition to his business endeavors, Musk holds influential roles on the boards of several major companies.
He serves on the board of directors of Tesla Inc. and SpaceX, headed by his brother Elon Musk, contribute to strategic decisions at the forefront of electric vehicles and space exploration.
From 2013 to 2019, he also served on the board of directors of Chipotle Mexican Grill, helping guide the company through a period of transition.
His work has been widely recognized, earning him multiple awards such as World Economic Forum’s Global Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2018.
Despite his successes, Musk still faces many controversies. In February 2021, he sold 30,000 Tesla shares worth more than $25 million, followed by 88,500 shares in February 2022, worth $108 million.
The second transaction occurred a day before his brother Elon conducted a Twitter probe into Tesla stock sales, leading to an SEC investigation into possible insider trading.
The probe ultimately led to Elon Musk selling billions of dollars worth of Tesla stock, causing the stock price to drop significantly.
These events have added complexity to Kimbal Musk’s distinguished career as a businessman and philanthropist.
Social Media
- Instagram handle: @kimbalmusk
- Twitter name: @kimbal
Personal life
Kimbal Musk has been married twice. He is currently married to Christiana Wyly, an environmental activist and daughter of former billionaire Sam Wyly. The couple got married in Spain on June 30, 2018, and celebrated their union with several ceremonies.
Previously, Kimbal was married to artist Jen Lewin and had three children with him: Luca Musk, Stella Musk and August Musk. Even though they are divorced, they are still committed to raising their children together.
Kimbal and Christiana maintain a close and supportive relationship, often reflecting on their harmonious family dynamics.
Additionally, Musk has a daughter from another relationship, although details about her remain private.
Net worth
Kimbal Musk’s net worth is estimated to be between $658 million and $777.8 million.
Most of his wealth is derived from his significant stake in Tesla, where he owns about 1.56 million shares worth about $724 million.
In addition to Tesla, Musk has further consolidated his fortune through investments in ventures such as The Kitchen Restaurant Group and Square Roots, highlighting his success across a variety of industries.
