The other Musk: this is Kimbal, the businessman who lives in the shadow of his brother Elon

While Elon Musk makes headlines with his technological projects, his brother Kimbal (52) maintains a much more discreet profile, though no less interesting. This South African-born entrepreneur, who has a fortune of 700 million dollars, prefers to stay under the radar beneath his characteristic cowboy hat.

A fortune linked to Tesla

Kimbal’s wealth mainly comes from his small shareholding in Tesla, the electric vehicle company founded by his older brother. However, his net worth also reflects his career as an independent entrepreneur and his investments across various sectors.

Beyond physical appearance

Although both brothers share very similar features — prominent jawline, straight nose, green eyes, and South African roots — their personalities and professional paths diverge considerably. While Elon is seen as a visionary in space and automotive technology, Kimbal has directed his efforts toward other business fields, maintaining a distinctive personal style thanks to his iconic cowboy hat.

A marked childhood

The Musks have a complex family background. Kimbal grew up alongside Elon and his younger sister Tosca (50) in Pretoria, South Africa, under difficult circumstances that included domestic violence. This context led their mother Maya (76) to decide to divorce in 1979 and emigrate with her children first to Canada and later to the United States.

The first major business success

Far from staying in the shadows, Kimbal worked alongside Elon in the early stages of his entrepreneurial career. In 1995, the two brothers founded Zip2, a company specializing in internet-oriented business software. The project was a commercial success, culminating in 1999 with its sale to Compaq for 307 million dollars, a milestone that marked the beginning of their fortunes.

Since then, Kimbal has followed his own path in the business ecosystem, keeping discretion as his hallmark.