Elon Musk, the billionaire behind Tesla and SpaceX, is now officially a U.S. government employee. But that hasn’t stopped questions about his citizenship and speculations about whether his residence is legal in the USA! His official stay in America dates back to 2002 and he has often faced questions regarding his immigration history. After his recent appointment as a special federal employee, critics, especially those who oppose his support for President Donald Trump, have come forward and once again brought to light the question whether he has the legal right to be in such a position.
Musk was born in Pretoria, South Africa, in 1971 to a South African father and a Canadian mother. His birth gives him dual citizenship in both countries. He moved to Canada at 17 to study at Queen’s University and later transferred to the University of Pennsylvania in the U.S., where he graduated with degrees in economics and physics.
In the early days of his career, Musk reportedly faced immigration challenges. The Washington Post previously claimed that he worked illegally while co-founding PayPal in Silicon Valley. The same allegation was put forward by President Joe Biden in 2024.
Musk, however, never gave in to these claims. Responding to the viral reports, he insisted on X (formerly Twitter),“I was in fact allowed to work in the U.S.,” and called his early immigration status a “gray area.”
Regardless of past controversies, Musk officially became a U.S. citizen in 2002. His primary residence is in Texas, near SpaceX’s headquarters. Musk’s recent appointment as a special federal employee, a temporary government position that may or may not be paid, has again resurfaced discussions about whether non-citizens should hold such roles. U.S. law generally requires federal employees to be American citizens and exceptions are only made for individuals with unique expertise.
Given Musk’s vast experience in technology, space exploration, and artificial intelligence, it’s no surprise that the government has sought his input. However, many are claiming that his controversial political views and past immigration history doesn’t come up to be sound fit to his appointment.
Despite all the speculations and severe questioning going on, Musk has not paid any heed to the latest round of guesstimates. Rather, he has put his complete focus on his businesses and government collaborations. As of February 2025, Musk is still the world’s richest person. He has a whopping net worth that exceeds $400 billion; a figure that even surpasses even Amazon’s Jeff Bezos.
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Well yes, the debate over Musk’s citizenship flares up from time to time but the fact is clear: He is a U.S. citizen. He might have had his share of challenges in the past, but his position today as a government employee is unquestionable.
