Kimbal Musk's Net Worth 2025: Did Elon's Shadow Build His Fortune?

Estimated Net Worth: $500 Million – $900 Million
Profession: Restaurateur, Chef, Entrepreneur, Investor
Born: September 20, 1972
Birthplace: Pretoria, South Africa
Nationality: South African, Canadian
Affiliations: Tesla, SpaceX, The Kitchen, Big Green, Square Roots

How Is Kimbal Musk So Rich?

You'd be forgiven for thinking Kimbal Musk made his money flipping omelets and growing lettuce in shipping containers. But the truth is—despite the cowboy hat and farm-to-table branding—most of his wealth came from boardroom deals, not behind stoves.

Thanks to early-stage investments, strategic board positions, and the well-timed sale of Tesla shares, Kimbal has amassed a fortune estimated between $500 million and $900 million. Some of that fluctuation comes down to Tesla's stock volatility. At the company's peak, Kimbal's stake was reportedly worth north of $1.3 billion.

Early Life and Zip2: The Scrappier Musk

Born in Pretoria, South Africa, Kimbal Musk was raised by dietician Maye Musk and engineer Errol Musk. Unlike Elon Musk, who obsessed over space and coding, Kimbal gravitated toward food—and, perhaps, human connection.

After high school, he joined Elon in Canada and enrolled at Queen’s University, where he studied business. But even then, the brothers were building things. Literally. In 1995, they co-founded Zip2, a city guide software company. The startup grind was real: they lived in the office, showered at the YMCA, and fought—physically. According to Walter Isaacson’s biography, one of those fights ended with Kimbal biting Elon’s hand.

When Compaq bought Zip2 in 1999 for $307 million, Kimbal walked away with $15 million. That was the beginning of his wealth—but not the path he ultimately followed.

Culinary Detour: Cooking His Way Out of Silicon Valley

While Elon dove into online banking and what would become PayPal, Kimbal went to culinary school. The French Culinary Institute in New York City, to be exact—where chefs scream, sauces break, and ego meets flame. It wasn’t glamorous. “I would literally say to my friends, ‘I gotta go get screamed at for seven hours,’” he once joked on the Lex Fridman podcast.

In 2004, he opened The Kitchen in Boulder, Colorado. The farm-to-table bistro gained praise from Gourmet, Zagat, and the James Beard Foundation. He later launched Next Door American Eatery and Big Green, a nonprofit that built over 700 school gardens. His food-tech startup, Square Roots, raised $90 million but struggled with layoffs and restructuring in 2023.

What Does Kimbal Musk Do at Tesla?

Kimbal’s real windfall came not from food, but from tech—namely, Tesla. He joined the board in 2004 and remained there as the company went from startup to stock market juggernaut.

After Tesla’s stock split (again) in mid-2023, Kimbal found himself holding about 1.7 million shares. At the company’s peak valuation, that was worth as much as $1.3 billion. Not bad for someone who once described himself as "just a guy who wanted to cook."

Recent Stock Sales: Smart Moves or Dumb Luck?

In June 2025, Kimbal sold nearly 92,000 Tesla shares, netting roughly $31 million. It wasn’t his first big sale—he’s disposed of Tesla stock over a dozen times since 2020. Some of those sales were pre-scheduled via 10b5-1 plans; others weren’t.

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Is he good at timing the market? Apparently not. Barron’s found that Kimbal’s trades were about as predictive as flipping a coin. Half the time, Tesla stock rose after he sold. Half the time, it didn’t. Still, given how long he’s held his stake, the overall return has been massive—even if the timing wasn’t flawless.

Share this gallery Meet Kimbal Musk, Elon's younger brother and trustee on a sustainable eating and energy mission 1 of 17 Kimbal poses with his mother, Maye

Kimbal poses with his mother, Maye

SpaceX, OneRiot, and Other Detours

Kimbal was also on the board of SpaceX until 2022. Though he played no operational role, he’s estimated to have sold $100 million in secondary shares and still holds a stake worth around $200 million.

Outside the Musk ecosystem, he hasn’t had the same luck. His social media ad startup OneRiot was sold in a fire-sale to Walmart in 2011. “It was like chewing sawdust every day,” he later admitted. And Square Roots—his urban farming company—has downsized and pivoted repeatedly.

His newest venture, Nova Sky Stories, does drone light shows. The company’s biggest clients? Tesla and Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund—both of which are also backing Elon’s ventures.

Personal Life

Kimbal married Jen Lewin in 2001 and had three children. They divorced in 2010. In 2018, he married Christiana Wyly, daughter of former billionaire Sam Wyly, who famously lost his fortune in an SEC and IRS crackdown.

Despite Kimbal’s wealth and visibility, former colleagues say he rarely rocks the boat. “He’s Switzerland,” said one former employee. “He won’t go against Elon—even privately.”

Kimbal poses with Christiana,

Controversy and COVID Backlash

During the pandemic, Kimbal’s restaurant group was criticized for mishandling an employee hardship fund. Staff said they couldn’t access the money when they needed it most. Kimbal pushed back, insisting the fund approved tens of thousands in grants—but the damage to his reputation among workers was already done.

Politics and Elon’s Shadow

Though Kimbal once distanced himself from Donald Trump, he’s since echoed many of his brother’s political stances. Recently, he criticized Trump’s trade advisor and called tariffs “a tax on working Americans.” But most of the time, he keeps his views in check.

According to Forbes, Kimbal belongs to the “Musktocracy”—a small circle of friends, family, and early employees who became wildly rich by staying close to Elon.

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