Business magnate and technologist Elon Musk is recognized for his design and engineering work on Tesla vehicles and SpaceX rockets and his efforts to combat global warming. For his renewable energy work and advocacy, he has received several environmentalist awards, including the National Wildlife Federation's Connie Award[1] and a Global Green award.[2] In part for his contributions to space travel, Musk was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2018,[3] was listed among the Time 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2010, 2013, 2018 and 2021, and was ranked joint-first on the Forbes list of the "Most Innovative Leaders of 2019".[4] On December 13, 2021 Time magazine named him Person of the Year.[5]
Inc. magazine Entrepreneur of the Year award for 2007 for his work on Tesla and SpaceX.[8]
2007 Index Design award for his design of the Tesla Roadster.[9]Global Green 2006 product design award for his design of the Tesla Roadster, presented by Mikhail Gorbachev.[10]
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics George Low award for "the most outstanding contribution in the field of space transportation in 2007/2008". Musk was recognized for his design of the Falcon 1, the first privately developed liquid-fuel rocket to reach orbit.[11][12]
Named as one of the 75 most influential people of the 21st century by Esquire magazine.[17]
Recognized as a Living Legend of Aviation in 2010 by the Kitty Hawk Foundation for creating the successor to the Space Shuttle (Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft). Other recipients include Buzz Aldrin and Richard Branson.[18]
In February 2011, Forbes listed Musk as one of "America's 20 Most Powerful CEOs 40 And Under."[19]
On February 9, 2022, National Academy of Engineering announced that Musk was among their new, peer-elected members, an award considered to be among the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer, "for breakthroughs in the design, engineering, manufacturing, and operation of reusable launch vehicles and sustainable transportation and energy systems".[47]
On May 20, 2022, Musk was awarded with the Order of Defence Merit by the Brazilian government after negotiating the launch of the Starlink internet service in the Amazon rainforest.[6][citation needed]
On January 6, 2023, The Guinness World Records reported that Musk broke a world record for the largest loss of wealth at approximately $182 billion, as estimated by Forbes.[48]
"National Academy of Engineering Elects 111 Members and 22 International Members". nae.edu. February 9, 2022. Archived from the original on August 10, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2022. Musk, Elon Reeve, founder, chief executive officer, and chief engineer, SpaceX, Hawthorne, Calif. For breakthroughs in the design, engineering, manufacturing, and operation of reusable launch vehicles and sustainable transportation and energy systems.