28 of the major honors received by Elon Musk and his companies — from technical societies, governments and publications.
Robert A. Heinlein Memorial Award
2025
National Space Society
The National Space Society presented Musk its Robert A. Heinlein Memorial Award, its highest honor, recognizing SpaceX's transformative advances in reusable rockets, Starship, and the push to make humanity multiplanetary.
Most Innovative Company — SpaceX
2023
Fast Company
Fast Company ranked SpaceX the most innovative company in the world for 2023, citing the cadence of Falcon 9 reuse, the scale-up of Starlink, and progress on Starship — the engine room of Musk's space ambitions.
Member, National Academy of Engineering
2022
National Academy of Engineering
Musk was elected to the National Academy of Engineering, one of the highest professional honors for an engineer, for breakthrough contributions to reusable launch vehicles and electric vehicles.
Time Person of the Year
2021
Time Magazine
Time named Musk its Person of the Year for 2021, citing his reshaping of life on Earth and beyond through Tesla's electric-vehicle dominance and SpaceX's leadership in commercial spaceflight.
Person of the Year
2021
Financial Times
The Financial Times named Musk its Person of the Year for 2021, citing Tesla's trillion-dollar valuation and his outsized influence on markets, technology, and the global transition to electric vehicles.
Axel Springer Award
2020
Axel Springer SE
German media company Axel Springer presented Musk with its award for 'great visions and the indomitable will to achieve them,' honoring his innovation across Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, and The Boring Company.
Businessperson of the Year
2020
Fortune Magazine
Fortune again named Musk Businessperson of the Year in 2020, recognizing Tesla's surging valuation and profitability and SpaceX's milestone of launching astronauts under NASA's Commercial Crew program.
Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication
2019
Starmus Festival
Musk received the Starmus Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication, awarded to individuals who help promote science and inspire public engagement with space exploration and technology.
Order of the Direkgunabhorn (Fifth Class)
2019
Government of Thailand
Thailand awarded Musk this royal decoration in recognition of his contributions during the Tham Luang cave rescue, when SpaceX engineers built a mini-submarine to assist the trapped soccer team.
Bower Award for Business Leadership
2018
The Franklin Institute
The Franklin Institute honored Musk with its Bower Award for Business Leadership, recognizing his visionary leadership at Tesla and SpaceX in advancing sustainable energy and reusable spaceflight.
Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS)
2018
Royal Society
Musk was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, the United Kingdom's national academy of sciences, recognizing his substantial contributions to engineering and the advancement of science.
Oslo Business for Peace Award
2017
Business for Peace Foundation
Musk was named a Business for Peace Honoree by the Oslo-based foundation, recognizing business leaders who are ethically driving positive change and creating shared value for society.
Honorary Membership
2015
IEEE
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers granted Musk honorary membership, a distinction for non-members who have made exceptional contributions, recognizing his leadership in electric vehicles and energy technology.
Honorary Doctorate in Engineering and Technology
2015
Yale University
Yale University conferred an honorary doctorate on Musk, recognizing his transformative contributions to engineering and technology across the automotive, aerospace, and energy sectors.
Edison Achievement Award
2014
Edison Awards
Musk received the Edison Achievement Award, which honors individuals who have made a significant and lasting contribution to innovation, marketing, and human-centered design throughout their careers.
President’s Award for Exploration and Technology
2014
The Explorers Club
The Explorers Club presented Musk with its President's Award for Exploration and Technology, recognizing his work expanding the frontiers of space exploration through SpaceX.
Businessperson of the Year
2013
Fortune Magazine
Fortune named Musk its Businessperson of the Year for 2013, citing Tesla's breakout success with the Model S and SpaceX's growing dominance in the commercial launch market.
100 Most Influential People
2013
Time Magazine
Time included Musk on its annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world, recognizing his growing impact through Tesla, SpaceX, and SolarCity on transportation and energy.
Car of the Year — Tesla Model S
2013
Motor Trend
Motor Trend named the Tesla Model S its 2013 Car of the Year, the first time an electric car won the award outright — a landmark validation that an EV could beat the best petrol cars on performance, not just efficiency.
Gold Medal
2012
Royal Aeronautical Society
The world's oldest aeronautical society awarded Musk its Gold Medal in recognition of SpaceX's pioneering achievements in commercial spaceflight, including the first private spacecraft to reach the ISS.
Heinlein Prize for Advances in Space Commercialization
2011
Heinlein Prize Trust
Musk received the $250,000 Heinlein Prize honoring practical accomplishments in commercializing space, in recognition of SpaceX's progress toward affordable, routine private access to orbit.
FAI Gold Space Medal
2010
Fédération Aéronautique Internationale
The international air-sports federation awarded Musk its Gold Space Medal, its highest space honor, recognizing SpaceX's role in advancing private spaceflight and the Falcon and Dragon programs.
Living Legend of Aviation
2010
Kitty Hawk Foundation
Musk was named a Living Legend of Aviation, an honor recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to aviation and aerospace, for his work pioneering commercial spaceflight at SpaceX.
George Low Space Transportation Award
2008
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
The AIAA honored Musk and SpaceX with the George Low Space Transportation Award for outstanding contributions in the field of space transportation, recognizing the development of the Falcon launch vehicles.
Wernher von Braun Trophy
2008
National Space Society
The National Space Society awarded Musk its Wernher von Braun Trophy, recognizing leadership in space development, for SpaceX achievements in advancing low-cost, reliable access to space.
National Conservation Achievement Award
2008
National Wildlife Federation
The National Wildlife Federation honored Musk with a National Conservation Achievement Award for his contributions to sustainable energy and transportation through Tesla and clean-technology ventures.
Entrepreneur of the Year
2007
Inc. Magazine
Inc. Magazine named Musk its Entrepreneur of the Year in 2007, recognizing his role in founding and leading multiple disruptive ventures across the automotive, space, and energy industries.
Global Green Product Design Award
2007
Global Green
Presented by Mikhail Gorbachev, the award recognized the Tesla Roadster's contribution to sustainable transportation and the advancement of clean automotive technology.