Musk Refutes Claims of Illegal Work in the US

Elon Musk, the tech billionaire, has refuted claims that he worked illegally in the United States during the early stages of his career.

Allegations of Illegal Work

According to a report by The Washington Post on October 27, Musk allegedly began his career in the US by working illegally in 1995 while he was establishing his Silicon Valley startup, Zip2. This startup was sold for approximately $300 million four years later. The report was based on company documents, former business associates, and a previous CEO of the company who stated that investors were concerned that Musk could face deportation if found out.

Musk's Response

Musk, however, has denied these allegations in a series of social media posts. In response to a video of President Joe Biden referencing the claims made by The Washington Post, Musk stated that he had the necessary authorization to work in the US. "I was in fact allowed to work in the U.S.," Musk stated in his October 27 post. In another post, he provided additional details about his immigration status. According to Musk, he initially had a J-1 visa, which is for international students to pursue academic training or research. He then transitioned to an H1-B visa, which allows for temporary employment in specialty occupations. "I was on a J-1 visa that transitioned to an H1-B. They know this, as they have all my records," Musk stated.

Musk's Background

Musk was born in South Africa and immigrated to Canada at the age of 18 after acquiring Canadian citizenship through his Canadian-born mother. He attended Queen's University at Kingston in Canada before transferring to the University of Pennsylvania. In 1995, Musk moved to California to attend Stanford University but dropped out after two days to co-found Zip2 with his brother Kimbal. He became a U.S. citizen in 2002. The Epoch Times has reached out to Elon Musk, Stanford University, and the University of Pennsylvania for comments.

Bottom Line

The allegations against Elon Musk regarding his early work status in the US have sparked a significant debate. Musk's denial and clarification about his immigration status have added a new dimension to this discussion. What are your thoughts on this matter? Do you think these allegations could impact Musk's reputation or his businesses? Feel free to share this article with your friends and discuss it. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.