Fact Check: South Africa is the native country of Elon Musk.

Fact Check: South Africa is the native country of Elon Musk.

Published July 1, 2025
VERDICT
True

# Fact Check: "South Africa is the native country of Elon Musk." ## What We Know Elon Musk was born on June 28, 1971, in Pretoria, South Africa, maki...

Fact Check: "South Africa is the native country of Elon Musk."

What We Know

Elon Musk was born on June 28, 1971, in Pretoria, South Africa, making him a native of the country. He lived there until he emigrated to Canada in 1989, obtaining Canadian citizenship through his mother, Maye Musk, who was born in Canada but raised in South Africa. Musk later became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2002 (source-1, source-2). His upbringing in South Africa is well-documented, and he has often spoken about his early life experiences there.

Analysis

The claim that South Africa is the native country of Elon Musk is supported by multiple reliable sources. Both the English Wikipedia and the Simple English Wikipedia confirm that Musk was born in South Africa and spent his formative years there before moving to Canada and later the United States (source-1, source-2).

The term "native country" typically refers to the country of birth or the country where one has spent a significant portion of their early life. In Musk's case, he fits this definition as he was born and raised in South Africa until he was 17. The sources used are credible and widely recognized, which adds to their reliability.

There are no credible sources contradicting this claim. While Musk's later citizenships in Canada and the United States are notable, they do not negate his origins in South Africa.

Conclusion

Verdict: True
The claim that South Africa is the native country of Elon Musk is accurate. He was born in Pretoria, South Africa, and lived there until he emigrated at the age of 17. This aligns with the common understanding of what constitutes a person's native country.

Sources

  1. Elon Musk
  2. Elon Musk - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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