It's unclear if Elon Musk ever figured out how to wear a cowboy hat, but 2024 is the year the billionaire went all in on Texas. While Tesla laid off almost 2,700 Texas staffers in the spring as part of a global workforce shedding, the automaker still hired and expanded more in the state this year.

Sales of the company’s cars are flagging, but investors are focusing on the potential of autonomous driving and Mr. Musk’s ties to President-elect Donald J. Trump.

SpaceX launched more than 130 missions this year and made significant progress with its new Starship vehicle, the biggest and most powerful rocket ever built.

Elon Musk risked his entire fortune to pursue his dream of making humanity multi-planetary through SpaceX. Justine Musk, his ex-wife, revealed that he was so dedicated to his vision that he was willing to move in with her parents if his endeavor failed.