Neuralink is one of the most talked-about technology companies in the world right now — and yet most people know surprisingly little about who actually owns it, who funded it, and how it got to where it is today.
It is the company that put a computer chip inside a human brain in January 2024 and watched that person play chess using only his thoughts. It is the company working on technology that could one day give blind people the ability to see again. And it is owned, in large part, by the same man who owns SpaceX, Tesla, and X — Elon Musk.
What Is Neuralink?
Neuralink Corp. is an American neurotechnology company that develops implantable brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) — tiny devices surgically placed in the brain that allow direct communication between human neural signals and external devices like computers and smartphones.
The company is headquartered in Fremont, California, and is in the process of relocating its West Coast headquarters to South San Francisco following a new lease signed in August 2025.
Neuralink’s current lead product is called Telepathy — a fully implantable, cosmetically invisible, wireless BCI designed to restore digital independence to people living with paralysis.
Its second major product in development is called Blindsight — an implant targeting the visual cortex that could restore some level of vision to people who are blind, which received FDA Breakthrough Device designation in September 2024.
Who Owns Neuralink in 2026?
Neuralink is a 100% privately held company. It is not publicly traded on any stock exchange. Elon Musk is the largest individual shareholder and controlling owner, holding over 50% of the company.
He co-founded Neuralink in June 2016 with an initial personal investment of $100 million and has remained its biggest financial backer through every subsequent funding round.
Jared Birchall serves as CEO of Neuralink, while Elon Musk maintains his role as the controlling owner and strategic visionary. Birchall also manages Musk’s family office, Excession, and runs several other Musk ventures, making him one of the most trusted operational executives in the Musk empire.
Ownership and Key Stakeholders Table
| Owner / Shareholder | Type | Stake | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elon Musk | Founder & Largest Shareholder | Over 50% (controlling stake) | Initial $100M investment; largest contributor across all funding rounds |
| Jared Birchall | CEO | Minimal executive stake | Manages Neuralink operations; also runs Musk’s family office Excession |
| Google Ventures (GV) | Institutional Investor | Undisclosed minority stake | Alphabet’s venture capital arm; participated in multiple rounds |
| ARCH Venture Partners | Institutional Investor | Undisclosed minority stake | Deep tech-focused VC; early Neuralink backer |
| Founders Fund (Peter Thiel) | Institutional Investor | Undisclosed minority stake | Peter Thiel’s VC fund; also an early SpaceX investor |
| Vy Capital | Institutional Investor | Undisclosed minority stake | Growth-stage technology investor |
| Valor Equity Partners | Institutional Investor | Undisclosed minority stake | Long-standing Musk-affiliated investor; also backed Tesla early |
| DFJ Growth | Institutional Investor | Undisclosed minority stake | Growth-stage VC firm; participated in later rounds |
| ARK Invest | Institutional Investor | Undisclosed minority stake | Cathie Wood’s innovation-focused fund; long-term BCI bull |
| Co-founders (remaining) | Original Founding Team | Minority equity stakes | Several original co-founders retain stakes; some have departed |
The Origin Story: Nine Founders and a $100 Million Bet
Neuralink was incorporated on June 21, 2016, co-founded by Elon Musk alongside eight neuroscientists and engineers: Max Hodak, Ben Rapoport, DJ Seo (Dongjin Seo), Paul Merolla, Philip Sabes (Flip Sabes), Vanessa Tolosa, Tim Hanson, and Tim Gardner.
In January 2017, Musk’s team approached two researchers who owned the rights to the name “NeuraLink” and a related prototype — and negotiated to acquire both the name and the underlying work.
By April 2017, Neuralink had publicly announced its ambition: in the short term, treat serious brain diseases, and in the long term, enhance human cognition to keep pace with artificial intelligence.
Musk has been direct about why he believes the latter is necessary. His core argument is that as AI becomes more powerful, humans risk being left so far behind cognitively that we lose meaningful agency over our own future.
Neuralink’s long-term mission — enabling a high-bandwidth connection between human minds and computers — is his answer to that problem.
Some co-founders have since departed. Max Hodak, arguably the most prominent, left in 2021 to found Science Corporation, which is now a direct Neuralink competitor. Ben Rapoport departed citing safety concerns during the early animal testing phase. Others remain involved or retain equity stakes in the company.
How Much Has Neuralink Raised?
Neuralink has raised approximately $1.3 billion across its full funding history, reaching a current valuation of $9 to $9.65 billion as of mid-2026. The most recent funding event was a $650 million Series E round closed in June 2025, confirming Neuralink’s status as a late-stage private company with significant institutional backing.
Key funding rounds include a $27 million Series A in August 2017, a $51 million raise in August 2020 with Musk contributing $50 million personally, a $205 million Series C in November 2021, a $280 million Series D in March 2023, and the $650 million Series E in June 2025.
Despite the growing institutional investor roster, Musk has remained the dominant financial force in every round, consistently investing his own capital to maintain controlling ownership.
The FDA Approval and the First Human Implant
The most important milestone in Neuralink’s history happened on two dates that are now written into the history of medicine.
In May 2023, Neuralink received FDA approval to begin an in-human clinical study called PRIME — Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface. On January 28, 2024, Noland Arbaugh — a 30-year-old quadriplegic from Texas who had been paralyzed from the shoulders down since a 2016 diving accident — became the first human being in history to receive a Neuralink brain implant.
The results were remarkable. Using only his thoughts, Arbaugh could control a computer cursor, play chess online, design 3D models, and browse the internet. Musk praised him as a “pioneer,” and Arbaugh himself described the experience as “like using the Force.”
As of January 2026, Neuralink had enrolled 21 participants in clinical trials worldwide for the Telepathy implant — with trials now operating across the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates. Three people — Noland, Alex, and Brad (who has ALS) — currently live with active Telepathy implants.
Blindsight: The Next Frontier
Neuralink’s second major product is arguably even more ambitious than Telepathy.
Blindsight is an implant designed to target the visual cortex — the part of the brain that processes sight — and restore some level of vision to people who are completely blind, even those who have lost their eyes entirely.
In September 2024, Blindsight received FDA Breakthrough Device designation, which significantly accelerates its path to regulatory approval. First human trials for Blindsight were targeting late 2025, with results expected to become clearer through 2026.
Musk has publicly stated he believes Blindsight will eventually allow blind people to see with superhuman resolution — beyond what natural human vision can achieve. Whether or not that long-term vision materializes, the near-term medical applications alone represent a potential breakthrough for millions of people worldwide.
The Competition: Neuralink Is Not Alone
Neuralink is the most famous name in brain-computer interfaces, but it is far from the only player. The BCI market is estimated to reach $400 billion as it matures, and several serious competitors are advancing parallel programs.
Synchron uses a minimally invasive device called Stentrode that is inserted through blood vessels rather than direct surgery. Precision Neuroscience offers the Layer 7 flexible cortical interface.
Blackrock Neurotech has been implanting BCI devices since 2004 with its Utah Array system. And Paradromics is developing the Connexus high-bandwidth BCI.
Neuralink’s edge is its surgical precision — using a proprietary robot to place ultra-thin electrode threads thinner than a human hair into the brain with minimal tissue damage — and the enormous financial resources and public profile that Elon Musk’s involvement brings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Who owns Neuralink in 2026?
Elon Musk is the controlling owner of Neuralink, holding over 50% of the privately held company alongside institutional investors including Google Ventures and Founders Fund.
Q2. When was Neuralink founded?
Neuralink was founded on June 21, 2016, by Elon Musk and eight co-founders including neuroscientists and engineers from top research institutions.
Q3. Who is the CEO of Neuralink in 2026?
Jared Birchall serves as CEO of Neuralink. He also manages Elon Musk’s family office Excession and several other Musk ventures.
Q4. How much is Neuralink worth in 2026?
Neuralink is currently valued at $9 to $9.65 billion as of mid-2026, following a $650 million Series E funding round closed in June 2025.
Q5. Who was the first human to receive a Neuralink implant?
Noland Arbaugh, a 30-year-old quadriplegic from Texas, became the first human to receive a Neuralink Telepathy implant on January 28, 2024.
Q6. Is Neuralink publicly traded?
No. Neuralink is a 100% private company with no stock exchange listing and no confirmed IPO date as of 2026.
Q7. How much has Neuralink raised in total funding?
Neuralink has raised approximately $1.3 billion across all funding rounds, with Elon Musk personally contributing the majority of that capital.
Q8. What are Neuralink’s two main products?
Neuralink’s two main products are Telepathy — a thought-controlled computer interface for people with paralysis — and Blindsight — a visual cortex implant aiming to restore vision to blind people, which holds FDA Breakthrough Device status.
Neuralink is a 100% private company, founded on June 21, 2016, and controlled by Elon Musk, who holds over 50% of the company and has personally contributed the majority of its approximately $1.3 billion in total funding.
The company is currently valued at $9 to $9.65 billion as of mid-2026. CEO Jared Birchall runs day-to-day operations. Other investors include Google Ventures, ARCH Venture Partners, Founders Fund, and ARK Invest.
Neuralink has now implanted its Telepathy brain chip in 21 human participants across four countries, with trials ongoing. Its Blindsight visual cortex implant holds FDA Breakthrough Device status.
The company is not publicly traded, has no IPO date announced, and remains entirely under Musk’s strategic control — one of the most ambitious private technology bets in the history of modern science.