Meet the Indian-Origin Minds Powering Elon Musk’s Boldest Dreams
When we think of Elon Musk, images of roaring rockets, sleek electric cars,
and futuristic AI flash through our minds. The billionaire entrepreneur has
become almost synonymous with innovation—but behind every one of his
revolutionary ideas is a talented team making it all happen.
Interestingly, many of the key brains driving Musk’s most ambitious ventures hail from India. Whether it's redefining transportation, tackling government inefficiencies, or revolutionizing space travel, these Indian-origin professionals are right at the center of it all. Let’s take a closer look at some of these unsung heroes turning Musk’s visions into reality.
AshokElluswamy – Steering the Future of Tesla’s Autopilot
Ashok Elluswamy is not a household name—but for those watching the evolution
of autonomous vehicles, he’s a rockstar. Originally from Tamil Nadu, Ashok
studied engineering in Chennai before heading to the U.S. for a Master’s in
robotic systems at Carnegie Mellon University.
He was the first person hired for Tesla’s Autopilot program back in 2014. At
the time, Tesla didn’t even have advanced hardware to work with—the systems had
just 384 KB of memory! But Ashok didn’t let that hold him back. Over the years,
he helped build the foundation of what is now Tesla’s cutting-edge self-driving
software. Today, he leads Tesla’s AI division as Vice President.
Even Elon Musk himself has acknowledged Ashok’s contribution, once stating:
“Without Ashok and our team, Tesla would just be another car company looking
for an autonomy supplier that doesn’t exist.”
High praise—and well deserved.
Vaibhav Taneja – The Man Managing Tesla’s Billions
While engineers like Ashok are creating Tesla’s futuristic tech, someone
needs to make sure the finances align with those ambitions. That’s where
Vaibhav Taneja comes in.
A commerce graduate from Delhi University, Vaibhav joined Tesla in 2017 and
took over as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in 2023. By 2024, he was earning a staggering
$139 million in compensation—more than some of Silicon Valley’s biggest names
like Sundar Pichai or Satya Nadella.
But big responsibilities come with that big paycheck. Vaibhav is overseeing Tesla’s global financial strategy, including its ambitious push into the Indian market. He also sits on the board of Tesla’s India unit. Interestingly, he’s not the first Indian-origin CFO at Tesla—he follows in the footsteps of Deepak Ahuja.
Sanjeev Sharma – From Rail Tracks to Rocket Launches
Sanjeev Sharma’s journey reads like a screenplay. After spending over a
decade working with Indian Railways, he moved to the U.S. for further studies.
Fast-forward a few years, and he’s now a principal engineer at SpaceX, Musk’s
private space company.
In 2024, Sanjeev played a key role in a feat that many thought was
impossible—using the launch tower to catch the massive super-heavy booster of
the Starship rocket. It wasn’t just a technical marvel; it was a pivotal step
toward making Musk’s dream of fully reusable rockets come true.
His story, which made waves on LinkedIn, is an inspiration to engineers across the world—proof that humble beginnings don’t define how far one can go.
Akash Bobba – Fixing Government Systems at Just 22
At just 22 years old, Akash Bobba is already leaving a mark in one of the
most unexpected areas—government reform. A graduate from UC Berkeley, Akash was
tapped in 2025 to join Musk’s latest initiative: the Department of Government
Efficiency (DOGE).
Yes, DOGE. But this project is no joke. It aims to modernize outdated U.S.
government systems using AI and data analytics. Akash, known for his quick
thinking (he once rebuilt an entire college project overnight after a teammate
deleted it), is now using those same problem-solving skills to untangle the red
tape and inefficiencies plaguing government infrastructure.
Sure, there’s some skepticism about someone so young working on such sensitive systems. But when it comes to raw talent and drive, Akash is proving the doubters wrong every day.
Sriram Krishnan – The Steady Hand at Twitter (Now X)
When Elon Musk acquired Twitter, it threw the platform into chaos. Enter
Sriram Krishnan—a seasoned tech executive who stepped in during one of
Twitter’s most turbulent periods.
Born in Chennai, Sriram has worked at some of the biggest names in tech:
Microsoft, Facebook, and Snap. During his short stint helping Musk reorganize
Twitter (now rebranded as X), he focused on reshaping the engineering team and
reevaluating content moderation policies.
While others like Parag Agrawal and Vijaya Gadde were ousted, Sriram’s presence marked a strategic shift. Though he’s now back at venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, his contribution during that critical time speaks volumes about his adaptability and influence in the tech world.
The Bigger Picture
These stories reflect a broader truth—India continues to be a wellspring of
talent for the global tech ecosystem. In Elon Musk’s ever-evolving empire,
these Indian-origin professionals are not just participants; they’re leaders
shaping the future.
From AI and electric vehicles to reusable rockets and public sector reform,
their work isn’t just supporting Musk’s visions—it’s helping to realize them.
And as their influence grows, so too does India’s silent but powerful role in
writing the next chapter of global innovation.
