The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX and the wealthiest person in the
world has remained a central figure in news as he and his businesses continue
to frame the future of automobiles and space travel.
"He is reshaping life on Earth and possibly life off
Earth as well," Time Editor-In-Chief Edward Felsenthal said during live
appearance on TODAY Monday.
In 2021 alone, SpaceX, founded by the South African
entrepreneur in 2002, made history in September after completing the first
mission to space with an all-civilian crew, which included a childhood cancer
survivor.
Beyond participating in what many are calling the "billionaire
space race," Musk's SpaceX was chosen by NASA in April to build the next
generation lunar lander, beating out two other contenders for a $3 billion
contract. He also announced that his company Tesla would continue to make
advancements in technology by developing a humanoid robot with artificial
intelligence next year, dubbed the “Tesla Bot.”
The business magnate is the richest person on the planet
according to Forbes with an estimated net worth of $265.4 billion.
"We are in this new gilded age where, like it or not,
so much of our lives, even in this moment of incredible inequality, are being
shaped by these very wealthy tech leaders," Felsenthal said.
Time's Person of the Year title, named by the magazine's
editors at the end of each calendar year since its inception in 1927, is not
necessarily an award or an honor, but is representative of the influence the
person or persons had on the news over the previous year.
For 2021’s Heroes of the Year award, Time named the
researchers who worked on the COVID-19 vaccines, dubbed "The Miracle
Workers." The cover image features Katalin Karikó, Barney S. Graham,
Kizzmekia Corbett and Drew Weissman, four scientists who made strides during
the pandemic to develop multiple vaccines.
Dr. Karikó and Dr. Weissman’s breakthrough with mRNA
technology went unnoticed for years, but ultimately pioneered both Pfizer and
Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines. Dr. Corbett and Dr. Graham both played critical
roles as a catalyst for the rapid development of multiple COVID-19 vaccines.
Time announced on Dec. 9 its Athlete of the Year and
Entertainer of the Year, Simone Biles and Olivia Rodrigo respectively.
Biles — the most decorated gymnast of all time — brought
mental health to headlines this summer during the Tokyo Olympics when she
withdrew from several events for the preservation of her own mental wellness.
In 2021, Rodrigo skyrocketed from Disney Channel star to superstardom, topping
the Billboard charts and breaking Spotify records with her debut album
“Sour."
In 2020, Time named then President-elect Joe Biden and Vice
President-elect Kamala Harris as the magazine's Person of the Year. The year
prior, teenage climate change activist Greta Thunberg received the title.