TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Michael Truell, CEO of Cursor, the maker of a popular AI code-editing tool, has successfully struck a deal with Elon Musk’s rocket company, SpaceX. Following their agreement sealed earlier this year, both companies formally announced the major acquisition on Tuesday, June 16, 2026.
On top of the massive purchase price, onlookers and investors alike are paying more attention to Cursor’s CEO, who joins the billionaire ranks at just 25 years old. Citing various outlets, here is a closer look at the acquisition and the man behind it, Michael Truell.
Who Is Michael Truell?
Michael Truell is the co-founder and CEO of Cursor, the company behind one of the most widely used AI-powered coding platforms.
Despite leading a fast-growing technology firm, Truell has largely stayed out of the spotlight, earning a reputation as a product-focused founder who prefers building software to seeking public attention.
Raised in New York City, Truell attended the Horace Mann School in the Bronx and developed an interest in programming at an early age. He began coding at 11 years old to build mobile games and quickly advanced his skills in the field.
By the age of 18, he had completed his freshman year at MIT and spent a summer interning at Google, where he worked on the language-model technology used for content ranking.
Michael Truell’s Journey from MIT Intern to Billionaire
A pivotal moment in Truell's career came during that internship, where he crossed paths with investor Ali Partovi, an early backer of tech giants such as Facebook and Airbnb. Partovi was recruiting talent for his NeoScholars program and was reportedly impressed after Truell completed a written coding assessment in record time.
After finishing his first year at MIT, Truell left the university in 2019 to pursue opportunities in technology full-time. He joined the NeoScholars program the following year and later partnered with fellow MIT students Aman Sanger, Sualeh Asif, and Arvid Lunnemark to launch Cursor in 2022.
SpaceX’s $60 Billion Acquisition
Cursor's rapid growth has made it one of the most closely watched companies in the artificial intelligence sector. In November 2025, the startup reached a valuation of $29.3 billion after securing $2.3 billion in fresh capital from a funding round co-led by venture capital firms Accel and Coatue.
Michael Truell’s company has also reported more than $1 billion in annualized revenue, underscoring its position as one of the fastest-growing AI startups in the industry.
In April 2026, Cursor entered into a partnership with SpaceX, focusing on computing infrastructure and AI training initiatives.
According to reports from Business Insider, the agreement gave SpaceX the option to acquire the AI coding startup for $60 billion or alternatively pay $10 billion for the collaborative work completed under the partnership.
Meanwhile, the deal further expands the business empire of Elon Musk, whose investments continue to shape industries ranging from electric vehicles and space exploration to artificial intelligence. To learn more about the billionaire entrepreneur's wealth and business holdings, read our report on how Elon Musk became the richest man in the world.
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