From Elon Musk printing service to Musk textiles: the world’s richest man is a trademark phenomenon in China

A report found that 273 companies had registered for trademarks using Elon Musk‘s Chinese or English name

It is not the first time a personality has become a source for trademarks, as Michael Jordan can attest

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Elon Musk has become a popular source for Chinese trademarks. Photo: Handout

Published: 6:30pm, 28 Oct 2021Updated: 6:57pm, 28 Oct 2021

Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, according to Forbes’ The Real-Time Billionaires List, has become a brand unto himself for hundreds of small-scale Chinese businesses ranging from fashion and advertising to restaurants and design.

A business information inquiry from ithome.com, a mainland tech news portal, found that 273 companies trademarked either a brand or product using Musk’s name or the Chinese version of his name.

The companies are spread wide geographically in China, suggesting Musk’s popularity spans much of the country.

Elon Musk is estimated to be worth US$274.4 billion by Forbes’ billionaire index. Photo: Reuters

The businesses started using his names for trademarks when automobiles made by Tesla, Musk’s company, became more popular. In 2018, Tesla opened its first factory to build its vehicles in China.

According to the report, the first company to use Musk in a trademark was a printing company in the eastern province of Zhejiang in 2015 that used Musk’s name for one of their products.

In southern China, a textile company in Guangzhou has registered one trademark that features Musk’s name both in English and Chinese.