With his bold venture, Nova Sky Stories, Kimbal Musk, Elon Musk’s younger brother, is making waves in the tech and entertainment world. While many know Kimbal for championing sustainable food initiatives through projects like The Kitchen Restaurant Group and Big Green, he’s now dazzling audiences by lighting up the skies in a completely new way.
Nova Sky Stories, which took off in 2022, creates mesmerizing drone light shows that blend cutting-edge technology with jaw-dropping artistry. These eco-friendly displays offer a fresh, sustainable spin on the traditional fireworks experience, perfectly capturing Kimbal’s knack for shaking things up and reimagining how we celebrate life’s big moments.
Elon Musk’s Brother, Kimbal Musk, Revolutionizes Sky Shows with His Drone Company, Nova Sky Stories
Nova Sky Stories came to life when Kimbal scooped up Intel’s Drone Light Shows unit. This division had astounded audiences worldwide with jaw-dropping displays at mega-events such as the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Coachella, and Super Bowl halftime shows.
With this ambitious move, Kimbal gained a fleet of over 9,000 cutting-edge drones, each packed with high-tech hardware and software designed for stunning precision and mesmerizing visuals. While the details of the deal remain under wraps, this acquisition symbolized Intel’s shift under CEO Pat Gelsinger, as the tech giant decided to zero in on its core focus: semiconductor manufacturing.
✔️ 1,000 drones
✔️ 30 years
✔️ 3 epic nights
On July 12-14, 2024, @NovaSkyStories made @RedRocksCO history by teaming up with @SCI_Official to celebrate 30 years of legendary jams. 🎶
Watch this behind the scenes look and see how we did it. 🌟 pic.twitter.com/NEojBmdjKQ
— Nova Sky Stories (@NovaSkyStories) August 1, 2024
Kimbal’s spark to dive into the world of drone light shows hit him like a bolt of lightning during the 2021 Free Burn gathering out in the Nevada desert. This unofficial event popped up in response to Burning Man being canceled thanks to the pandemic, but it didn’t lack magic. Studio Drift and Drone Stories brought the night alive with an unforgettable drone spectacle.
Can you imagine the iconic Burning Man effigy glowing in the night sky, crafted entirely out of lights from hundreds of drones? It wasn’t just a display; it was an emotional rollercoaster for everyone there, including Kimbal. The sheer beauty of it, mixed with the powerful sense of connection it created, lit a fire in him. He walked away with a vision for a whole new art form—a way to blend storytelling, cutting-edge tech, and a touch of eco-consciousness into something truly extraordinary.
The drones in Nova Sky Stories bring a whole new dimension to light shows, eliminating the downsides of traditional fireworks. No more harmful smoke, loud booms, or messy debris littering the ground. Instead, these drones light up the sky with vibrant, choreographed displays that tell stories, create incredible shapes, and spark deep emotions—all without hurting the planet. It’s a game-changer that perfectly matches Kimbal’s passion for sustainability and his mission to use tech as a force for good.
Kimbal Musk’s dream team is a powerhouse of creativity and expertise, blending engineering smarts with artistic flair. Leading the charge are visionaries like Daniel Gurdan, a trailblazer in drone tech who co-founded Ascending Technologies (yep, the one Intel snapped up), and Ralph Nauta, a Dutch artist famous for mind-blowing experimental installations. Together, this dynamic crew is rewriting the playbook on drone-based storytelling, teaming up with big-name brands, event maestros, and artists across the globe to make the impossible take flight.
Kimbal Musk isn’t just about entertainment—he’s making his presence felt in the world of philanthropy too, especially with his work in cryptocurrency. Known for shaking things up when it comes to tackling food insecurity and championing sustainability, Kimbal’s creative efforts landed him on The Giving Block’s Crypto Impact 100 list in 2024. It’s an impressive achivement that highlights how deeply he’s invested in not just changing industries but also uplifting communities and creating a brighter future for everyone.
Tesla logo drone show pic.twitter.com/zTU6aykZ9r
— Tesla Owners Silicon Valley (@teslaownersSV) October 11, 2024
Nova Sky Stories is where art, tech, and sustainability collide in the coolest way possible. Kimbal Musk is shaking things up by swapping out traditional fireworks for stunning eco-friendly drone light shows. It’s not just about creating jaw-dropping visuals; it’s about making a statement. This is innovation with heart—bringing people together, sparking wonder, and showing the world that we can light up the sky without leaving a mess behind.