G wynne Shotwell is an American billionaire businesswoman and the president and chief operating officer of SpaceX, the revolutionary aerospace manufacturer and space transportation services company founded by Elon Musk. An engineer by training, she has been an indispensable part of SpaceX's incredible success, serving as Musk's second-in-command and the driving force behind the company's day-to-day operations and business development.

Shotwell was one of SpaceX's very first employees, joining the company in 2002. She has been responsible for building the company's massive launch manifest, securing billions of dollars in contracts from NASA, the U.S. military, and commercial satellite operators. While Musk is the visionary founder and chief engineer, Shotwell is the operational leader who has turned his ambitious goals into a thriving and highly successful business. Her stake in the private company, which has become one of the most valuable in the world, is the source of her considerable fortune.