Trevor Milton is an American entrepreneur and businessman best known as the founder and former chief executive officer of Nikola Corporation, a company he established in 2015 with ambitions of transforming the commercial transportation industry through hydrogen-powered and battery-electric trucks. Born on April 6, 1982, in Layton, Utah, Milton attracted significant attention for his bold vision of developing zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles and building a business capable of challenging established truck manufacturers.
Milton’s rise to prominence was accompanied by rapid growth in Nikola’s valuation, making him a billionaire on paper and one of the most closely watched figures in the emerging electric vehicle industry. However, his business success was later overshadowed by allegations that he had misled investors about Nikola’s technology and capabilities. He stepped down from his leadership position in September 2020 amid mounting scrutiny, marking a dramatic turning point in his career.
In October 2022, Milton was convicted in federal court of securities and wire fraud for misleading investors about Nikola’s technology. He was sentenced in December 2023 to four years in prison, fined $1 million, and ordered to pay $168 million in restitution. In March 2025, he received a full presidential pardon. Milton later continued his career in aviation and became CEO of SyberJet Aircraft, adding another chapter to the highly controversial and closely followed story of his entrepreneurial career.
Trevor Milton Early Life
Trevor Milton was born on April 6, 1982, in Layton, Utah, where he spent much of his childhood. He was raised in a family with connections to both the railroad and real estate industries. His father, William L. Milton, worked as a manager at Union Pacific Railroad, while his mother, Sallie Gwyn Hunt Milton, worked as a realtor. Milton grew up alongside one brother, Travis, and three sisters.
During his childhood, Milton also spent a period of time in Las Vegas, Nevada, before continuing his upbringing in Utah. A major loss occurred when he was 15 years old, when his mother died from cancer. Her death was an important event in his formative years, and he continued his education and development while growing up in Utah.
After completing his early schooling, Milton attended Utah Valley University but left after just one semester. Although he did not pursue a conventional university education, he became interested in business and entrepreneurship at an early age. His later career would be shaped largely through business ventures and self-directed experience rather than a traditional academic path.
Trevor Milton Education
Trevor Milton attended Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, after completing his early education. However, his time at the university was brief, as he dropped out after just one semester. Unlike many business leaders who follow a conventional university path, Milton did not complete a college degree.
Although his formal university education was limited, Milton developed his business knowledge through practical experience and entrepreneurial ventures. His career would later involve founding and leading companies in industries ranging from automotive technology to energy and aviation, with much of his expertise acquired outside traditional academic settings.
Another formative experience in Milton’s education came through his service as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Brazil. During his time there, he learned Portuguese and gained exposure to Brazilian culture. The experience also contributed to his ability to communicate in Portuguese, in addition to English and Spanish.
Trevor Milton Career
Trevor Milton began his entrepreneurial career before becoming widely known in the transportation industry. He pursued business opportunities in several fields, gaining experience in sales, technology, and alternative energy. His early ventures helped establish his reputation as an ambitious entrepreneur with an interest in developing businesses around emerging technologies and innovative products.
In 2015, Milton founded Nikola Corporation, a company named after inventor Nikola Tesla. He envisioned Nikola as a major player in the development of zero-emission commercial transportation, focusing on hydrogen fuel-cell and battery-electric trucks. Under his leadership, the company promoted plans to develop heavy-duty trucks that could reduce the transportation industry’s reliance on conventional diesel-powered vehicles.
Milton’s ambitious vision attracted substantial investor interest, and Nikola’s valuation rose dramatically as enthusiasm for electric vehicles and clean-energy transportation increased. His large ownership stake made him a billionaire on paper, and he became one of the most recognizable entrepreneurs associated with the emerging electric-truck sector. Nikola also entered into high-profile partnerships and pursued plans to develop hydrogen fueling infrastructure alongside its vehicle technology.
His position at Nikola changed significantly in 2020 after short-seller Hindenburg Research published allegations accusing the company and Milton of making misleading claims about its technological capabilities. Milton stepped down from his leadership position in September 2020 as scrutiny surrounding the company intensified. He subsequently faced federal criminal charges related to statements he had made about Nikola and its technology.
Milton’s career took another major turn following his 2022 federal fraud conviction. He was sentenced in December 2023 to four years in prison and ordered to pay a $1 million fine and $168 million in restitution. In March 2025, he received a full presidential pardon. Following his legal troubles and departure from Nikola, Milton returned to the business world and became CEO of SyberJet Aircraft, an aviation company, marking a shift from electric trucks to private aviation.
Trevor Milton’s Presidential Pardon and Return to Business
Trevor Milton returned to the spotlight in March 2025 after receiving a full presidential pardon, reversing the legal consequences of his federal fraud conviction. Milton had previously been convicted in 2022 on charges related to misleading investors about Nikola Corporation’s technology and was sentenced in December 2023 to four years in prison, a $1 million fine, and $168 million in restitution.
The pardon generated renewed public interest in Milton because his legal case had followed one of the most dramatic rises and falls in the electric-vehicle industry. His earlier success at Nikola had made him a billionaire on paper, while his subsequent conviction and financial penalties significantly changed his personal and professional circumstances.
Following the pardon, Milton continued pursuing opportunities in the business world. His reported role as CEO of SyberJet Aircraft has further attracted attention because it represents a move into the aviation industry after his highly publicized career in hydrogen and electric transportation. His return to executive leadership has kept his business activities and financial history a subject of continued public interest.
Trevor Milton Personal Life and Family
Trevor Milton is married to Chelsey Bergmann, who has remained a relatively private figure despite her connection to the entrepreneur. Milton grew up in Utah in a family of six children. He has one brother, Travis, and three sisters. His father, William L. Milton, worked as a manager at Union Pacific Railroad, while his mother, Sallie Gwyn Hunt Milton, was a realtor.
Milton experienced a significant personal loss during his teenage years when his mother died from cancer when he was 15 years old. He was raised primarily in Utah and also spent a period of his early life in Las Vegas, Nevada. His upbringing and family experiences preceded a career in entrepreneurship that eventually brought him considerable public attention and controversy.
Milton and Chelsey Bergmann have maintained their personal life largely away from the spotlight, with Milton based in Phoenix, Arizona. He speaks English, Portuguese, and Spanish, having learned Portuguese while serving as an LDS missionary in Brazil. Beyond his business activities and legal history, Milton’s family background and personal experiences provide important context to the life of the entrepreneur.
Trevor Milton Age, Religion, Nationality, Height and Physical Appearance
Trevor Milton was born on April 6, 1982, in Layton, Utah, United States, making him 44 years old as of 2026. He is an American citizen and was raised in Utah. His early life and background in the state preceded his later career as an entrepreneur and business executive.
Milton was raised in and has been affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church. As a young man, he served an LDS missionary assignment in Brazil, an experience during which he learned Portuguese and gained familiarity with Brazilian culture and language.
Milton is estimated to stand between 6 feet and 6 feet 2 inches (183–188 cm) tall. He has a broad-shouldered, athletic build, short dark-brown hair that he has often worn swept back, and dark eyes. During his time in the public spotlight as Nikola’s leader, he was frequently seen wearing eyeglasses and favored a casual corporate style that included dark suits, polo shirts, and zip-up vests, generally without a necktie.
Trevor Milton Net Worth
Trevor Milton’s net worth has undergone an extraordinary transformation over the course of his career. At the height of Nikola Corporation’s valuation in 2020, his approximately 40% ownership stake was worth an estimated $12 billion on paper, making him a billionaire by paper wealth. However, that figure represented the market value of his shares rather than cash in the bank and changed dramatically as Nikola’s stock price declined.
Before leaving Nikola, Milton reportedly realized hundreds of millions of dollars through stock sales, with estimates placing his total proceeds at around $400 million. His subsequent legal battle, however, created substantial financial obligations. Following his federal fraud conviction, he was ordered to pay $168 million in restitution and a $1 million criminal fine, in addition to asset forfeitures and significant legal expenses.
Because his private assets, remaining investments, liabilities, and the financial consequences of his legal case are not fully public, there is no reliable single figure for his current net worth. Based on his past business proceeds and executive-level career, a reasonable broad estimate could place his remaining private wealth in the $8 million to $250 million range, although his effective net worth could be considerably lower after accounting for court-ordered obligations. Therefore, Trevor Milton’s current net worth should be treated as an estimate rather than a verified figure.
Trevor Milton Legacy
Trevor Milton’s legacy is closely associated with both the rise of Nikola Corporation and the controversy that followed. As the company’s founder, he helped draw significant attention to hydrogen fuel-cell and battery-electric trucks at a time when interest in zero-emission transportation was rapidly expanding. His ambitious vision contributed to broader public discussion about the potential of alternative powertrains in the heavy-duty trucking industry.
At the same time, Milton’s reputation was fundamentally affected by the allegations surrounding his representations about Nikola’s technology. His resignation from the company in 2020, followed by his federal fraud conviction in 2022, became a major part of his public legacy. The case highlighted the risks investors can face when highly ambitious technological claims are made before products and capabilities have been fully demonstrated.
Milton’s subsequent pardon and return to executive leadership in the aviation sector add another chapter to his story. His career represents a dramatic progression from entrepreneurial success and multibillion-dollar paper wealth to criminal conviction, substantial financial penalties, and eventual rehabilitation through a presidential pardon. Whether remembered primarily as an ambitious clean-transportation entrepreneur or as a cautionary example of the consequences of misleading investors, Trevor Milton remains a notable and controversial figure in modern American business history.
Conclusion
Trevor Milton’s life and career reflect a remarkable combination of entrepreneurial ambition, rapid financial success, controversy, and legal consequences. From his early life in Utah and limited formal education to founding Nikola Corporation and becoming one of the most prominent figures in the emerging zero-emission trucking industry, Milton experienced an extraordinary rise before his career was disrupted by fraud allegations and a federal conviction. His 2025 presidential pardon and subsequent return to business leadership at SyberJet Aircraft have added another chapter to his story, leaving his legacy defined by both his efforts to promote alternative transportation technologies and the controversies that accompanied his business career.
Frequently Asked Questions About Trevor Milton
Who is Trevor Milton?
Trevor Milton is an American entrepreneur best known as the founder and former CEO of Nikola Corporation, a company focused on hydrogen fuel-cell and battery-electric commercial trucks.
How old is Trevor Milton?
Trevor Milton is 44 years old as of 2026. He was born on April 6, 1982, in Layton, Utah, United States.
What is Trevor Milton’s net worth?
Trevor Milton’s current net worth is difficult to determine because his private assets and liabilities are not fully public. Estimates can range from about $8 million to $250 million, while his wealth was once worth approximately $12 billion on paper at Nikola’s peak valuation.
Who is Trevor Milton’s wife?
Trevor Milton is married to Chelsey Bergmann. The couple generally keeps their personal life away from the public spotlight.
What happened to Trevor Milton?
Trevor Milton was convicted of federal securities and wire fraud in 2022 for misleading investors about Nikola Corporation’s technology. He was sentenced in December 2023 to four years in prison, a $1 million fine, and $168 million in restitution. He received a full presidential pardon in March 2025.
Did Trevor Milton go to prison?
Trevor Milton was sentenced to four years in prison following his federal fraud conviction. However, his later presidential pardon changed the legal consequences of his conviction and sentence.
What company did Trevor Milton found?
Trevor Milton founded Nikola Corporation in 2015. The company was established to develop zero-emission commercial vehicles, particularly hydrogen-powered and battery-electric trucks.
What does Trevor Milton do now?
Trevor Milton is associated with SyberJet Aircraft, where he serves as CEO. His current business activities represent a move from the electric-truck industry into aviation.
Where is Trevor Milton from?
Trevor Milton is from Layton, Utah, United States. He was raised primarily in Utah and also spent part of his childhood in Las Vegas, Nevada.
What is Trevor Milton’s religion?
Trevor Milton was raised in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served an LDS mission in Brazil when he was younger and learned Portuguese during his time there.
How tall is Trevor Milton?
Trevor Milton’s height is estimated to be between 6 feet and 6 feet 2 inches (183–188 cm). His exact height has not been publicly verified.