Trevor Milton is the founder of Nikola and CEO of SyberJet Aircraft. Explore his age, wife, career, fraud conviction, Trump pardon and net worth in 2026.
Trevor Milton is an American entrepreneur best known as the founder of Nikola Corporation, the electric and hydrogen truck company that became one of the most closely watched startups in the automotive industry.
His career later became highly controversial after he was convicted of securities and wire fraud for misleading investors about Nikola’s technology. In 2025, President Donald Trump granted him a full and unconditional pardon, clearing the federal penalties attached to his conviction.
Milton returned to business leadership after the pardon and is currently the CEO of SyberJet Aircraft, a company developing high-performance business jets.
Quick Facts About Trevor Milton
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Trevor Robert Milton |
| Date of Birth | April 6, 1982 |
| Age | 44 years old |
| Birthplace | Layton, Utah, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Entrepreneur and businessman |
| Famous For | Founder of Nikola Corporation |
| Current Role | CEO of SyberJet Aircraft |
| Wife | Chelsey Bergmann |
| Education | Attended Utah Valley University |
| Criminal Conviction | Securities fraud and wire fraud |
| Presidential Pardon | March 2025 |
| Former Net Worth Peak | At least $3.1 billion in 2020 |
| Current Net Worth | Not reliably confirmed |
Trevor Milton Early Life and Family
Trevor Robert Milton was born on April 6, 1982, in Layton, Utah.
His father, William Milton, worked as a manager for Union Pacific Railroad, while his mother, Sallie Gwyn Hunt Milton, worked in real estate. Milton grew up with one brother and three sisters.
His family moved several times during his childhood, including periods in Las Vegas and Kanab, Utah.
Milton experienced a major loss when his mother died from cancer while he was a teenager. That period became an important part of his early life before he entered business.
Trevor Milton Education
Milton attended high school in Utah and later earned his GED.
He briefly attended Utah Valley University, but did not complete a college degree.
Instead, Milton left higher education and pursued business opportunities, particularly in sales, transportation and technology.
His career later became an example of an entrepreneur who built major companies without completing a traditional university education.
Trevor Milton Early Business Career
Before founding Nikola, Milton was involved in several businesses.
His early ventures included companies connected to security systems, alternative fuels and transportation technology. Not all of these businesses succeeded, but they gave him experience in sales and entrepreneurship.
One of his better-known ventures was dHybrid Systems, a company focused on natural-gas fuel systems for commercial trucks.
Milton later sold the business and began working on a much more ambitious idea involving zero-emission heavy trucks.
Founding Nikola Corporation
Trevor Milton founded Nikola Corporation in 2015.
The company was named after inventor Nikola Tesla and focused on developing hydrogen fuel-cell and battery-electric commercial vehicles.
Milton promoted a vision in which long-haul trucks could operate using hydrogen while producing little or no direct emissions.
Nikola attracted significant attention from investors, manufacturers and the media. The company unveiled several truck concepts and announced ambitious plans for hydrogen fueling infrastructure.
Milton became the public face of the company and frequently discussed Nikola’s technology through interviews, presentations and social media.
Nikola’s Rise in the Stock Market
Nikola entered the public market in 2020 through a merger with a special-purpose acquisition company.
Investor enthusiasm caused the company’s valuation to rise dramatically. For a brief period, Nikola’s market value exceeded that of several established vehicle manufacturers.
Milton’s personal stake in the company made him a billionaire on paper.
In 2020, his wealth was estimated at at least $3.1 billion when Nikola shares were trading near their peak.
However, the company’s rapid rise soon came under intense scrutiny.
Trevor Milton and the Nikola Controversy
In September 2020, investment research firm Hindenburg Research published a report questioning several claims made about Nikola’s technology.
The report alleged that the company had exaggerated the capabilities of its vehicles and prototypes.
One of the most widely discussed examples involved a promotional video showing a Nikola truck apparently driving on a road. Critics later said the truck had actually been filmed rolling downhill rather than moving under its own power.
Questions were also raised about Milton’s statements regarding battery technology, vehicle development and the company’s engineering capabilities.
The controversy caused significant damage to Nikola’s reputation and share price.
Milton resigned as executive chairman in September 2020.
Trevor Milton Fraud Conviction
Federal prosecutors later accused Milton of misleading investors through public statements about Nikola.
He was charged with securities fraud and wire fraud.
In October 2022, a federal jury found Milton guilty on one count of securities fraud and two counts of wire fraud.
Prosecutors argued that he made false or exaggerated claims about Nikola’s technology and business progress to encourage investors to buy shares.
Milton denied intentionally defrauding investors and maintained that he believed in the company’s technology and future.
Trevor Milton Prison Sentence
In December 2023, Milton was sentenced to four years in federal prison.
The sentence also included financial penalties and restitution obligations connected to investor losses.
However, Milton remained free on bond while appealing his conviction and did not begin serving the full prison sentence.
His legal case remained active until a major development in 2025 changed his situation completely.
Trevor Milton Trump Pardon
President Donald Trump granted Trevor Milton a full and unconditional pardon in March 2025.
The pardon covered the federal offenses for which Milton had been convicted and removed the prison sentence, fines, penalties and restitution connected to the case.
Milton publicly celebrated the decision and described himself as vindicated.
The pardon attracted significant public attention because Milton and his wife had previously made large political donations supporting Trump and groups associated with his political movement.
Critics questioned the circumstances surrounding the pardon, while Milton and his supporters argued that his prosecution had been unfair.
SEC Case and Legal Status
Milton also faced a separate civil case from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
The SEC had accused him of making misleading statements to investors.
In 2025, the agency moved to dismiss its civil enforcement case against him.
As a result, Milton no longer faced the same federal restrictions or financial consequences linked to the earlier proceedings.
By 2026, he had returned to an active leadership role in business.
Trevor Milton and SyberJet Aircraft
Trevor Milton is currently the CEO of SyberJet Aircraft.
The company develops light business jets, including the SJ30 series and newer aircraft concepts.
Milton’s role marks a shift from electric and hydrogen trucks into aviation.
He has focused on areas such as aircraft performance, lightweight materials, propulsion and advanced avionics.
In 2026, SyberJet also announced that one of its aircraft completed an unofficial transcontinental speed record flight, drawing renewed attention to Milton’s business activities.
Trevor Milton Wife and Personal Life
Trevor Milton is married to Chelsey Bergmann.
The couple has generally kept their personal life relatively private despite Milton’s high-profile business and legal history.
They have been associated with homes in Arizona and Utah.
Milton has also owned significant real estate, including a large Utah ranch that was purchased for more than $30 million.
Trevor Milton Net Worth
Trevor Milton’s current net worth is not reliably confirmed.
At Nikola’s peak in 2020, Forbes estimated his fortune at at least $3.1 billion, largely because of his large ownership stake in the company.
That figure later fell sharply as Nikola’s share price collapsed.
Nikola eventually filed for bankruptcy in 2025, further reducing the relevance of earlier billionaire estimates.
Milton still owns private assets and business interests, but there is not enough verified information to establish an accurate 2026 net worth.
For that reason, current claims ranging from millions to hundreds of millions of dollars should be treated as estimates rather than confirmed figures.
Trevor Milton’s Career After Nikola
The Trevor Milton biography is unusual because it combines rapid business success, billionaire status, criminal conviction, a presidential pardon and a return to executive leadership.
Nikola’s rise made him one of the most visible entrepreneurs in clean transportation. Its collapse and the legal proceedings that followed transformed his public reputation.
By 2026, Milton had shifted his attention to aviation through SyberJet Aircraft, giving his career another major chapter beyond Nikola.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Who is Trevor Milton?
Trevor Milton is an American entrepreneur best known for founding Nikola Corporation. He currently serves as CEO of SyberJet Aircraft.
Q2: How old is Trevor Milton?
Trevor Milton is 44 years old as of 2026. He was born on April 6, 1982, in Layton, Utah.
Q3: Who is Trevor Milton’s wife?
Trevor Milton is married to Chelsey Bergmann. The couple has kept much of their personal life away from public attention.
Q4: What happened to Trevor Milton?
Milton was convicted of securities and wire fraud in 2022 over misleading statements about Nikola. He was later granted a full presidential pardon by Donald Trump in 2025.
Q5: Did Trevor Milton go to prison?
Milton was sentenced to four years in prison in 2023 but remained free while appealing his case. His 2025 pardon eliminated the prison sentence.
Q6: What is Trevor Milton’s net worth in 2026?
His current net worth is not reliably known. He was worth at least $3.1 billion at Nikola’s peak, but his fortune declined significantly as the company’s value collapsed.
Q7: What does Trevor Milton do now?
Trevor Milton currently leads SyberJet Aircraft as CEO. His work now focuses on business aviation and aircraft development.
