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Business & Money • Entrepreneurship

Trevor Milton

Trevor Milton is an American entrepreneur best known as the founder and former chief executive officer of Nikola Corporation, an electric and hydrogen truck company.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Trevor Milton is an American entrepreneur best known as the founder and former chief executive officer of Nikola Corporation, an electric and hydrogen truck company. In 2022 he was convicted in U.S. federal court of securities and wire fraud; he was later sentenced to prison, and in 2025 he was granted a presidential pardon.

Early life and background

Trevor Milton was born on April 6, 1982, and is an American entrepreneur. Public biographical sources identify him as being from Utah.

Nikola Corporation

Milton founded Nikola Corporation and became its public face as it pursued electric and hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles. He later resigned from the company amid investor- and regulator-related scrutiny.

Criminal conviction and sentencing

In 2022, Milton was convicted in U.S. federal court of securities and wire fraud connected to statements about Nikola's technology and development. He was sentenced in 2023 to four years in prison, three years of supervised release, forfeiture, and a $1 million fine.

Later career and pardon

Milton later took on the role of chief executive officer at SyberJet Aircraft. In 2025, he received a presidential pardon, which ended the consequences of his federal conviction.

Key facts

  • Milton founded Nikola Corporation, focusing on battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell trucks.
  • He served as Nikola's executive chairman and CEO before stepping down in 2020.
  • A U.S. federal jury convicted him in 2022 of securities and wire fraud for misleading investors.
  • He was sentenced to four years in prison and a $1 million fine in 2023.
  • A presidential pardon in 2025 eliminated the remaining consequences of his federal conviction.
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Canadian context

No strong Canada-specific connection is evident from the available sources.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Trevor Milton?
He is an American entrepreneur best known as the founder and former CEO of Nikola Corporation.
What is Trevor Milton known for?
He is known for building Nikola as a hydrogen and electric vehicle startup and for his later federal fraud conviction.
Was Trevor Milton convicted?
Yes. He was convicted in 2022 of securities and wire fraud in connection with misleading statements to investors.
What sentence did Trevor Milton receive?
He received a four-year prison sentence in 2023, along with supervised release, forfeiture, and a $1 million fine.
What does Trevor Milton do now?
He is reported to be chief executive officer of SyberJet Aircraft.
Was Trevor Milton pardoned?
Yes. He received a presidential pardon in 2025.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trevor_Milton
    Supports: Birth date, full name, nationality, role at Nikola, and current role at SyberJet Aircraft.
  2. U.S. Department of Justice — https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/trevor-milton-sentenced-four-years-prison-securities-fraud-scheme
    Supports: 2023 sentencing, conviction details, supervised release, forfeiture, and fine.
  3. The Hill — https://thehill.com/business/5221471-who-is-trevor-milton-nikola-pardon/
    Supports: 2025 presidential pardon and the fact of the prior conviction.
  4. LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/theofficialtrevormilton
    Supports: Current role as CEO of SyberJet Aircraft.
  5. New York Post — https://nypost.com/2020/10/01/who-is-nikola-founder-trevor-milton-accused-of-sexual-assault/
    Supports: Background on Nikola, resignation context, and Utah origin.