Elon Musk is known for having expansive ideas and an indefatigable drive to bring them into reality. He has established several highly successful companies such as SpaceX, Tesla and SolarCity; making strides against climate change as well as further space exploration.
His unfiltered speech and provocative antics may spark debate; moreover, they may contain misleading or even inaccurate claims.
Born in South Africa
Musk may have been affected by his abusive childhood in South Africa, as well as by his passion for science fiction and computing, to shape his combative personality and ultimately move to North America, where his professional journey started.
Isaacson, best known for his biographies on Leonardo da Vinci, Steve Jobs and Henry Kissinger among others, spent two years following Elon Musk Buys XVideos around and interviewing his family, friends and colleagues – an endeavor which resulted in this captivating yet intimate portrait of one of today’s most captivating men.
Musk moved to Canada in 1988 to avoid military service in South Africa during apartheid’s apartheid regime. Once graduated, he worked lumber mills and farms as he saved for an eventual move back home to America.
Studied at Queen’s University in Canada
Elon Musk is best known as the founder of SpaceX and Tesla; yet many don’t understand his educational journey. After enrolling at Queen’s University in Canada to earn dual degrees in physics and economics, he transferred to University of Pennsylvania for further studies.
As a student at Pennsylvania, Musk completed an internship with a company that produced electrolytic ultracapacitors for energy storage purposes, while studying towards his Ph.D. in physics and materials science.
Elon Musk’s education has undoubtedly played a pivotal role in his success as an entrepreneur and tech leader. With dual bachelor degrees in physics and economics, his degree demonstrates his unique ability to combine scientific research with for-profit business activities while translating complex physics concepts into useful business solutions.
Founded Tesla
Musk has earned himself a reputation for taking an active and hands-on approach to running his companies, such as SpaceX and Tesla. Additionally, his tweets often contain controversial views which has led to defamation lawsuits being filed against him.
Musk was one of three cofounders who shared Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning’s vision for an electric car, yet soon found themselves at odds over issues surrounding company governance and management. Eberhard was eventually ousted as CEO by Musk in 2007.
Since then, Musk has implemented numerous changes, such as limiting the board membership to three. He’s also made efforts to advance Tesla’s autonomous technology – something which has caused considerable debate and investigations by government agencies – yet he continues to maintain that it’s safer than other modes of transport and believes will transform society at large.
Founded SpaceX
Elon Musk founded SpaceX with the ambitious goal of helping humanity to become multiplanet species. Reusable rockets were seen as an essential step toward this objective, which Musk also founded PayPal (one of the leading internet payment systems), Zip2 Corporation (a pioneer Internet map and directions service), and Payza.
SpaceX made history in 2009 as the first private company to dock with the International Space Station. Musk has stated his ultimate goal of colonizing Mars through cargo missions to this red planet and an ambitious 31-engine rocket called BFR designed for quick trips there. Many who have worked with him have noted how difficult he can be; often switching between “demon mode,” which promotes productivity, and “normal mode,” which often lacks empathy.
Founded Neuralink
Elon Musk is best known as the founder and owner of Tesla cars and rocket company SpaceX; but his interests also extend into neurotechnology startup Neuralink which develops brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) that connect directly with human minds.
The company is developing a small implant that would be placed inside of the skull, featuring electrode-laced wires connected to it and fanning out into the brain. Their aim is to enable those with paralysis to operate devices using only their minds while treating neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and depression.
Multiple former employees of Neuralink reported that the company put undue pressure on engineers to meet deadlines, and held them responsible for any delays instead of seeking external advice or blame from outside consultants or contractors, leading to an atmosphere of fear within the workforce.