Elon Musk: From Zero to Hero
Elon Musk is the ultimate Silicon Valley superhero who, against all odds, created a global business empire. Stamped with the genius of innovation, he has provided the world with revolutionary developments in multiple industries. But how did one of the greatest minds of our era, start off in life? Specifically, how did Elon Musk make his original money?
Musk was born in South Africa in 1971, and his family was moderately wealthy. His father was an electromechanical engineer, and his mother was a nutritionist and model. Musk was raised with two siblings, a brother and a sister. Musk’s parents divorced in 1979, and he and his brother were sent to live with their father in Pretoria.
It was at this time that Musk began to display entrepreneurial tendencies. He created a computer game called Blastar at the age of 12, even attempting to sell it to computer magazines. This gave way to a business which Musk created at 17, a arcade game comparison website. It was relatively successful, and sold for US$300,000, giving Musk his first taste of true success.
However, Musk did not stop there and continued his education at the University of Pennsylvania, something which he had dreamed of from a young age. He then went on to study economics and physics at Stanford University. He was also lucky enough to be hired for some innovative tech start-ups and therefore, gain practical business experience. He left Stanford sooner than previously planned, to become the CEO of Zip2, a web software company.
Zip2 was a pivotal moment in Musk’s career. The company was a huge success with Compaq acquiring it for US$307 million in cash and US$34 million in stock options. Musk’s success through Zip2 was even acknowledged in Forbes Magazine and at the time, his share of the sale was estimated at US$22 million.
Musk kept growing his success and launched the internet payment system, X.com. His product merged with the popular payment service, PayPal which later was bought by eBay for US$1.5 billion in 2002. Musk’s share of this sale amounted to US$165 million.
But Musk’s success did not stop there. He is best attributed as the founder of the ever growing Tesla Motors and SpaceX. With his incredible insights and business acumen, he earned a position on the World’s Billionaires List in 2016.
The Making of a Businessman
Musk is an example of exemplary tenacity and determination. He became the head of multiple businesses shortly after dropping out of Stanford, displaying a desirious work ethic and an eye for success. He was unafraid of having eyes on him and acting on his vision, no matter how wild it might seem.
During the launch of Zip2, Musk acted as his own PR agent and found his own first customers. His immense success meant that he quickly became aware of the power of networking. Musk will take any opportunity to talk about opportunities and is willing to lend a hand to those who require assistance in his field.
Of course, Musk is not afraid to take risks. When launching SpaceX, he invested his entire savings, which is testament to his immense confidence. Yet, it paid off and he later managed to lead SpaceX to the position of being a major supplier to NASA and others in the aerospace industry.
Musk’s success is also encouraged by an optimistic mindset. He prefers to take on challenges as an opportunity, rather than shying away. He has stated that fear of failure can be a powerful motivator, but it can also prevent people from trying and succeeding.
Tesla and the Future of Technology
Tesla Motors is the most significant chapter in Musk’s life story, thanks to its influence on the world. Tesla Motors became the first automotive manufacturer to produce and sell low-priced, mass-market, all-electric vehicles. This was a perfect example of Musk’s technological prowess and knack for stirring up incredible change.
The company managed to begin producing electric vehicles with most of the components being manufactured in a mall in Los Angeles. In addition to this, the company also promised to produce five times the amount of cars in comparison to its competitors. Because of this, Tesla Motors is renowned for revolutionizing the automotive industry. This success means that, in 2021, Tesla may become the most valuable auto-manufacturer in the world.
Tesla motors is also known for its Autopilot, a unique, self-driving auto-technology system. The system is packed with features such as lane-departure warnings, automatic emergency braking and one can even summon their Tesla from their garage. Essentially, it has revolutionized cars and is likely to completely change the nature of the car industry in a very short amount of time.
Tesla Motors also contributes to powering homes via Tesla Powerwall; a revolutionary regenerative energy source that powers homes with power generated from the Tesla solar platform. This is further testament to Musk’s commitment to changing the world in major leaps and bounds.
Making the Technology Available
Tesla Motors is also paving the way with more affordable electric cars, with prices of their cars dropping significantly over the years. Currently, they offer one of the most affordable electric cars in the market with their Model Y. This makes electric cars accessible to more people, thus re-shaping the environment and future of the automotive industry.
Tesla Motors has succeeded in making its cars more affordable, and this is mostly thanks to the introduction of the “Gigafactory”, an automated, parts producing factory. The Gigaproduces most of the the parts for the Tesla models, saving costs for the company and allowing it to reduce the prices of their vehicles significantly.
The company has recently even begun construction of an assembly line in China, allowing for greater affordability and accessibility further reducing the cost of the cars and components due to its local labor supply.
Environmentally Friendly Ventures
Tesla has a strict environmental policy, and so, uses only renewable sources of energy to power its operations such as solar and wind. Musk has also put more sustainable alternative transport into the spotlight, with the introduction of electric trucks and buses. In addition to this, Tesla has worked on developing an entire monetization strategy which is focused on safeguarding the environment.
Musk has also made the effort to initiate conversation about global warming, attempting to influence government policies to address the situation. As an example, Tesla has strived to create a more economical and sustainable infrastructure in Australia.
In addition to this Tesla invests heavily in re-shaping the most bogged down parts of its production. For example, their solar energy is used to power their own car factories, a perfect example of the company’s dedication to environmentalism.
How Far Has He Come?
Musk was able to generate immense wealth simply by believing in himself and his ideas. He worked hard on bringing together the strongest minds and ensured that his dream would become a reality. Despite the many risks involved, Musk has managed to not just make money, but also to change technology and the world.
Musk is not just an inspiration for business professionals, but also to engineers, entrepreneurs and scientists. By overcoming his family’s financial woes and lack of recognition, Musk is a beacon of hope, no matter one’s current circumstances. It is no surprise, then, that he is celebrated as a role model amongst his peers and the new generations of innovators.
Continued Exploration of What Could Be
Musk’s success has not only been implemented in the automotive industry; he has also been exploring more possibilities in the aerospace and infrastructure department. He intends to revolutionize transportation systems using hyperloop, an underground capsule transportation system.
Musk is also a fervent believer in the colonization of Mars, which he delineated in 2016 when he founded a group called OpenAI which consists of researchers, businesses and politicians, dedicated to the mission. His robustness in his mission for Mars has granted him the label of “Mars Man”, in comparison with “Iron Man”, as portrayed in the supernatural film franchise.
Musk has worked closely with other major industry names, such as Amazon and Microsoft in order to further ‘Space X-ify’ the way things are done. Recently, Tesla and Space X have partnered with the European Space Agency, an union which is likely to increase their profitability and success
An Unstoppable Force
The sensational business leader, Elon Musk, is a pioneer in his field and an example of superhuman tenacity and dedication. His past and present ventures are true representatives of future technology and sustainable lifestyle, no matter one’s financial standing.
Musk embodies the spirit of innovation, perseverance and courage that lies within us all. He stands as a perfect example of the kind of success that can come from sheer drive, dedication and the pursuit of knowledge. He is the perfect example of self-made man, who changed the face of technology and industry in the most remarkable fashion.
