Childhood & Education
Elon Musk was born on June 28, 1971, in Pretoria, South Africa. He has a brother and a sister, and a wealthy family who was able to provide the best education. From the age of 10, Musk already showed signs of brilliance when he taught himself how to write computer code. This led him to a degree in economics and physics from Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada.
Musk was also accepted into the prestigious Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He says he chose to study business and physics because “it would have been a fun way to learn more about the world”. Musk went on to pursue a master’s degree in physics from Stanford University, but he ended up dropping out of the program two days into his studies to pursue his ultimate aim – starting a business.
Early Business Ventures
At the age of 24, Musk started his first Internet company titled Zip2, providing an online advertising platform for companies like The New York Times and the Chicago Tribune. The company was quickly acquired by Compaq for more than $300 million in 1999.
Musk was not done yet and went on to create a software customer relationship management (CRM) firm called X.com. The company eventually merged with Confinity, and was rebranded as PayPal in 2001. Musk was one of the most key members within the company and the company was later acquired by eBay for $1.5 billion in 2002.
Learned to Take Risks
The professional accomplishments Musk achieved by the age of 30 earned him even more admiration, as he managed to make $180 million from his investments in Zip2 and X.com alone. He credits much of his success to his early willingness to take risks and his drive for perfection in everything he does. But the real success came after his PayPal experience.
Musk decided to follow his true passions in life, space and renewable energy technology, and created SpaceX in 2002, where he serves as the CEO, chief technology officer and lead designer. He also established Tesla Motors in 2003 as a way to revolutionize the automotive industry and promote sustainable transport.
Visionary Leadership
Musk is a leader in his respective fields who has been praised for his unwavering commitment to quality and innovation. He is a visionary thinker who doesn’t believe in conventional boundaries and he’s a master of the big-picture. By breaking the mold of traditional businesses, Musk was able to take a seemingly impossible business idea and make it a reality.
Musk operates much differently than the average CEO. Instead of running a tight ship and hiring people based on their relations, he hires people with a comprehensive understanding of the technology and products they are working on. He values intelligence, dedication and curiosity above everything else.
Intuition & Analytical Thinking
Musk is a highly analytical thinker and he advances his projects quickly from an initial concept to the launch of a finished product. He is able to combine his intuition and analysis to quickly spot potential problems and recognize new opportunities. He is also the most visible face of his companies, which makes him a recognizable icon and an inspiration for many.
Musk has also been instrumental in advancing artificial intelligence research with the establishment of global learning nonprofit, OpenAI. His passions span beyond space and technology, as he has made significant donations to charities, such as the Cancer Research Institute, Children’s Hospitals, Special Olympics, SolarCity and several other causes.
Inspiration & Influence
Elon Musk’s life and career have been the subject of admiration by many. He has been recognized as one of the most influential visionaries of the 21st century, and his vision and accomplishments will always inspire people to push their limits and strive for greatness.
Musk’s story is an encouragement to look beyond the norm, take intelligent risks and think in terms of what can be achieved instead of what has already been done. With his success and ambition, he stands as an example to entrepreneurs who seek to make a difference in the world and leave their own mark.
Financial Success & Ambition
Musk’s success in business has made him one of the wealthiest people in the world. His estimated net worth heavily depends upon the prices of Tesla’s stock, and as of October 2020, he is the seventh-richest person in the world.
Even though Musk has achieved great financial success, his ambition doesn’t stop there. He seeks to develop and push the boundaries of technology with the ultimate ambition of making life multi-planetary, and making humanity an inter-planetary species.
Philanthropy & Legacy
Elon Musk has pushed the technological boundaries of the 21st century and has inspired people to reach higher and further than ever before. He has also made significant contributions to philanthropy, investing in several organizations, causes and charities. This has further solidified his legacy and his mission to make the world a better place.
Musk’s ambition, intelligence and work ethic have inspired people around the world. He stands as an example that anyone, even an ordinary guy from South Africa, can be an agent of transformative change and make an enormous impact on the world around them.
Motivation & Innovation
Musk is a highly motivated innovator and entrepreneur driven by his need to keep pushing the boundaries of technology. He has often spoken about his goal to work on shorter timelines and achieve greater things than would be possible through typical business models. He is an inspirational figure who seeks to revolutionize the world.
Musk views technology as a tool for human liberation and he has made it his mission to introduce innovative technologies that can benefit humanity. He has established several companies, ranging from transportation to space exploration, and has become a public figure constantly pushing for change.
Risks & Self-Confidence
Musk is renowned for his willingness to take risks. He’s very confident of his decisions, often disregarding typical business models and risking extraordinary amounts of money on potentially lucrative but risky projects. He has made it his mission to change the world and achieve the impossible.
He has also invested in renewable energy due to his belief that climate change is a threat that needs to be addressed. After establishing successful companies, diversifying his investments and taking risks in the process, Musk has become a successful businessman who has earned the respect of both colleagues and competitors.
Work Ethic & Commitment
Not only is Elon Musk a highly intelligent and visionary entrepreneur who has pushed the boundaries of technology, he also claims to work 100 hours a week to achieve his goals. He is committed to achieving success in tasks that most other people would deem impossible. He has stated that failure is not an option for him, as he is driven by his passion to make the world a better place.
Musk is a highly committed leader who takes extreme measures to ensure the success of his projects. He is obsessed with his work and his commitment to it has enabled him to achieve feats that no other businessman has been able to do before.
