The world has had many inspiring entrepreneurs who have taken the forefront of innovation. One of the most impressive and inspiring entrepreneurs of our time is Elon Musk. Musk is an exceptionally forward-thinking innovator and a brilliant mind behind trendsetting business ideas and game-changing inventions. Entrepreneur, businessman, engineer and investor, Musk is best known for his ambitious space exploration projects at SpaceX, electric car company Tesla Motors, and solar company SolarCity. He’s revolutionized the way we view transportation, renewable energy, and space exploration. Here’s a look at the amazing journey of Elon Musk.
Biography
Born in South Africa in 1971, Musk quickly set himself apart in the academic world. By the age of 12, he was already learning to program on a Commodore VIC-20. In the early 1990s, Musk left South Africa for Stanford University in California, where he was accepted into a graduate program in energy physics. After two days of study, he dropped out to pursue business opportunities in the emerging area of the internet in Silicon Valley.
Over the next decade, Musk founded several companies including X.com, a software company, and PAYPAL, an online payment system. Both companies would become giants and make Musk a multimillionaire. After selling PAYPAL to eBay for $1.5 billion in 2002, Musk was finally ready to pursue his lifelong passion–space exploration.
SpaceX
In 2002, Musk founded SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies) with the goal of reinvigorating the spaceflight industry. He has since achieved numerous ground-breaking accomplishments, such as becoming the first privately funded company to ever send spacecraft to orbit and back (2008) and the first company to deliver cargo to the International Space Station (2012).
Musk’s primary goal with SpaceX is to create a reliable, reusable rocket technology that would make access to space much less expensive. Musk has devised plans to colonize Mars, and he has even proposed ideas about a future in which humans will travel around the solar system on a regular basis.
Tesla Motors
Another one of Musk’s ambitious endeavors was the creation of Tesla Motors, a company dedicated to producing mainstream electric cars. Musk played a major role in designing the company’s flagship car, the Tesla Roadster, which became the first ever battery-powered electric vehicle to go into production. He then helped build the Tesla Model S, a performance and luxury sedan, and the Tesla Model X, an SUV. The company has disrupted the auto industry and mainstreamed electric cars, making the world much cleaner.
Twitter and Other Ventures
In addition to his many successes as an inventor and businessman, Musk is also an active user of twitter, where he often shares his perspective on technology and the future. With over 35 million followers, he has become one of the most influential Twitter users today.
In addition to his high-profile business ventures, Musk has invested in a variety of companies and startups, ranging from his own solar energy provider, SolarCity, to deep learning startup Vicarious and advanced transport company Hyperloop.
Facts
● Musk was only 17 years old when he left his native South Africa to study in Canada.
● Musk advanced degrees in Physics and Business
● He is the founder of SpaceX, Tesla Motors, SolarCity, and The Boring Company, as well as a co-founder of PAYPAL.
● Musk has a total net worth of $21.2 billion, making him the 81st wealthiest person in the world and the richest person in the US.
● He is the most followed tech entrepreneur on Twitter with over 35.8 million followers.
● Forbes named Musk one of the most influential people in the world in 2015 and 2016.
From South Africa to Silicon Valley to space exploration and beyond, Elon Musk has left a lasting mark on the world with his innovative ideas and forward thinking. Musk has proven to be an exceptional visionary and a remarkable innovator who has disrupted a wide range of industries and inspired us to think about what’s possible. He continues to push the boundaries of imagination and is sure to continue to make history for many years to come.
