Every once in a while, the world sees an innovative thinker that disrupts our familiar ecosystem. Their perspectives lay outside the purview of the masses. They’re misunderstood, criticized and questioned. But they go on to change the ways of the world anyway, setting a precedent for generations to come. Elon Musk may be that man for our generation.
By Tsunami Costabir
Elon Musk is one of the most polarising and influential figures of our time. A billionaire entrepreneur, engineer and innovator, Musk has reshaped industries ranging from electric vehicles and space exploration to artificial intelligence and social media. His public persona is just as intriguing as his business ventures — controversial tweets, high-profile relationships and audacious predictions have made him a constant subject of fascination.
While his successes are undeniable, his failures and controversies have also been highly publicised. Some view him as a genius pushing humanity forward, while others criticise his methods and beliefs. Regardless of opinion, Musk’s impact on the modern world is unparalleled. This article explores his early life, career milestones, major achievements, personal life and the philosophy that drives him.
The Naissance
Born on June 28, 1971, in Pretoria, South Africa, Elon Musk grew up in a household that was both intellectually stimulating and emotionally challenging. His father, Errol Musk, was an engineer and property developer, while his mother, Maye Musk, was a model and nutritionist. Musk attended Pretoria University High School and was an introverted child who was often bullied. He found solace in reading and learning – devouring books on physics, mathematics and computer science.
Musk’s interest in computing and programming began at an early age, and he taught himself computer programming. At 12, he created his first software program, a space-themed video game called Blastar. However, his childhood was far from idyllic. In a 2017 interview with ‘Rolling Stone’, Musk became emotional while discussing his strained relationship with his father, describing him as “evil” and “a terrible human being.”
In his teenage years, Musk moved to Canada to attend Queen’s University before transferring to the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned degrees in physics and economics. In 1995, he briefly attended Stanford University for a PhD program but dropped out after just two3 days to pursue entrepreneurial ventures in Silicon Valley.
Seeds Of Change
Musk’s career began with a series of ambitious projects that laid the foundation for his future ventures. In the words of Jeff Bezos, “He’s (Musk) got a lot of ideas, and I think some of them are going to work.”
Zip2 (1995-1999): Online City Guides
Musk’s first major business was Zip2, a web software company that provided online city guides for newspapers. The company was acquired by Compaq for $341 million in 1999, giving Musk his first major financial breakthrough.
X.com and PayPal (1999-2002): Revolutionising Money-Transfer
Following the sale of Zip2, Musk co-founded X.com, an online banking startup. A year later, X.com merged with Confinity, which had developed a money-transfer service called PayPal. Under Musk’s leadership, PayPal gained traction and was eventually acquired by eBay for $1.5 billion in 2002. Musk personally made around $180 million from the sale, which he used to fund his next ventures.
SpaceX (2002-Present): Multi-Planetary Colonisation
Driven by a vision of making humanity a multi-planetary species, Musk founded SpaceX in 2002. The company’s goal was to develop cost-effective space travel through reusable rockets. After early failures, SpaceX achieved a breakthrough with the Falcon 1 rocket in 2008. Subsequent achievements included:
• The first private company to send a spacecraft to the International Space Station (2012).
• The successful landing and reuse of Falcon 9 rockets (2015-2017).
• The launch of Falcon Heavy, the world’s most powerful operational rocket (2018).
• The Starship project that aims to enable human colonisation of Mars.
Musk’s vision for SpaceX is clear: “It’s important to get a self-sustaining base on Mars because it’s far away enough from Earth that it’s more likely to survive a massive war or catastrophe.”
Tesla (2004-Present): Pioneering Electric Automaker
Although Musk did not found Tesla, he joined the company in 2004 as an early investor and became CEO in 2008. Under Musk’s leadership, Tesla transformed from a struggling startup into the world’s leading electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer.
Tesla pioneered Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology, becoming the world’s most valuable automaker, with a market cap exceeding $773 billion. Despite Tesla’s success, Musk has faced criticism over labour conditions, aggressive pricing strategies, and delays in product rollouts.
Neuralink: The Future of Human-Computer Interaction (2016-Present)
Musk’s Neuralink aims to develop brain-computer interfaces to help people with neurological conditions and, eventually, merge human cognition with AI. Neuralink’s device, often referred to as the “brain chip”, consists of a small, coin-sized implant called the N1 chip.
The device is surgically placed into the brain, where it connects with neurons through ultra-thin electrodes. It reads and transmits brain signals wirelessly to a computer or smartphone, allowing users to control external devices with their thoughts.
The company achieved a milestone in 2024 by implanting its first chip, named ‘Telepathy’ into a human brain. Telepathy is designed for people with paralysis, allowing them to control devices like smartphones and computers with their minds. However, the company has faced scrutiny over ethical concerns and allegations of animal cruelty.
Starlink: The Depths Of Connectivity (2018-Present)
Starlink is a satellite internet constellation operated by SpaceX. It aims to provide high-speed, low-latency broadband internet to underserved and remote areas across the globe. The system consists of thousands of small satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), working together to deliver connectivity.
Starlink has gained popularity for its ability to offer internet access in regions where traditional broadband is unavailable or unreliable. It has been particularly useful for rural communities, emergency response teams, and military applications.
Starlink is now making inroads into the Indian market. The company has partnered with Jio Platforms and Bharti Airtel to enhance internet connectivity across India.
Twitter/X: The Social Media Gamble (2022-Present)
In 2022, Musk acquired Twitter for $44 billion and rebranded it as X. The platform has since undergone significant changes, including an expanded focus on longform content, payments and AI-driven features, and made significant changes to its policies and leadership. His stance on free speech has sparked both praise and criticism. While Musk claims to support open dialogue, critics argue that his approach has led to increased misinformation and harassment on the platform.
Getting Personal
Musk’s personal life is as eventful as his professional one. He has 14 children with multiple partners, including his first wife, Justine Wilson and musician Grimes. In 2022, his trans daughter, Vivian, legally changed her name and distanced herself from Musk.
Musk’s first marriage was to Justine Musk (née Wilson), a Canadian author, with whom he had six children. The couple divorced in 2008. In 2010, Musk married Talulah Riley, a British actress, and the couple divorced in 2012. They remarried in 2013 and divorced again in 2016.
In 2020, Musk welcomed his first child with Canadian musician Grimes, whom he was in an on-and-off relationship with since 2018. They named their first child X Æ A-12 (commonly known as X) which became a major topic of discussion for people. Grimes and Musk went on to have two more children together. During this period, Musk also welcomed twins with Shivon Zilis, an executive at Neuralink. The twins were born just weeks before his second child with Grimes.
Musk has been open about his struggles with stress, anxiety and depression. In a 2017 interview with ‘Rolling Stone’, he said, “I’ve had a number of anxiety attacks, and I’ve had to learn to manage them.” Musk has also been known for his demanding work ethic, often working over 100 hours per week.
Hot Takes
Musk believes the Earth is doomed in the long run, whether due to natural disasters, nuclear war or AI takeover. His solution is to colonise Mars as quickly as possible to ensure the survival of the human race. He has said that humans need to become a “multi-planetary species” within the next few decades or risk extinction.
Musk has also been critical of the fossil fuel industry and has advocated for a carbon tax to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. While most billionaires focus on climate change, Musk has repeatedly stated that a declining birth rate is a much bigger problem. He has warned that countries with shrinking populations will struggle to sustain their economies and has personally had many children (at least 14 known publicly) as part of his commitment to solving this issue.
When the world quickly adapted to AI and remote work, using it to our benefit, Musk remains skeptical about both. He has repeatedly warned about the dangers of artificial intelligence, stating that it poses an existential risk to humanity. He also took a strong stance against remote work, calling it “morally wrong” and arguing that workers should be in the office full-time. He believes that people working from home are disconnected from reality.
Musk, Memes & Markets
Musk has been a prominent advocate for Dogecoin, a cryptocurrency that started as a joke but gained significant traction due to his endorsements. His tweets and public comments have frequently influenced Dogecoin’s market value, leading to notable price fluctuations. In a recent development, US President Donald Trump appointed Musk to lead the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an acronym that coincidentally mirrors the cryptocurrency’s name. This appointment led to a surge in Dogecoin’s value.
Unorthodox & Unparalleled
Elon Musk’s impact on the world is undeniable. His contributions to space exploration, renewable energy, and AI will shape humanity’s future for generations. While his methods are often unorthodox, his vision is clear: To push the boundaries of what is possible.
At his peak, Musk’s net worth exceeded $300 billion, making him the world’s richest person. However, in 2022, he lost over $200 billion due to Tesla’s declining stock value, setting a Guinness World Record for the largest loss of personal fortune in history.
Despite financial fluctuations, Musk remains focused on ambitious projects. As he puts it, “If something is important enough, you should try, even if the probable outcome is failure.”
Love him or hate him, Musk is a force to be reckoned with. His legacy will likely be debated for decades, but one thing is certain — he refuses to be ordinary. And perhaps, that’s what makes him extraordinary.
