Elon Musk is a well-known figure in the tech world. He is a multi-billionaire focused on pioneering revolutionary technology and innovating to solve some of the world’s biggest issues. But do you know who Elon Musk is?
Away from his tech-driven image, what else do we not know about him? From an interesting upbringing to inspiring actions, I’m sure there are many facts that you don’t know about Elon Musk.
In this article, we will cover 10 Elon Musk interesting facts that you didn’t know. Get ready to learn more about this extraordinary innovator!
1. He nearly sold Google Tesla
Elon Musk was almost ready to part ways with Tesla back in 2013. He reached out to Google CEO Larry Page about potentially selling the then-ailing car company.
According to Ashlee Vance’s book, “Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future,” the two initially agreed on a price of $6 billion. However, the sale never came to be. Despite this setback, Musk was able to turn Tesla around and help it become one of the most successful car companies in the world today.
It’s not hard to see why he has gained so much respect within the business world.
2. He has many children
Elon Musk is no stranger to big families. The technology entrepreneur has seven children – five with his ex-wife, Justine, and two more with the musician Grimes. He sadly had another son, Nevada, who passed away due to SIDS in 2002.
In an interview with “The Wall Street Journal” in 2021, Musk expressed his desire for people to have more children for civilization not crumble. This could explain why he has so many of his own! Despite this being a difficult subject for parents everywhere, Elon Musk emphasizes having lots of kids as he’s trying to set a good example himself.
3. He influenced Tony Stark
Elon Musk had a hand in inspiring the iconic character of Tony Stark, played by Robert Downey Jr. in Iron Man. When Downey was preparing for his role, he sought out Musk for inspiration-type mannerisms and character traits to add to bring the movie to life.
After the two met, some of Musk’s traits were used to add a real-life element to Downey’s version of Stark.
So while you watch Iron Man and see some of Elon Musk’s characteristics come through in Tony Stark, you can be sure that there is more than meets the eye!
4. Musk regards his father as “evil”
Elon Musk’s relationship with his father, Errol, has been tumultuous throughout his life, and it’s easy to see why. In a 2017 Rolling Stone interview, Musk took the time to share his thoughts on his father — that he is “evil”.
“He was such a terrible human being,” Musk said in the interview. “My dad will have a carefully thought-out plan of evil. He will plan evil … You have no idea how bad. Almost every crime you can think of, he has done. Almost every evil thing you could think of, he has done.”
Musk’s upbringing in apartheid-era South Africa certainly played its role in stirring up such extreme comments from him towards Errol but regardless this view didn’t come out of anywhere, it is one that Elon Musk firmly held to be true when describing his estranged father.
5. Elon is accused of saying some heinous things to his first wife
Elon Musk’s relationship with his first wife, Justine Wilson, was not a smooth one. According to Justine’s essay in Marie Claire magazine, Musk made some pretty uncalled-for comments while they were married.
For instance, while they were dancing at their wedding reception, he allegedly told her that he was the alpha in the relationship. And during their eight years together, he reportedly criticized her often and on many occasions told her that “if you were my employee, I would fire you.”
The most shocking revelation came after their first child Nevada died from sudden infant death syndrome. Instead of offering comfort to his grieving partner, Elon allegedly accused her of being “emotionally manipulative” over her open grieving.
6. He was bullied violently as a child
One of the most interesting facts about Elon Musk is how he was treated as a child. Growing up in South Africa, his classmates were extremely cruel to him and were even known to beat him up badly. He endured this violence for many years before eventually gaining the success and reputation he now has today.
Despite becoming one of the most influential people in the world, Musk has never forgotten his past and suffers from a deviated septum as a result of the violence he suffered as a kid. In 2013, Musk underwent surgery to fix it. He tweeted about it saying “Was beat up pretty badly as a kid & left me with a jagged septum. Harder to breathe as I get older, so time to fix.”
It’s clear that no matter how far Musk has come in life, he remains humble and remembers where he came from, which makes him all the more admirable and inspirational.
7. His parents suspected he was deaf
Elon Musk’s parents were initially worried about his hearing when he was a child because he would often zone out while they talked to him. They took him to the doctor, where his adenoids were removed in an attempt to aid his hearing – but it turned out that he was just daydreaming.
Maye Musk, Elon’s mother, said of her son: “He goes into his brain, and then you just see he is in another world. … Now I just leave him be because I know he is designing a new rocket or something.”
This imagined behavior showed yet another talent the young Elon had – the ability to innovate and think outside the box even before entering adulthood. It’s this same trait which has made him into the renowned entrepreneur and inventor we know today.
8. Musk left Stanford after only two days
Elon Musk was in for a big surprise when he moved to California to pursue a degree in Physics at Stanford University.
As it turns out, he ended up only attending the university for two days before dropping out to start his own company, Zip2 Corporation. That’s right – after just two days of sightseeing and classes, Musk had already decided that pursuing an entrepreneurial venture was what he wanted to do with his life.
So instead of continuing with his studies, Musk took the plunge into the world of business and became one of today’s most successful innovators and entrepreneurs. Who knows what could have been if he stayed in college?
9. Musk appeared on ‘The Simpsons’ and ‘The Big Bang Theory’
Elon Musk appeared in two of our Favourite television shows.
He appeared in The Simpsons episode “The Musk Who Fell to Earth” in 2015. Musk inspired his animate feature Homer Simpson by providing the voice for him.
That same year, he also popped up on an episode of The Big Bang Theory playing himself. His fans were no doubt delighted at the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the charismatic CEO.
It’s clear that Elon Musk has had no shortage of media appearances – and it just goes to show how intriguing and inspiring this tech guru is!
10. Musk paid nearly $1 million for James Bond’s submarine car
Elon Musk is known as an innovator and pioneering entrepreneur, but one lesser-known fact about him is that he is a big James Bond fan. In 2013, Musk purchased the classic submarine car from The Spy Who Loved Me for a hefty $968,000 at a London auction.
At first, the news of such an extravagant purchase shocked even his most loyal fans and admirers. But after learning that this was indeed something special — a rare find from the classic Bond movies – it only added to his reputation as an innovative visionary with great taste.
The purchase of the Lotus Esprit wasn’t just your standard piece of memorabilia, however. He reportedly wanted to transform it into a functional vehicle and it’s said that the submarine had initially been lost until its rediscovery in 1989 in Long Island’s New York inside a storage container tucked away beneath blankets – making his purchase all the more valuable!
It’s easy to see why Elon Musk is one of the most interesting people in the world today. From his remarkable work ethic to his ambitious dreams, he has achieved heights no one else has. Get inspired and learn a few things from this brilliant innovator—it might even just be what it takes to get you on your path to success!
