17 Incredible and Little-Known Facts About Elon Musk
Prepare to be inspired by these 17 amazing facts that shed light on the coolest things you didn’t know about Elon Musk.
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Get ready to embark on an exciting journey into the world of one of the most innovative minds of our time. In this article, we bring you 17 amazing facts about Elon Musk that will leave you astounded and eager to know more. From his childhood brilliance to his groundbreaking achievements, Elon Musk has carved a unique path that continues to inspire and captivate millions around the globe.
Birth and Nationality
Elon Musk was born in South Africa and moved to Canada at the age of 17. He holds South African, Canadian, and U.S. citizenship.
Strained Family Relationship
He has described his estranged father, Errol, as “evil.” Errol had some controversial moments in his life, including having a child with his stepdaughter who is 40 years younger than him.
Mother’s Profession
His mother, Maye Musk, is a model and a registered dietician.
Financial Milestones
Musk became a millionaire at age 27 when he sold his web-software company, Zip2, for over $340 million. He reached billionaire status at age 40.
Childhood Brilliance
Musk was so quiet as a child that his parents thought he was deaf. He read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica by the age of nine and taught himself to code at the age of 12, creating a video game called Blastar, which he sold for $500.
Overcoming Bullying
He was the youngest and smallest boy in his class and was often bullied. This led him to learn karate, judo, and wrestling at age 15.
Musk’s Siblings
Musk is the oldest of three children. His younger brother, Kimbal, owns the Kitchen Restaurant Group, and his younger sister, Tosca, is a filmmaker.
Physical Attributes
Musk is 6’2″ tall, and his IQ is estimated to be 155.
What Elon Musk Would Have Named Tesla
If Tesla couldn’t secure the rights for the name, Musk would have called the company “Faraday”.
Inspiration for Iron Man
Robert Downey Jr., the actor who portrayed Tony Stark in the Marvel movies, based his portrayal of Iron Man on Musk.
Elon Musk in Movies and TV Shows
Musk has made appearances in movies and television shows, including a cameo appearance in Iron Man 2, The Simpsons, Big Bang Theory, and South Park.
Entrepreneurial Ventures
He founded eight companies: Zip2, PayPal, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyperloop, OpenAI, Neuralink, and The Boring Company.
Musk’s Education and Early Ventures
Musk avoided mandatory service in the South African military by enrolling in school in Canada. He then studied business and physics at the University of Pennsylvania and started a Ph.D. at Stanford University but dropped out to launch Zip2 Corporation.
Political Involvement
Musk agreed to serve on two business councils for Donald Trump in 2017 but resigned in protest of the president withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris agreement on climate change.
Minimal Salary and Frugal Living
His annual salary from Tesla is $1. While in college, he lived on $1 a day by buying hot dogs and oranges in bulk.
Elon Musk’s Parenting and Relationships
He has six children, all boys. He had twins and triplets with his first wife, Justine Wilson, and a son with Canadian singer Grimes.
Unusual Baby Name
Musk and Grimes changed their baby’s name from X Æ A-12 to X Æ A-Xii less than a month after he was born.
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