Elon Musk - CEO & Chief Engineer at SpaceX, CEO & Product Architect at Tesla, Inc, new
Elon Musk - CEO & Chief Engineer at SpaceX, CEO & Product Architect at Tesla, Inc, new

owner of Twitter, previous co-founder of Paypal, and wealthiest person on the planet with an
owner of Twitter, previous co-founder of Paypal, and wealthiest person on the planet with an

estimated net worth of around $274billion…not bad going for a guy who recently turned 50!
estimated net worth of around $274billion…not bad going for a guy who recently turned 50!

Born to a Canadian mother and a South African father, Musk grew up in South Africa and moved
Born to a Canadian mother and a South African father, Musk grew up in South Africa and moved

to Canada when he was 17, then later to the United States where he studied economics and
to Canada when he was 17, then later to the United States where he studied economics and

physics at university.
physics at university.

He started up and co-founded his first business aged just 24, Zip2, a web software company
He started up and co-founded his first business aged just 24, Zip2, a web software company

that was later acquired by Compaq, the American IT company for a whopping 307million US dollars
that was later acquired by Compaq, the American IT company for a whopping 307million US dollars

(cash, no less….wowzers!).
(cash, no less….wowzers!).

Prior to this success, Musk could hardly afford an apartment and was sleeping in his office,
Prior to this success, Musk could hardly afford an apartment and was sleeping in his office,

showering at the YMCA, and working a second job at night.
showering at the YMCA, and working a second job at night.

Always searching for his next project, Musk then co-founded X.com in 1999, an online financial
Always searching for his next project, Musk then co-founded X.com in 1999, an online financial

service.
service.

He had the excellent foresight to realize that online banking would become the norm
He had the excellent foresight to realize that online banking would become the norm

and he wasn’t wrong.
and he wasn’t wrong.

However, not unlike Steve Jobs, Musk was pushed out, not once, but twice before the company
However, not unlike Steve Jobs, Musk was pushed out, not once, but twice before the company

merged with Paypal and then was later bought by eBay three years later for $1.5billion
merged with Paypal and then was later bought by eBay three years later for $1.5billion

(in stock).
(in stock).

As part of this deal, Musk himself received around $176million….safe to say, he could
As part of this deal, Musk himself received around $176million….safe to say, he could

afford his own apartment by this time!
afford his own apartment by this time!

Following Musk’s first two massive business successes, he moved into ‘space’ territory
Following Musk’s first two massive business successes, he moved into ‘space’ territory

when he became heavily involved with the Mars Society, focusing on the importance of space
when he became heavily involved with the Mars Society, focusing on the importance of space

exploration.
exploration.

Musk was immediately captivated and keen to invest so he started up and co-founded SpaceX,
Musk was immediately captivated and keen to invest so he started up and co-founded SpaceX,

in 2002 with his own savings.
in 2002 with his own savings.

He is passionate about life on Mars; he truly believes he can colonize the planet and that
He is passionate about life on Mars; he truly believes he can colonize the planet and that

interplanetary and orbital spaceflight is the next logical step.
interplanetary and orbital spaceflight is the next logical step.

To date, the company has an impressive list of firsts, amongst them the first private
To date, the company has an impressive list of firsts, amongst them the first private

company to send humans into orbit and the first private company to send a spacecraft
company to send humans into orbit and the first private company to send a spacecraft

to the International Space Station.
to the International Space Station.

Having revolutionized transportation in space, Musk also set about doing the same on Earth
Having revolutionized transportation in space, Musk also set about doing the same on Earth

through Tesla.
through Tesla.

Since the company was created in 2003, its mission has been to accelerate the world’s
Since the company was created in 2003, its mission has been to accelerate the world’s

transition to sustainable energy.
transition to sustainable energy.

Musk led much of the initial investment and took an active role, first as a chairman on
Musk led much of the initial investment and took an active role, first as a chairman on

the board and later as CEO and product architect in 2008.
the board and later as CEO and product architect in 2008.

In 2020, Tesla became the most valuable carmaker in history and its famous Model 3 has become
In 2020, Tesla became the most valuable carmaker in history and its famous Model 3 has become

the world’s best-selling plug-in vehicle.
the world’s best-selling plug-in vehicle.

Musk doesn’t seem to know when to stop as far as business ventures go.
Musk doesn’t seem to know when to stop as far as business ventures go.

In April 2022, he took over the influential social media platform, Twitter, for an estimated
In April 2022, he took over the influential social media platform, Twitter, for an estimated

$44billion…mere pocket money for Elon!
$44billion…mere pocket money for Elon!

He has long expressed his wish that Twitter exercises more free speech and less moderation.
He has long expressed his wish that Twitter exercises more free speech and less moderation.

He, himself, has been involved in multiple lawsuits as a result of tweets he put out,
He, himself, has been involved in multiple lawsuits as a result of tweets he put out,

yet he keeps on tweeting….after all, he does have an enormous audience of 83million
yet he keeps on tweeting….after all, he does have an enormous audience of 83million

to entertain!
to entertain!

It will be interesting to see if he allows Mr. Trump to hop back on board as a regular
It will be interesting to see if he allows Mr. Trump to hop back on board as a regular

tweeter!
tweeter!

What does the future hold for Mr. Musk?
What does the future hold for Mr. Musk?

Who could possibly predict?
Who could possibly predict?

But you can bet if there’s a whiff of profit to be made, he’ll be right at the front
But you can bet if there’s a whiff of profit to be made, he’ll be right at the front

of the line.
of the line.

Love him or hate him (and there are a lot of people who lean either way), he has an
Love him or hate him (and there are a lot of people who lean either way), he has an

eye for success and will keep on going until there is life in space, apparently!
eye for success and will keep on going until there is life in space, apparently!

To infinity and beyond…
To infinity and beyond…