10 Lesser-Known Facts About Elon Musk

Few figures in the tech world attract as much attention as Elon Musk. His association with Tesla and SpaceX has made his name almost synonymous with innovation, often overshadowing his influence as a personality and entrepreneur. Here are ten interesting facts you might not know about the tech mogul.

1. He Was Bullied as a Kid

Despite his confident persona, Musk faced severe bullying in school, which led to a hospital visit after a brutal assault that involved being pushed down a staircase. His early life was marked by struggles to fit in among peers.

2. Raised by Books

Musk’s childhood passions revolved around literature; he reportedly read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica by age nine and immersed himself in comics and science fiction, fueling his imagination and ambition.

3. Quiet and Deeply Thoughtful

As a child, Musk was so introspective and quiet that his parents and doctors tested him for deafness. His fascination with daydreaming and inner worlds often made him seem detached from his surroundings.

4. A Young Coding Prodigy

At just 12 years old, Musk created a video game called Blastar, which he sold for $500. His coding talent was evident early on, foreshadowing his future as a tech innovator.

5. Early Entrepreneurial Ventures

By 16, Musk tried to open a video game arcade with his brother. Later, he co-founded Zip2, a software company sold to Compaq for over $300 million, and even turned a frat house into an unofficial nightclub for college students.

6. Inspiration for Iron Man

Actor Robert Downey Jr. approached Musk for inspiration in portraying Tony Stark in Iron Man, and Musk even appeared briefly in Iron Man 2 to discuss potential collaborations involving electric jets.

7. A Marvel X-Men Fan

Musk’s love for comics persists; he has named Tesla’s robots after X-Men characters like Xavier and Wolverine, and named his son Xavier in homage to Professor X.

8. Tweet That Became a Business

In 2016, Musk tweeted about building tunnels to combat traffic congestion, which led to the creation of The Boring Company. Nowadays, the firm has completed a 21-mile tunnel in Los Angeles.

9. Friendly with Larry Page

Despite industry rivalries, Musk maintains a close friendship with Google co-founder Larry Page, sharing gaming sessions and visiting each other’s homes in a show of camaraderie.

10. AI and Humanity’s Future

Concerned about artificial intelligence, Musk founded Neuralink to develop brain-computer interfaces and co-established OpenAI to ensure AI safety, aiming to prevent AI from threatening human existence.