There are lots of centa-millionaires. None have done what Musk did.
Musk got his start with Zip2, programming it himself. Any competent programmer could have done that (but didn't). Each success he used to launch a much more ambitious enterprise.
When someone does that multiple times, it isn't luck. It's being good at it.
Or to have parents to seed said company. Not sure why you got downvoted.
It’s easier to say “Go do what JK Rowling did” than to say “Go do what Elon did” lmao. I can write a fantasy series with $0. The same can’t be said necessarily for building companies.
It’s still more than most people have and during a specific time in history. What you said doesn’t negate my point.
There’s more involved to starting a company than money. Such as your network. Your support system. Even your race and geographic location could play a factor. Luck, etc.
“You go be a 7-ft basketball player if you think it’s so easy!!!”
> It’s still more than most people have and during a specific time in history.
The freeways around here are gridlocked with cars costing more than $28,000.
> Such as your network. Your support system. Even your race and geographic location could play a factor. Luck, etc.
Oh phooey. I started my company with nothing more than an IBM PC. Nobody knew my race or location - it was mail order. Want to network? Use the internet. The D development community is all over the world.
On HN I regularly see extreme negativity and often outright hostility to all the opportunities all around us. What I enjoy about Musk is he likes to do things everyone else says can't be done.
> The freeways around here are gridlocked with cars costing more than $28,000.
Yea, financed with debt over what is now typically 7-10 years. 28k of capital to invest is out of the reach of the majority of Americans. Please don't pretend that's a small amount of money anyone can come up with.
BTW, if you can finance $28,000 over 7-10 years, you can buy a perfectly fine $3,000 car, save up what your payment would have been, and have those funds to invest.
My daily driver, for example, is 31 years old now, and is worth maybe $500. I invest the money I save (taxes, insurance, and repairs are pretty cheap for the thing, too).
My not-so-humble opinion is that if you have to finance a car, you should buy a cheaper used one you can pay cash for. Financing an expensive car is a great way to never have any spare funds available.
Musk got his start with Zip2, programming it himself. Any competent programmer could have done that (but didn't). Each success he used to launch a much more ambitious enterprise.
When someone does that multiple times, it isn't luck. It's being good at it.