[jdross]

On what grounds? You don't like how he tweets?

He has built a $150 billion company from the ground up, is 5-7 years ahead of his competitors, in a sector where it is nearly impossible to survive.

The company has dramatically accelerated the shift to electric vehicles.

You don't like him? Don't follow him on twitter or buy the stock or products. Otherwise, he seems not to dissimilar from most neuro-atypical founders I know

[citruspi]

> He has built a $150 billion company from the ground up

That's a bit of a stretch.

The company was founded by other folks (Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning) in 2003, he invested in 2004, joined the board of directors, ousted the CEO in 2007, and was then only able to refer to himself as a cofounder after settling a lawsuit.

Musk didn't build anything "from the ground up," he took control of a company that already existed and grew it into something larger - still admirable, but let's not rewrite history. Musk didn't create Tesla and he wasn't one of the original cofounders.

[jdross]

The Tesla of 2007 was a barely existing company on the edge of death having built and delivered literally 0 cars.

The first roadster shipped in 2008. The first Model S in 2012.

If you're saying Tesla would exist let alone be where it is without Elon, we're living in different realities. They would have never shipped a single vehicle without him.

[misiti3780]

Completely agree - I'm confused by all the elon hate on HN. If he died today, he would accomplish more by 48 than most people could in 10 lifetimes. He's obviously a bit crazy but you would have to be to take on the projects he takes on.

[perl4ever]

A lot of the "Elon hate" is dull, generic, and irritating to read, from my point of view. It's clear he's accomplished a lot, regardless of what happens in the future. I don't think it would be too grandiose to say he's substantially changed the course of history with Tesla and SpaceX.

However, I would experience a great deal of schadenfreude at his downfall at this point, because he's become one of those larger-than-life people who think they are entitled to destroy anyone who gets in his way. It could be that the local official that he's fighting with has some faults, has made some mistakes. But she represents functioning civil society to me and he represents all the powerful people that are heedlessly trying to destroy it.

[ntsplnkv2]

Because people are sick and tired of rich people bitching and moaning about everything that doesn't go exactly how they want it to, that are entitled to everything they deem, and the idea that, because they had success in one area, that they are successful in all areas and are infallible.

Yes, Elon Musk did all this, not the 48000 some employees at Tesla, not the chemical engineers, not the mechanical engineers, not the assembly line workers, not the software engineers. It was all Elon. I mean, come on, when does the absurdity end? Tesla will be fine without Elon, and probably better off as he becomes more unhinged.

[stale2002]

The issue is that Elon has broken SEC laws multiple times on twitter.

That is a real problem, and it could risk him being sent to jail, fined billions, or removed from the executive position.

[dr_dshiv]

> He has built a $150 billion company from the ground up, is 5-7 years ahead of his competitors, in a sector where it is nearly impossible to survive.

Yeah, but what has he done lately? Also, his tweets.

[lazyjones]

> but what has he done lately

Um... He won a contract to carry astronauts to the moon?

[Rebelgecko]

I'm curious to know if anyone has died to ensure that the Commercial Crew launch happens on time. SpaceX didn't comment about numbers after they had the initial outbreak in Hawthorne.

[mlindner]

NASA has continued work on Commercial Crew as well. If NASA wanted to delay the mission they could. SpaceX doesn't have control of that decision.

[raphaelj]

> He has built a $150 billion company from the ground up

Are we talking about Tesla? Because Elon didn't fund Telsa.