[runevault]

Creating companies like SpaceX and Tesla, I can see how people would turn a blind eye to his more troublesome traits because he was creating companies that pointed towards the future in the way other billionaires weren't necessarily. Wanting that to be true and good is perfectly understandable, even if it is also incredibly dangerous.

[claaams]

He didn't create Tesla. He invested early in someone else's idea.

[exdsq]

I'm the OP of the comment this thread was responding too, talking about how I dislike Musk, but I'd still say he was the driving force of Tesla in that it was a close-to-bankrupt company that is unrecognisable of the company you see today. Same with the whole idea he's only rich because his dad is - Zip2 and Paypal were huge acquisitions that dwarf his fathers net worth back then, and having wealth is in no way a guarantee you'll > 1000x that amount.

[op00to]

Not having wealth is a guarantee you won’t 1000x.

[exdsq]

What nonsense. How many business owners in the US immigrated with basically zero and made > $1m? How many startup founders have come from disadvantaged backgrounds and exited/got acquired? How many first-gen college grads got into good schools and ended up firmly in the upper-middle class (US based, that is?). It's far easier to 1000x when you have little than when you have a good amount. Just look at the number of millionaires compared to billionaires.

[mlindner]

He did create Tesla. He went to AC Propulsion and tried to form a company with them but they weren't interested and instead directed him to two guys who had incorporation papers and nothing else. He then funded 90% of the Series A round when there were only the two "founders". He was involved with the company from that point forward.

[FireBeyond]

> instead directed him to two guys who had incorporation papers and nothing else

That's not true.

They were already working on a proprietary motor that would go on to become the basis of the Tesla motor.

They got Series A funding from Musk and other sources (though Musk was the largest funder) at the start of 2004.

He also wasn't really involved in day to day ops, but provided "vision" for the Roadster from 2007 onwards - that's when he became more involved.

[mlindner]

Do you have a source on what they were doing before Series A? I didn't start paying close attention personally until around the time the Model S started getting close to production. I've never heard anything about a "proprietary motor".

[zionic]

False, he's a cofounder. Tesla had no cars and no customers before Elon.