Elon Musk – World’s First Trillionaire
As we approach the end of Inspirations 2025 – we write about Elon Reeve Musk who was born on June 28, 1971, in Pretoria, South Africa. It’s difficult to describe Musk and his influence upon the world in less than a dozen adjectives. Needless to say, he is a multifaceted individual and arguably the most influential person alive today. He’s also the wealthiest. And one of the most controversial. And his story may just be beginning!
Musk is undeniably a visionary. He almost redefines that word as a clear and ambitious seer of the future, particularly in areas like transportation, space exploration, sustainable energy, social media, and individual liberties, especially freedom of speech. Closely coupled with vision, he is an innovator and inventor, constantly pushing the boundaries of technology with companies like PayPal, Tesla, X (previously Twitter), OpenAI, SpaceX, and more.
Elon Musk is a disruptor!
To call him wealthy would be a gross understatement. In fact, Musk is widely predicted to become the world’s first trillionaire. Yes, that’s a trillionaire with a ‘T.’ He is already the richest person in the world, but his net worth is predicted to quadruple over the next few years based on his holdings in major companies – primarily driven by his significant stakes in Tesla and the entire infrastructure of electric vehicles – space exploration via SpaceX – social media with X (formerly Twitter) – and other ventures in their infancy. All are predicted to have substantial growth and potential for massive expansion.
With regard to his personal characteristics, importantly Musk is charismatic – with a personality and vision that attract tons of attention and followers. And ‘haters’ as well. Elon is driven. His relentless pursuit of seemingly impossible goals is marked with an almost excessive work ethic and the repeated successes. Elon is known for his intensity in all things – often working 80-100 hours per week. He is indisputably a genius; a brilliant mind, especially in engineering and business. Musk is ambitious – with goals that are incredibly high-reaching, such as colonizing Mars and revolutionizing transportation and energy production. He is resilient – despite numerous setbacks, he always pushes forward to achieve his goals.
On the other hand, Elon is controversial. His actions and statements often spark debate and controversy. He is eccentric – known for his unconventional behavior and ideas, which sometimes seem strange to others. And Elon is a polarizing figure, with people tending to have strong opinions about him, either positive or negative.
Elon has been married three times and has ten children. He suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome – a form of Autism. Doctors state that those with this disease are frequently highly intelligent with excellent memories. They tend to be known for honesty, loyalty, reliability, and straightforwardness (sometimes socially to a fault). They exhibit intense focus, persistence, and attention to detail. They usually think ‘outside the box’ and have a deep passion for learning. Any of these traits remind you of Elon Musk?
At the age of 17, Elon moved to Canada to attend Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. He later transferred to the University of Pennsylvania, where he actually earned two bachelor’s degrees – one in physics from the College of Arts and Sciences and another in economics from the Wharton School. After graduating, Elon moved to California to pursue a PhD at Stanford University, but left after just two days to pursue entrepreneurial ventures in the internet, renewable energy, and outer space.
In 1995, Elon founded Zip2, a city guide software for newspapers. In 1999, he sold the company to Compaq for nearly $300 million. Then Elon founded X.com, an online payment company that later became PayPal, which he sold to eBay for $1.5 billion in stock in 2002. So he first became a billionaire at the age of 31. He then joined Tesla as chairman and product architect, eventually becoming CEO.
His company Tesla is known for its electric vehicles, battery energy storage, and solar products. The company has revolutionized the automotive industry, particularly in the realm of electric vehicles (EVs) and charging infrastructure. Tesla’s vehicles have set new standards in terms of range, performance, and design.
Tesla’s advancements in battery technology have significantly increased the range and efficiency of EVs. Tesla’s Autopilot and FSD technologies are pushing the boundaries of autonomous driving, aiming to enhance safety and convenience. Tesla has built an extensive network of Supercharger stations worldwide, allowing for travel in EVs more feasible. Tesla also offers Destination Charging at hotels, restaurants, and other locations, providing more charging options for Tesla owners. Recently, major automakers have adopted Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS), which could lead to a more unified and efficient charging infrastructure.
EVs produce zero tailpipe emissions, reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Of course, the energy to charge the EV battery comes from the power grid, which depends on various sources of energy. And some drivers worry about the limited range of EVs and the availability of charging stations on long trips. But increased ranges are forecast for the near future. Elon Musk envisions a future powered by sustainable energy sources – not only electric cars but also solar energy and battery storage solutions. Musk aims to achieve full autonomy with Tesla’s vehicles. He believes that autonomous vehicles will reduce traffic accidents and improve mobility for those unable to drive.
Around the same time as he joined Tesla, Elon founded Space Exploration Technologies Corp. SpaceX has the goal of reducing space transportation costs and enabling colonization of Mars. The company has achieved numerous breakthroughs and milestones, including the first privately funded spacecraft to reach the International Space Station. Elon Musk’s work at SpaceX has been transformative for the aerospace industry. SpaceX’s first rocket became the first privately developed liquid-fueled rocket to reach orbit back in 2008.
One of SpaceX’s most significant innovations is the development of reusable rockets. The Falcon 9’s first stage lands back on Earth to be reused for multiple missions, drastically reducing launch costs. Known for this reusability, it has become a workhorse for SpaceX, launching satellites, cargo, and crew to the International Space Station (ISS) for NASA and other clients. The SpaceX Dragon was the first commercial spacecraft to deliver cargo to the ISS and return safely to Earth and has since been upgraded to carry astronauts.
SpaceX is now developing the Starship spacecraft, designed for missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Musk aims to have this craft be fully reusable and capable of carrying large numbers of passengers and cargo. It will provide global broadband internet coverage – and aims to connect underserved and remote areas around the world. The Raptor engine in the Starship rocket is a next-generation rocket engine that uses methane and liquid oxygen as propellants.
Elon Musk serves as the CEO and is heavily involved in the engineering and design aspects of the company’s projects. His ambitious goals and innovative approach have inspired a new generation of engineers and entrepreneurs throughout the aerospace industry. His work continues to push the boundaries of space exploration and technology, with the ultimate goal of making life multiplanetary.
Elon has also founded or co-founded several other companies, including Neuralink (neurotechnology), The Boring Company (infrastructure and tunnel construction), and OpenAI (artificial intelligence). Expect additional ventures going forward. Beyond Earth, Musk’s vision extends to space travel with SpaceX and to colonizing Mars.
Elon Musk’s political views are complex and have evolved over time. He has libertarian leanings – advocating for minimal government intervention and maximizing individual freedom. He refers to himself as “politically moderate” and “independent,” indicating that he does not strictly align with any single political party. Musk is a strong vocal proponent of free speech – and has criticized what he perceives as censorship on social media platforms. Despite Tesla benefiting from government subsidies, Musk has criticized them, arguing that companies should be able to succeed without government support.
Elon Musk acquired Twitter in October 2022 and later rebranded it as X. His vision is to transform it into an “everything app.” Musk’s focus on X reflects his broader vision of creating a multifunctional platform that integrates various services, including messagi8ng, social networking, financial transactions, and more. Musk has been most vocal about promoting free speech on the platform, which has led to changes in content moderation policies.
His approach to social media is driven by his desire to create a platform that goes beyond traditional social networking, aiming to revolutionize how people interact and transact online. Musk has introduced new monetization strategies, such as subscription services and enhanced features for paying users, to diversify and increase the platform’s revenue streams. His actions and dreams for X reflect his broader goals of innovation and disruption.
On the international fronts, Elon Musk is opposed to senseless wars and the deaths of innocents. With regard to the Russia-Ukraine War, he has proposed a peace plan that includes Ukraine ceding some territory to Russia. This has received mixed reactions.
In our first novel, Elon has inspired the Noli – “ilon” spelled backwards – a highly advanced self-powered (no battery) EV. We are further inspired by his words, which also find the way to the pages of our books:
“When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor.”
“I think it is possible for so-called ordinary people to choose to be extraordinary.”
“Failure must be an option. If things are not failing, you are not innovating enough.”
Elon’s work has significantly advanced electric vehicles, space exploration, renewable energy, and free speech. His vision for the future includes making life multi-planetary, reducing climate change to the degree possible through sustainable energy production and consumption, and improving human-machine interfaces. Elon Musk’s life and career are marked by his relentless pursuit of innovation and his willingness to take risks to achieve his ambitious goals. Not your typical human – correct?
