Elon Musk: Beyond Tesla and SpaceX - 10 Surprising Facts

 

Elon Musk. Photo by reuters.com

Elon Musk is a name synonymous with innovation and disruption. From electric cars with Tesla to rockets with SpaceX, his ventures have revolutionized entire industries. But there's more to Elon Musk than meets the eye.  This article delves into 10 surprising facts about the tech billionaire, exploring his lesser-known ventures and personal life.

Here are 10 fun facts about Elon Musk that you might not know:

1. Video Game Prodigy: At the tender age of 12, Elon wrote and sold the code for a space-themed video game called "Blastar" to a computer magazine for $500.  This early success foreshadowed his future interest in technology and problem-solving. 

Elon Musk Blastar Video Game. Photo by techeblog.com

2. Real-Life James Bond: Elon Musk is a self-proclaimed James Bond fan and even purchased the Lotus Esprit submarine car used in the movie "The Spy Who Loved Me" for a cool $997,000 at auction in 2013.  While it doesn't actually transform into a submarine, it's still a pretty sweet ride.

3. Tunnel Visionary: Beyond electric cars and rockets, Elon Musk is also the founder of The Boring Company, a tunnel construction services company. His goal? To create an underground network of high-speed tunnels to alleviate traffic congestion in major cities. 

4. Asperger's Advocate: Elon Musk has openly spoken about having Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism spectrum disorder. He credits his condition with focusing his thinking and driving his work ethic.  He's a role model for those with Asperger's, showing how it can be a strength.

5. Twitterati: Elon Musk is a prolific tweeter, known for his sometimes controversial and often humorous posts.  He currently has over 100 million followers, making him one of the most followed people on the platform.  He even used Twitter to launch a hostile takeover bid for the social media company itself in 2022!

6. Cameo King: If you're a fan of "Iron Man" or "The Big Bang Theory," you might have caught a glimpse of Elon Musk in a cameo appearance.  He's always up for a bit of fun and enjoys surprising audiences with his pop culture appearances.

7. Family Man (x10): Elon Musk has a reputation for being a workaholic, but he's also a family man.  He has ten children – five with his first wife Justine Wilson, three with musician Grimes, and two with Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis. 

8. Inspiration for Iron Man: Real life billionaire inventor Elon Musk is said to be a big inspiration for the character of Tony Stark in the Marvel "Iron Man" movies.  Both Stark and Musk are charismatic tech geniuses who are constantly pushing the boundaries of innovation.

9. College Dropout (Done Right): Elon Musk famously dropped out of Stanford University after just two days to pursue his entrepreneurial dreams.  It's a risky move that most wouldn't recommend, but it worked out for him in the end.

10. Moonwalker Wannabe: One of Elon Musk's ultimate goals for SpaceX is to land humans on Mars.  He envisions creating a self-sustaining human colony on the Red Planet.  While it might seem like science fiction now, with Elon Musk's determination, it could become a reality one day.

Elon Musk: A Man of Many Hats

Elon Musk's ventures extend far beyond electric cars and rockets.  He's a true visionary who isn't afraid to take risks and push boundaries. Whether it's creating video games at a young age, building tunnels to ease traffic, or inspiring the character of Iron Man, Elon Musk's story continues to surprise and amaze.  With his determination and innovative spirit, there's no telling what he'll achieve next.