Characterrelationship
ErrorCorrectionCloseErrorCorrection
- GirlfriendGrams
Anerror50032764hasbeenfedback
- Ex-wifeDalula·Lilly
Anerror3382529hasbeenreported.
- Ex-girlfriendAmberHeard
Anerror7998312hasbeenreported
- CooperatorMarkTarpening
Anerror22205934hasbeenreported
- CooperatorMartinEberhardGermany
Anerror12631089hasbeenreported
- SubordinateZhuXiaotong
Anerror16359246hasbeenreported
Characterexperience
Earlyexperience
Boyhood(5photos)
June1971Onthe28th,ElonMuskwasborninPretoria,SouthAfrica.HisfatherisanAnglo-DutchsonwhoworksasanelectricalandmechanicalengineerinSouthAfrica.HismotherwasborninCanadaandisamodel.Heisalsoawriterandnutritionist.Theworkoftheteacher.In1980,ElonMusklivedwithhisfatherafterhisparentsdivorced.Inspiredbyhisfather,ElonMuskwasobsessedwithscienceandtechnologywhenhewasachild.In1981,10-year-oldElonMuskboughtthefirstcomputerinhislifewithhispocketmoneyandpartofthefundssponsoredbyhisfather.Later,heboughtaprogrammingtextbookandlearnedhowtoprogram.
In1983,12-year-oldElonMusksuccessfullydesignedaspacegamesoftwarecalled"Blastar",andthensolditto"PCandOfficeTechnology"magazinefor$500,earningTothefirstpotofgoldinlife.
In1988,17-year-oldElonMuskleftthefamilyaftergraduatingfromPretoriaBoys’HighSchool,wenttoCanadaalone,andlivedwithhismother’srelatives.
In1989,ElonMuskobtainedCanadiancitizenshipandappliedforadmissiontoQueen’sUniversityinOntariothefollowingyear.
In1992,ElonMusktransferredtotheWhartonSchooloftheUniversityofPennsylvaniatostudyeconomicsonascholarship.Duringcollege,ElonMuskbegantopaycloseattentiontotheInternet,cleanenergy,andspace.Afieldthataffectsthefuturedevelopmentofmankind.AfterElonMuskobtainedabachelor'sdegreeineconomics,hestayedinschoolforanotheryeartogetabachelor'sdegreeinphysics.
In1995,24-year-oldElonMuskenteredStanfordUniversitytostudyadoctoralprograminmaterialsscienceandappliedphysics,butontheseconddayafterenrollment,ElonMuskdecidedtoleavetheschoolandstarthisownbusiness.
Investmentandentrepreneurship
Zip2
In1995,ElonMuskandhisyoungerbrotherKambaMuskdroppedoutofschool(KimbalMusk)tooktherandomangelinvestmentofasmallgroupofSiliconValleyandfoundedZip2,acompanythatdevelopsonlinecontentpublishingsoftwarefornewsorganizations.Atthattime,theNewYorkTimesandtheChicagoPostbecameMusk.Brother'scustomer.
X.com&PayPal
ElonMuskwhenhefoundedPayPal(2photos)
In1999,theAmericancomputermanufacturerCompaqacquiredZip2withUS$307millionincashandUS$34millioninstockoptions.The28-year-oldElonMuskmadeaprofitofUS$22millioninthisacquisition.InMarchofthesameyear,ElonMuskinvested10millionU.S.dollarsandfoundedanonlinefinancialservicesandemailpaymentbusinesscompany"X.com"withtwopartnersfromSiliconValley.In2000,ElonMuskmergedX.comwithConfinityfoundedbyPeterThielandMaxLavchininordertosolvethecompetitionintheonlinequicktransferbusiness.Confinity'sPayPal(PayPal)wasusedinFebruary.
InOctober2002,PayPal,whichfocusedonmobilepayment,waswhollyacquiredbyeBay,theworld’slargestonlinecompanyatthetime,forUS$1.5billion.ElonMuskwasthelargestshareholderofPayPal.,Owns11.7%oftheequity,andgot165millionUSdollarsofit.However,afterthecompletionofthetransaction,manycoremembersofPayPalleftthecompany.ElonMusktookoverasCEOafterPeterThielleft,butafterwardsElonMuskfailedduetointernalstrugglesinthecompany.Andwasexpelledfromthecompany.
SpaceExplorationTechnologyCompany
Inearly2001,ElonMuskplannedaprojectcalled"MarsOasis"whilestillatPayPal.ItisplannedtobuildasmallexperimentalgreenhouseonMars,sothatcropsfromtheearthwilltrytogrowinthesoilofMars.ButlaterElonMuskdiscoveredthatthecostofgoingtotheRussianAerospaceCorporationtopurchasealaunchvehiclewasmuchhigherthanthecostofself-developedrockets,soElonMusksuspendedtheimplementationoftheplan.
InJune2002,ElonMuskestablishedSpaceExplorationTechnologyCompany(SpaceX)asCEOandChiefTechnologyOfficer.ElonMuskbegantostudyhowtoreducerocketlaunchcosts,andItisplannedtorealizethemigrationofMarsinthefutureandcreatearealspacecivilizationofmankind.
In2004,Muskinvested6.3millionUSdollarsintheTeslacompanyfoundedbyMartinEberhard,andheservedasthechairmanofthecompany.Teslaisacompanythatmanufactureshigh-endelectricsportscars,andMusk'sinvestmentinitisobviouslybasedonhisloveforelectricvehiclesandhisoptimismaboutthemarket.Becauseofmanagementissuesandthestumblingblockintheproductionofthefirstsportscar,Muskinvestedallhismoneyinresearchanddevelopment.
In2005,the34-year-oldMuskwasworthmorethan300millionU.S.dollars.Whenhewasunder40,thethreeidealsoftheInternet,cleanenergyandspacehadbeenrealized.
In2008,whenthefinancialcrisisbrokeout,Muskalsousheredinatroughinhislife.Hisrocketfailedthreetimes,andtheinvestmentoftensofmillionsofdollarsturnedintoabigfireballaftertheexplosion.Becauseofthehighcostofresearchanddevelopment,Teslawasalsoonthevergeofbankruptcy.
InJune2010,TeslawaslistedontheNasdaqandsuccessfullycompletedtheIPO,withanetraisedcapitalofapproximatelyUS$184million.Afewdaysbeforelisting,theNewYorkTimesbrokethatMuskwasonthevergeofbankruptcy.Afterthelisting,Muskmade$630milliononthebooks.TeslabecamethefirstAmericancarmanufacturertogopublicsinceFordMotor'sIPOin1956,andtheonlyindependentmanufacturerofpureelectricvehiclestogopublicintheUnitedStates.SpaceXhasbeenprofitablesince2007.Teslareceivedalow-interestloanofUS$465millionfromtheUSDepartmentofEnergy,soldmanyelectricsportscarsforUS$100,000each,andbecameabatterysupplierforMercedes-BenzSmartcars.ToyotaandMercedes-BenzhaveinvestedinTesla,buthisbookwealthisstillinsufficient.
OnDecember8,2010,theFalcon9rocketdevelopedbyMusk’sSpaceXspaceexplorationtechnologycompanysuccessfullylaunchedthe"Dragonspacecraft"intoearthorbit.Thisisthefirsttimeinthehistoryoftheworldthataprivatecompanyhaslaunchedit.Aspacecraftthatgoestospaceandcanreturnsmoothly.Theentireaerospaceindustrywasshaken.AccordingtoNASA'splan,whenallUSspaceshuttlesareretiredin2011,theywillrelyonprivatecompanieslikeSpaceXtodeliversuppliestotheInternationalSpaceStation.
In2011,ElonMusksaidfranklythatitisveryriskytobetallthefutureonrocketsandelectricvehicles.Buthechangedtheconversationandsaid,butnotsodevotedisthebiggestrisk,becausethehopeofsuccessiszero.
Withhisowncapitalaccumulation,MuskfoundedSpaceXandSolarCityandservedastheirCEO.
TheBoringCompanywasestablishedinDecember2016.Itisarailtransitcompanythatsolvesgroundcongestionproblems.AccordingtoMusk’svision,hewillinstalla“pallet”forthecar’ssuspensionontheground.Afterthecarisparked,thepalletwilldroptotheground,andthecarwillbequicklytransportedbetweentheundergroundtunnelsatamaximumspeedof200kilometersperhour.
OnJune1,2017,halfanhourafterTrumpannouncedhiswithdrawalfromtheParisAgreement,TeslaCEOElonMuskannouncedhisresignationfromtheTrumpAdvisoryBoard.
Inearly2017,heannouncedplanstobuildalargerrocketinpreparationforthestartoftheMarscolonizationplanin2022.Healsoadmittedthatthistimetablecanbecalled"ambition."Thecodenameoftheprojectis"SuperLargeRocket"(BFR).
OnDecember4,2017,itranked43rdontheBloombergBusinessWeekly’s2017listofthe50mostinfluentialpeopleintheworld.
InMay2018,Forbes'toptenmostinfluentialCEOsrankedninth.
OnSeptember29,2018,theUSSecuritiesandExchangeCommissionstatedthatMuskwouldstepdownasTesla’schairman.
OnNovember8,2018,Tesla’sboardofdirectorsnominatedCOORobynDenholmaschairman,andtheappointmentwilltakeeffectimmediately.Earlier,TeslaChairmanandCEOElonMuskreachedasettlementagreementwiththeUSSecuritiesandExchangeCommission(SEC).Accordingtothetermsofthesettlement,MuskagreedtoresignaschairmanofTeslawithin45days,butwillcontinuetoserveasCEO.Inthefollowingthreeyears,hewasnoteligibletobere-electedaschairman.
OnAugust17,2020,U.S.time,USstocksclosed,andTesla'sstockpricesoared11.2%tocloseat1,835.64yuanpershare,arecordhigh.Asaresult,ElonMusk'snetworthincreasedby7.8billionUSdollarsto84.8billionUSdollars,becomingthefourthrichestmanintheworld.
OnFebruary19,2021,afterthecompletionofanewroundoffinancingbyitsSpaceX,ElonMusk'snetassetsincreasedtoUS$1999billion,makinghimtheworld’srichestmanforthesecondtimethisyear..
Personallife
Familymembers
ElonMusk(2photos)
Sister:ToscaMusk,Brother:KimbalMusk,father:aSouthAfricanengineer,mother:MeyerMusk,Canadian,workingasanutritionistandmodel.MarriageLife
OnMarch21,2016,BritishactorTalulahRiley(TalulahRiley)filedadivorcepetitionwiththeLosAngelesSupremeCourttoendtherelationshipbetweenherandMusk.Maritalrelationship.ItisworthmentioningthatMuskalsoappliedfordivorcein2014,buthewithdrewtheapplicationsevenmonthslater.
Thisisthethirdtimethetwohavedealtwithdivorcematters.MuskandRileymarriedin2010anddivorcedin2012,buttheyremarried18monthslater.
TherearenochildrenbetweenMuskandRiley,butMuskhasfivesonswithhisfirstwife,sciencefictionwriterJustin.InApril2014,MuskbroughthissonwithhimduringhisfirstvisittoChina.Atthattime,hisfirstwife,Justin,alsotookcareofthechildren.
Everytimeyougetmarried,Muskwillsignapre-nuptialorpost-nuptialagreement.Therefore,Muskisveryactiveinthedivisionofpropertyduringeachdivorce,andthewealthobtainedbythetwowivesfromthedivorceisalsoextremelylimited.ThefirstwifeJustingaveupalmostallrights,andRileyreceivedonly4.2millionUSdollarsandaTeslaRoadstercarinthefirstdivorce.Accordingtothemedia,RileywillreceiveUS$16millionintheseconddivorce.
OnMay4,2020,thefirstchildofElonMusk’sgirlfriendGrimeswasborn.
Healthstatus
Coronavirusinfection
OnNovember18,2020,ElonMuskwascaughtaftervisitingSweden.Infectedwiththenewcrownpneumoniavirus.
SufferingfromAsperger’sSyndrome
OnMay10,2021,ElonMuskwillserveontheAmericancomedyshow"SaturdayNightLive"WhenthehostrevealedthathewassufferingfromAsperger'ssyndrome.
HonorsReceived
OnNovember21,2013,thefamousAmericanfinancialmagazine"Fortune"announcedthe"2013BusinessPersonoftheYear",TeslaMotorsCEOMusktoppedthelist.
OnSeptember22,2016,Bloomberg's50mostinfluentialpeopleintheworldlist,ElonMuskranked11th.
OnDecember14,2016,wonthehonorof"2016MostInfluentialCEO".
OnDecember4,2017,itranked43rdontheBloombergBusinessWeekly’s2017listofthe50mostinfluentialpeopleintheworld.
InApril2018,hewashonoredastheworld'smostinfluentialpersoninTimeMagazinein2018.
InMay2018,hewasawardedthestatusofaFellowoftheRoyalSociety.
InMarch2019,ElonMuskranked40thinthe2019ForbesGlobalBillionaireslistwithafortuneof22.3billionUSdollars.
InSeptember2019,ElonMuskwasnamedthemostinspiringleaderintheglobaltechnologyindustryandrankedfirstonthelist.
InOctober2019,theForbes400richestAmericansranked23rd.
OnFebruary26,2020,ElonMuskranked20thinthe"2020HurunGlobalRichList"withawealthof322billionyuan.
OnApril6,2020,ElonMuskranked21stinthe"HurunGlobalTop100Entrepreneurs"withafortuneof290billionyuan.
OnApril7,2020,ElonMuskranked31stinthe"2020ForbesGlobalBillionairesList"withafortuneofUS$24.6billion.
OnJune23,2020,ElonMuskranked18thinthe"HurunGlobalTop100Entrepreneurs"withafortuneofRMB375billion.
In2020,ElonMuskranked7thinthe"2020ForbesUSRichList"withafortuneof68billionUSdollars.
OnMarch2,2021,ElonMuskrankedfirstinthe"2021HurunGlobalRichList"withafortuneofRMB1.280billion.
InApril2021,ElonMuskrankedsecondinthe"2021ForbesGlobalRichList"withafortuneofUS$151billion.
Majorachievements
Investmentinmovies
ElonMuskhasacloserelationshipwithHollywood,moviestarGeorgeClooneyanddirectorCameronareallhisGuests.SearchingforhisnameintheInternetmoviedatabase,thereisalonglistofresults.Muskhasworkedasaproducerforthreefilms.
In2000,ElonMusk’syoungersisterToscaMuskestablishedanindependentfilmproductioncompany"MuskEntertainment",andElonMuskservedasthefirstfilm"Guessing".Theproducerof,otherfamousonessuchas"Thankyouforsmoking"in2005,the1994DassaultFalcon900aircraftthatappearedinthismoviewasregisteredunderhisname.Inaddition,hehasguest-starredhimselfin7moviesandTVseries.
WhenthedirectorofIronManfoundElonMuskinordertoenrichtherole,heexpressedastronginterestinbeingaproducer.PartofthescenesinthefilmwereshotintheemptyfactoryareaofSpaceXheadquarters.Inthesubtitlestable,ElonMusk’snameislistedinthe"SpecialThanks"column.
ElonMuskhasrecentlysaidthatheisgoingtoretireonMars.InSpaceX'sHawthorne,Californiafactory,1,500engineersareworkinghardforthisgoal.HangingbythedoorisahugepictureofMars.InthehugeformerBoeing777manufacturingplant,thereareparkedFalcon9rocketsandcapsule-shapedspacecraftcalled"DragonSpacecraft."
MarsOasis
Muskhadstudiedphysicsinuniversity,buthewasnotarocketexpert.Inearly2001,Muskplannedaprojectcalled"MarsOasis",planningtolandasmallexperimentalgreenhouseonMars,includingcropstogrowinMartiansoil.However,whenhefoundthatthelaunchcostwasmuchhigherthantheR&Dandengineeringcostsofthisproject,hesuspendedtheproject.Hedecidedtosetupacompanytostudyhowtoreducelaunchcosts.ThisisSpaceX.OnSeptember28,2008,theFalcon1rocketwassuccessfullylaunchedforthefirsttime.ThiswasthefirsttimethataliquidorbitalrocketdevelopedbyaprivatespacecompanysuccessfullyenteredEarthorbit.
Adventurer
Thefinancialcrisisbrokeout.HestoodinTesla’sofficeandtoldtheemployees:Eitherinvestinyourownmoneyorthecompanycollapses.Hewillnotsayafterthoughts.IfIdidsomethingbefore.Sohewroteacheckfor3milliondollars,hislast3milliondollars.Healsopersuadedotherinvestors,includinghisbrothers,toinvesttheirpersonalwealthinthecompany.SolvedTesla'sproblem.Hisnextquestionwaswhoborrowedmoneytospendtomorrow,andallthemoneyhadtobeborrowedfromfriends,includingrent.
MuskbelievesthatSpaceXhascarriedoutahighdegreeofverticalintegrationinthedesignandproduction,andthelaunchpricewillfurtherdropovertime,andSpaceX'srocketsaredesignedtoberecyclable.
Theworld’sfirstprivately-developedspacecraft
AfterSpaceXwasfoundedin2002,manycriticsbelievedthatMuskcouldnotsucceed.ThisisalsowhatMusksaid.Thereasonwhythemythicalimageof"Dragon"namedthespaceship.The"Dragon"spacecraftisdesignedwith7seatsandawidecargocompartment.Theoverallshapeis"bullet".Itisoneofthefewcommercialspacecraftintheworldandtheworld'sfirstspacecraftdevelopedbyaprivatecompany.In2011,NASAsigneda$1.6billioncontractwithSpaceX,andSpaceXwillprovide12transportationandresupplymissionsforAmericanastronauts.ThisgivesSpaceXapriceadvantageoveritscompetitor,OrbitalSciences,whichexceedsmorethan$200million.SpaceX'sgoalistominimizethecostofspacetransportation.Inordertoreducecosts,SpaceXhasevenpurchasedsecond-handinstrumentsfromtheInternet,lookingforthecheapestsalvagecompanytosalvagetherocketwreckage.
InFebruary2012,thematerialscarriedbytheLongspacecraftweresenttotheInternationalSpaceStationbytheFalcon9rocketforsupplementarysupplies,whichwasdelayedbecauseoftheneedformorepreparations.Afterall,thiswillbethefirsttimeaprivatecompanyspacecrafthasdockedwithanon-orbitlaboratory.Thisispartofa$1.6billioncontractsignedbetweenSpaceXandNASA.Muskhassignedmorethan30contractsworthatotalof$3billion.TheyputthedetailsoftheinterioroftheDragoncapsuleonthewebsiteforpeopletobrowse.Theultimatepurposeofthiscapsule-shapedcontaineristocarrypeopleandtravelbetweenspaceandtheearthatarelativelylowcost.
Onlyfourintheworldhavemasteredspacecraftlaunchrecoverytechnology:theUnitedStates,Russia,China,andElonMusk.
Solarenergy
OnthemorningofOctober16,2014,SolarCity,thelargestinstallerofresidentialsolarpanelsintheUnitedStates,announcedonWednesdaythatthecompanywillissuea$200millionsolarbondandwilldesignaninvestmentThewebsiteisusedtopurchasethebond.SolarCityhaslaunchedthreeprivateplacementsofsolarbondsinthepastyear,andthecompanysaidthatthisisthefirsttimetheyhavepubliclysoldsuchbondsintheUnitedStates.
SolarCityissupportedbyTeslafounderElonMusk.Thecompanyistargetingretailinvestorsthistimewithaminimumpurchaseamountofonly$1,000.SolarCityhaspreviouslyreliedonlargeinvestorssuchasGoogleandUnitedBankofAmerica,whichcanobtainfederaltaxreliefbyinvestinginsolarsystems.
SolarCityFinancialProductsVicePresidentTimNewell(TimNewell)said:"Thisgivesusanopportunitytoexpandthescopeofinvestors."
ThebondtermofthisissueFor1to7years,theinterestrateisupto4%.U.S.investmentbankPavelMolchanovanalystRaymondJames(RaymondJames)said:"Demandforbondswillbeverystrong,andmanyretailinvestorsareveryfondofyield-orientedsecurities-includingstocksandbonds."SolarCitywilluseitsusersThemonthlyfeeispaidtorepaythedebt.Thecompany'suserswillalsoinstallsolarpanelsontheroof,butthereisnoneedtopayinadvance,andtheyonlyneedtopaymonthlyaccordingtothepowerconsumption.
"Weexpecttocontinuetoissuebondsinthefuture.Thisisonlythefirststep."Newelladdedthatthecompanyexpectstolaunchotherfinancialproducts.Afewdaysbefore,thecompanyhadjustlaunchedafinancialproductthatalloweditsuserstoborrowtopurchaseresidentialsolarsystems.DuetotheoveralldeclineintheUSstockmarket,SolarCitysharesfell3%onWednesdaytocloseat$48.19.
Interstellarspacecraft
OnMay5,2021,Wednesday,U.S.localtime,SpaceXsuccessfullycompletedtheimplementationofitslatestprototypeSN15ofthe"Interstellarspacecraft".High-altitudeflighttest.
MusktweetedthatSpaceXconductedthefifthinterstellarspacecrafttestlaunchinTexas.Subsequently,MuskannouncedthattheSpaceXprototypeSN15interstellarspacecraftsuccessfullylandedafterlaunch.
SpaceXisdevelopingthe"Starship"vehicleaspartofafullyreusableheavylaunchsystemthatwillalsoincludeahugeboostercalled"SuperHeavy".SpaceXfounderandCEOElonMusksaidthatthe"starship"willbethecoreofthecompany'sdeepspacerocketteamforflightstothemoonandMars.
SocialEvaluation
ElonMusk’sfriendscommentedonhimasapersonwithextremelycleargoals,andheisusedtoseeingtheworldfromtheperspectiveofanengineer.AdeoRessi,hisroommateattheUniversityofPennsylvaniasaidthatheisalsoacrazyentrepreneur.Whenhewasincollege,thetwoonceopenedanightclub.Everytimethepolicecalled,Muskalwayspretendedtorespondcalmly.
Whenhewasincollege,heoftenthoughtabouttherealproblemsfacingtheworldandwhichoneswouldaffectthefutureofmankind.HeisoptimisticabouttheInternet,sustainableenergyandspaceexploration.Later,heenteredthesethreeareasinaccordancewiththeagreement,anddroppedthethreeblockbustersofPayPal,TeslaMotorsandSpaceXinturn.
"Aslongasheisoptimistic,hewillcontinuetoworkharduntilhereachesthegoal."Ressisaid.
Forthosewhoopposehim,hewillsparenoefforttofightbackwithoutconcealinghistruethoughts.
Relatedevents
Chinadebut
CovercharacterElonMusk(3photos)
OntheafternoonofApril21,2014,ataneventinGeekPark,TeslaCEOMuskrecordedalivebroadcastofChinaCentralTelevision’s"Dialogue"andhadameetingwithLenovoCEOYangYuanqing.Conversation.MuskhasagoodopportunitytofullyexplainhisChinesestrategytopotentialChineseconsumers,butintheenditmadeatechnologicalversionof"ArtLife",whichbecameMusk'ssystematicsummary.
MusktalkedaboutChinathreetimes,talkedabouthis5-year-oldbabylikesChina,onceexplainedtheTeslapricinginChina;andoncerevealedthatchargingstationswillbebuiltinShanghaiandBeijing,Therewillbelocalizedproductioninthenextthreetofouryears.
Chargingcooperation
InJune2014,TeslaCEOElonMuskannouncedthatTeslaNolitigationwillbeinitiatedagainstanyonewhousesthecompany'spatents.ThisalsomeansthatothercarcompaniescanuseTesla'stechnologytomakeelectriccarswithoutobstacles.
AutomakersincludingNissanandBMWareinterestedinnegotiatingwithTeslaonthechargingnetworkthatthesethreemanufacturerscanusetogether.BothBMWandNissanhopetoworkwithTeslatobuildacommonchargingstandardforelectricvehicles.
AsimilarpartnershipisnotTesla’sfirstattempt,becausethecompanyhaspreviouslycooperatedwithMercedes-Benztobuildthechargingsystemforthelatter’sB-classcarsandsomeotherelectriccomponents.
Musk’s"SpamDestructionTheory"
Muskputforwardsuchahypothesisforthethreatofartificialintelligence:Mayberobotswill"feel"Thebestwaytodeletespamistokillhumanstogether.Manypeopledenouncethishypothesisassheernonsense,whichcanbecalledGod'slogic.Butinfact,thisviewisnotoriginalMusk.Somescientistshavepreviouslyputforwardasimilarbutmorerigoroushypothesisof"ironnailsdestroyingtheworld":ahumanhasgivenartificialintelligenceorderstoproduceasmanynailsaspossible.Soartificialintelligencestartedtomineironoreandcoalminestosmeltsteelandmakeironnails.Whenhumansthinkthatironnailsareenough,theyorderartificialintelligencetostopmanufacturing.However,theartificialintelligencebelievedthathewasobstructingthemanufactureofironnailsandkilledthehumanintheprincipleof"asmuchaspossible".Finally,oneday,theironoreandcoalminesontheearthwereallmined.(Assumingthathumanshavenotbeenextinctduetocoalminingandironoremining)Theartificialintelligencesuddenlythoughtthatthehumanbodyalsocontainsiron...eventuallyhumanswillbeextinct.
Wonthe"HinderingTechnologyInnovation"Award
OnJanuary20,2016,accordingtoforeignmediareports,TeslaandSpaceXCEOElonMaScott,StephenHawking,thefounderofthetheoryofeverythingintheuniverse,andBillGates,thebiggestplayerinpromotingthepopularizationofcomputers,werenominatedforthe"HinderingTechnologicalInnovation"award,andthefirsttwowontheaward.
TheITandInnovationFoundationannuallyselectsthe"LudditeAward",whichisspeciallyawardedtothosewhotrytohindertechnologicalinnovation.MuskandHawkingwereawardedbecausetheyjoineda"loosealliance"organization.They"maintainedahighdegreeofvigilance"aboutartificialintelligencetechnology,whichledtopeople'sfearofartificialintelligencetechnology.
BillGates,whoalsohasapessimisticattitudetowardsartificialintelligence,wasalsonominatedfortheaward.
ThetermLudditeoriginatedfromEnglandinthe19thcentury,whentextileworkersopposedtheuseofpowerloomsandotherlabor-savingequipment.The"Webster'sDictionary"definesLutherasapersonwhohinderstechnologicalprogress.
Musk,Hawkingandmanyartificialintelligenceexpertshavesaidthatthistechnologyhasbecomethebiggestexistentialthreattomankind.Muskoncetweetedthatthepotentialthreatofartificialintelligenceisgreaterthannuclearweapons.HawkingalsowroteanarticleinTheIndependentinMay2015:"Althoughtheshort-termimpactofartificialintelligencedependsonthepersonwhocontrolsit,thelong-termimpactdependsonwhetheritcanbecontrolled."
InJanuary2015,thetwoofthemalsosignedanopenletterissuedbytheFutureLifeInstitute,promisingthatprogressinthefieldofartificialintelligencewillnotbeoutofhumancontrol.InJuly2015,theyalsosignedanotheropenlettercallingforabanonthedevelopmentofautomatedweapons.
Inthesameyear,GatessaidthatheandMuskhavethesameviews."Onthisissue,IagreewiththeideasofElonMuskandothers.Idon'tunderstandwhysomepeoplearenotworried."
TheITandInnovationFoundationsaidthatMuskandothersexpressedThereisnoproblemwithopinions,theproblemliesinthewaytheyexpresstheiropinions.Atkinsonsaid,"Theproblemisthattheirtonemakesmanypeoplefeelscared."
Obtainingadomainname
Afterbeingunusedfor24years,ElonMusk,CEOofTeslaMotors,finallyownedtheTesla.comdomainname.
OnDecember22,2017,ElonMuskrevealedonTwitterthatTesla’sbuilt-innavigationsystemwillbeupgradedonalargescaleinearly2018.
USSECsued
OnSeptember27,2018,theUSSecuritiesandExchangeCommission(SEC)chargedTesla’schiefwithmisleadinginvestors.ExecutiveOfficerMuskfiledalawsuitaccusinghimofsecuritiesfraud.Tesla'sstockpriceplummetedbymorethan10%onthe28th.ButTeslaandthecompany'sdirectorssaidtheywillsupportMusk.
TheSECstatedthatinAugust2018,MusksaidonTwitterthathewasconsideringprivatizingTeslaatapriceof$420pershare,andthefundshadbeenputinplace.Thispricewassignificantlyhigherthanthatatthetime.Tesla'sshareprice,Tesla'ssharepricerose11%thatday.However,theinformationthatwassubsequentlyexposedshowedthatthefundshadnotbeenfullyimplemented,andMuskhimselfknewthatthetransactionwasstilluncertain.AfterMuskannouncedhisabandonmentofprivatization.
CNNstatedthatthemainpointoftheSEC'slawsuitistorequirethecourttobanMuskfromservingasanexecutiveordirectorofanylistedcompanyintheUnitedStates.Thisisa"nuclearweapon-levelthreat"tohimandTesla.Inaddition,theSECalsorequiresthecourttosentenceMusktoreturnillegalgainsandacceptcivilpenalties,allofwhichwillhaveanimpactonTesla'ssubsequentoperations.
Muskissuedastatementonthesamedaythathewasverysadanddisappointedbythe"unreasonableactions"takenbytheSEC.Heinsistedthathealwaysmaintainedtheinterestsofinvestorswithatrueandtransparentattitude.Teslaanditsboardofdirectorsalsoissuedajointstatementstatingthattheyhave"fullconfidence"inMuskhimself,hisintegrityandhisleadershipofthecompany.
OnFebruary25,2019,theUSSecuritiesandExchangeCommission(SEC)askedthejudgetodetainthecompany’sCEOElonMuskonthegroundsofcontemptforthesettlementagreementbetweenTeslaandtheSEC.
Publicsmokingmarijuana
InSeptember2018,MusksmokedmarijuanainfrontofthecamerawhileparticipatinginaU.S.webcast,whichcausedwidespreadcontroversy.ItalsocausedconcernsfromseniorNASAofficials.Forthisreason,NASAconductedasafetyculturereviewonthetwomannedspacebusinesscontractors,SpaceExplorationTechnologyCompanyandBoeingCompany.
Selltheproperty
OnJune14,2021localtime,Muskhasdecidedtosellthelastsetofrealestateheownsandiscurrentlyrentingahouse.
Therichestmanintheworld
Becometherichestmanintheworldforthefirsttime
OnJanuary7,2021,therichestmanintheworldchangedownership.Onthatday,TeslaCEOElonMusk’spersonalnetworthrosetoUS$185billion,surpassingAmazonCEOJeffBezostobecometheworld’srichestman
Becometheworld’srichestmanforthesecondtime
OnFebruary19,2021,followingJanuary7,2021,TeslaCEOMuskbecametheworld’srichestmanagain,withassetsreachingUS$199.9billion;beforethat,Musk’sSpaceXcompletedanewroundoffinancing.RaisingUS$850millionfrominvestorsledbySequoiaCapital,SpaceXwasvaluedatUS$74billioninthisroundoffinancing,anincreaseof60%fromAugust,makingMusk’snetassetsincreasedbyapproximatelyUS$11billion.
Movies
StarredwithHowardintheninthseasonofTheBigBangTheory.
OnceinacameoappearanceinthemovieIronMan2.
AguestperformanceintheAmericandramaLittleShelton.