A Technological Genius from South Africa: Elon Musk

Elon Musk is considered one of the greatest entrepreneurs and wealthiest individuals of our time, inspiring many with an entrepreneurial spirit. He frequently ranks at the top of Google searches. What makes Elon Musk so popular and intriguing? It’s undoubtedly his success and the factors contributing to it. Here’s a look at the extraordinary life of Elon Musk, regarded as the greatest entrepreneur of the century.
Who is Elon Musk?
The successful entrepreneur, whose full name is Elon Reeve Musk, was born on June 28, 1971, in Pretoria, the capital of South Africa. Besides South Africa, he is also a citizen of the United States and Canada. Musk, who currently holds the title of the greatest entrepreneur of the century, is the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla. At just 12 years old, Musk developed a video game, setting the course for his future success and sowing the seeds of entrepreneurship early on. Selling the game to a computer magazine, young Elon was already weaving his destiny.
Early Life and Education of Elon Musk
Elon Musk was born on June 28, 1971, in South Africa. His father was a businessman, and his mother was a model and dietician. As a child, his interest in science fiction novels shaped his life. At age 10, he acquired a Commodore VIC-20 computer and dedicated himself to programming.
Elon Musk attended Pretoria Boys High School, where he excelled academically. In 1988, he moved to Canada and was accepted into Queen’s University. Later, he studied business and physics at the University of Pennsylvania.
Initial Ventures
In 1995, Elon Musk founded a web software company called Zip2, which provided web services to online newspaper publishers. In 1999, Compaq acquired the company for $307 million.
Subsequently, Musk founded an online payment company called X.com, which rebranded as PayPal and was acquired by eBay for $1.5 billion.

Elon Musk’s Intriguing Wealth
As the co-founder of the space company SpaceX and the electronic payment company PayPal, Elon Musk also serves as the CEO of the electric luxury car manufacturer Tesla. In addition to these ventures, he has investments in companies like SolarCity, Neuralink, and The Boring Company. So, how much is Elon Musk’s wealth? According to the Forbes 2024 report, the successful entrepreneur’s wealth is estimated to be around $251.6 billion.
Here are the projects Elon Musk is known for:
1.PayPal
In 1999, Elon Musk founded X.com and expanded it by acquiring Confinity, leading to the creation of PayPal. This online payment system was sold to eBay for $1.5 billion in 2002. Musk, owning an 11.7% stake, used his share to invest in three major companies because, according to him, the future lay in “space, internet, and clean energy.”
2.Tesla
At a time when many believed there was no potential in the electric car industry, Elon Musk founded Tesla, marking his entry into the clean energy sector. As both a co-founder and product design lead, Musk first produced the Tesla Roadster, selling approximately 2,500 units across 31 countries. He continued developing various models and provided infrastructure support to other companies. By proving the market in this sector, Musk successfully secured long-term investors for Tesla.
3.SpaceX
Known for advocating the simulation theory, one of Elon Musk’s visions was to colonize Mars. Seeking to develop rocket technologies, Musk founded SpaceX in June 2002. As a company focused on developing launch vehicles, SpaceX first produced the Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 rockets. Subsequently, SpaceX developed its first spacecraft, Dragon, and was awarded a $1.6 billion contract by NASA on December 23, 2008, for 12 flights of Falcon 9 and Dragon to the International Space Station, replacing the Space Shuttle, which ceased operation in 2011.

4.OpenAI
Persistently warning the world about artificial intelligence, Musk is a firm believer that AI could lead to the end of the world and the extinction of humanity. This belief led him to establish the non-profit organization OpenAI, aiming to conduct and develop AI research that can benefit and befriend humanity. In this regard, Musk even engaged in a debate with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, maintaining that we must be cautious about AI and prevent it from falling into the wrong hands.
5.SolarCity
Founded in 2006, SolarCity aimed to meet energy needs by installing solar energy systems in homes, businesses, and government buildings. With 15,000 employees, SolarCity provided services across installation, finance, and system monitoring. The aesthetically pleasing solar panels attracted attention by offering installation without charge, promising a cost-free future. Recently merged with Tesla, the company seems poised for significant endeavors.
6.Hyperloop // Boring Company – Elon Musk
Possibly Musk’s “easiest” project, Hyperloop emerged from his frustration with traffic. Aiming to alleviate California’s traffic problem by digging tunnels underground, Musk recently gained a partner in fellow entrepreneur Richard Branson. The tunnel prototypes were released online. Reaching speeds of 600 km/h, the tunnels depict a scenario straight out of the future.
Numerous books have been written about Musk, who is closely followed worldwide. Musk’s biggest advice to young people is to never lose their sense of curiosity, and he recommends reading biographies of figures like Nikola Tesla and Albert Einstein to everyone. You can learn more about him and draw inspiration by reading “Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX”, and “the Quest for a Fantastic Future and The Man Who Builds the Future“.