One of the more absurd notions often put forward by fools is that Elon Musk is merely a product of white privilege who stumbled into success, likened to a conman like Gilderoy Lockhart, claiming credit for others' achievements. This view is not shared by his peers. Sundar Pichai described Megazilla catching the booster as
incredible to see, admitting to having watched it numerous times, while Jensen Huang acknowledged that Musk’s team at xAI achieved in 19 days what would take most others a year. Over the years, Musk has delved into technologies that have shaped the modern world, creating innovations we now take for granted. Zip2, launched in 1999, provided business directories to newspapers and was the precursor to digital mapping and location services. X.com, which became PayPal, revolutionised digital payments and laid the groundwork for modern fintech.
While SpaceX’s Megazilla may be making headlines, equally remarkable are its Falcon reusable rockets, Dragon capsules (used by NASA), Starship (a reusable spacecraft for Mars exploration), and Raptor engines. Tesla leads the charge in both electric vehicles and self-driving technology, and Starlink brings internet access to remote corners of the globe. Neuralink has already enabled a quadriplegic to interact with a computer using only his thoughts and aims to restore vision, motor function, and speech. Musk was also a founder of OpenAI.
Here’s an overview of the companies and technologies he has been associated with:
1. Zip2 (1996–1999) - Technology: Early web software
- Details: Musk's first company, Zip2, provided business directories and maps to newspapers, which was a pioneering move in bringing traditional media businesses online. It can be seen as a precursor to today's digital mapping and location services.
2. X.com and PayPal (1999–2002) - Technology: Online banking and digital payments
- Details: Musk co-founded X.com, an online payment company, which later became PayPal after a merger. PayPal revolutionised digital payments by making it easy for individuals and businesses to transfer money online. This technology laid the groundwork for modern fintech solutions.
3. SpaceX (2002–present) - Technology: Space exploration, rocket technology, reusable launch systems
- Details:
- Falcon Rockets: Reusable rockets (Falcon 1, Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy) capable of reducing the cost of space travel.
- Dragon Capsules: Spacecraft used to carry cargo and astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) and beyond.
- Starship: A fully reusable spacecraft in development for Mars colonisation and deep space travel.
- Starlink: Satellite internet service aimed at providing global high-speed internet coverage, particularly in remote areas.
- Raptor Engines: Advanced rocket engines using liquid methane and liquid oxygen, designed to power the Starship.
4. Tesla (2004–present)