False economy What’s in it for me? Understand what makes the

Musk’s unhappy childhood shaped his 
innovative and ambitious character.
Thanks to a unique and powerful sense of 
purpose, Elon Musk is one of the most 
successful entrepreneurs in modern society. But 
how did he come to see himself and the world 
the way he does? Well, it all started with a 
difficult upbringing in South Africa.
The young, near-friendless Elon Musk had a 
difficult relationship with his father, Errol. And yet 
when Musk’s parents separated, Musk chose to 
live with his dad to give him some much-needed 
company. But life with his father was difficult. In 
addition to the turmoil at home, Musk was often 
bullied by classmates, once receiving a beating 
so severe that he couldn’t attend school for a 
week.
To escape this, Musk retreated into reading and 
study. 
Possessed 
of 
an 
astonishing 
photographic memory, Musk was able to read 
two encyclopedias – and remember everything. 
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy was one 
book that deeply influenced Musk; it led him to 
realize that answering a question is easy, but 
that asking the right question is much harder.
At this early stage, Musk was already pondering 
questions that might expand and improve human 
civilization. By the time he started high school, 
he had strong opinions about solar power, 
conquering other planets, paperless banking and 
space rockets. He was also becoming 
entrepreneurially aware, selling his video game 
creation, Blastar, for $500 when he was just 12.
Musk’s 
confidence 
and 
determination 
flourished even more during his college 
years.
In 1988, Elon Musk decided that he didn’t want 
to do military service in South Africa. So he left 
the country. Though he dreamed of moving to 
the US, Musk first went to Canada. His first year 
was tough, as he went from relative to relative 
and drifted between odd jobs. Then he enrolled 
at Queen’s University, where, as his self-
confidence began to soar, his character took 
definite shape.
Musk was more ambitious in college than in high 
school. He entered public speaking contests, 
studied business, and even successfully wooed 
the woman of his dreams, Justine Wilson, who 
later became his first wife and the mother of his 
6 sons.
Their courtship was romantic and competitive. 
To begin with, Wilson had no interest in Elon 
Musk. But he wouldn’t take no for an answer. 

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When he got stood up for their first date at an ice 
cream parlor, he found out where she was 
studying and asked a friend of hers what her 
favorite ice cream was. He then showed up 
carrying two chocolate-chip ice creams. This 
tactic of success-through-determination came to 
be a distinct approach in all areas of Musk’s life.
After two years at Queen’s, he transferred to the 
University of Pennsylvania and continued to 
flourish. As he grew more comfortable among 
his fellow physics students, Musk made friends 
who proved valuable – and not just personally, 
but monetarily as well. Musk and Adeo Ressi, a 
good friend, hosted house parties in a 14-
bedroom house they’d rented; admission was 
$5, and Musk, straight-laced and sober all the 
while, raked in considerable profits. One night 
even brought in enough money to pay a month’s 
rent!