Break Out The World's Tiniest Violin

The NY Times Dealbook column offers the cautionary tale of Elon Musk, who co-founded PayPal, SpaceX, and Tesla Motors. Once he had $200 million in cash, but no more: "Now Mr. Musk, who is in the middle of a divorce, says his account is empty. Actually, less than empty. He says he invested his last cent in his businesses and is living off loans from his wealthy friends. He subsists, according to court filings, on $200,000 a month and still flies his private jet. 'About four months ago, I ran out of cash,' Mr. Musk acknowledged in a divorce court filing that was widely circulated among the West Coast digital elite." [Via Daily Intel]

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By Jen Chung in News on June 22, 2010 1:48 PM

Comments [rss]

zincink

I have an idea, stop flying in your private jet.

inoyourider

I don't feel sorry for this fucking idiot.

henryhamilton

I also read the New Yorker piece, and while I don't doubt his intelligence, or his intentions, I do find him to be misguided. Coal will be burned to fuel his car, and that makes the whole thing pointless.

Jen S

Based on the New Yorker article on him back in August 09, I'd guess his money went into research and supporting other forward-thinking companies. Not like he's swimming in gold coins - he wants to do good!

longacre

Forward-thinking companies who rely on government contracts and bailouts to remain solvent. Tesla and SpaceX would be out of business if not for John Q. Taxpayer.

Also, I'll give him props for the PayPal concept, but it has always been one of the most wretched companies to do business with.