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Quit Calling Elon Musk a Genius: He Buys Existing Innovations and Puts His Name on Them
Dissecting the layers of hype and mythology, a distinct image presents itself—one in which Musk’s skill primarily resides in acquiring innovations, enhancing them, and crafting a compelling narrative, rather than inventing anything revolutionary himself.
Quit Calling Elon Musk a Genius: He Buys Existing Innovations and Puts His Name on Them
Elon Musk’s name often comes up as synonymous with genius, innovation, and futuristic thinking. His fans credit him with leading cutting-edge enterprises like Tesla, SpaceX, and Twitter (now “X”). Dissecting the layers of hype and mythology, a distinct image presents itself—one in which Musk's skill primarily resides in acquiring innovations, enhancing them, and crafting a compelling narrative, rather than inventing anything revolutionary himself.
Let's face it: Musk's claim to be an inventor is not accurate.
The companies and technologies he’s associated with were largely in motion before he got involved. His skill is strategic investment and relentless self-promotion.
Tesla: The Electric Car Wasn’t His Brainchild
One of the biggest myths out there is that Musk “created” Tesla and led the electric car revolution. The reality? Tesla Motors was founded in 2003 by engineers Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning. Their goal was clear: to make high-performance electric vehicles viable and desirable.
By the time Musk entered the scene in 2004, the company had already built prototypes and developed a business model. Musk came in as an investor, contributing $7.5 million and taking a spot as chairman of the board. He didn’t design the Roadster, nor did he invent the electric powertrain that powered its success. That was Eberhard and Tarpenning’s work.
In 2008, Musk orchestrated Eberhard’s ouster and positioned himself as Tesla’s figurehead. His relentless self-promotion overshadowed the actual innovators behind the…
