Elon Musk: CEO of the Future
Maxim|June/July 2016

Elon Musk, the visionary founder of Tesla and Space X, is about to change life as we know it on earth—and beyond

Bill Saporito
Elon Musk: CEO of the Future

There are no small mistakes when you’re in the business of launching rockets. One mechanical glitch, one wrong computer input and your exquisitely crafted, $60 million engineering marvel becomes a highly unsatisfying fireworks display. Yet on the afternoon of September 28, 2008, as SpaceX’s Falcon 1 rocket sat on the pad at Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific, the risks extended well beyond the impending launch itself. Elon Musk had boldly—foolishly, some of his own friends thought—sunk much of his Internet fortune into a commercial space company, which from an entrepreneurial perspective has a degree of difficulty right up there with nuclear fusion. Now, after three consecutive RUDs (as in “rapid, unscheduled disassembly”), Musk was almost out of money. And he was certainly out of rockets. A fourth disaster would not only doom Space X but would likely take out Tesla, the electric car company Musk had also started. Tesla shared technology and overhead, not to mention Musk himself, with Space X and was hemorrhaging money.

As Falcon 1 roared off amid the palm trees of “Kwaj,” a parallel roar of jubilation and relief emanated from SpaceX’s HQ in Hawthorne, California. Minutes after the flawless ascent to orbit, an emotional Musk turned to his rocketeers and said, “That was freakin’ awesome.” The successful mission would realize SpaceX’s strategy of utilizing low-cost, reusable rockets to launch satellites, deliver space cargo and ultimately carry humans to Mars. “There were a lot of people who thought we couldn’t do it. A lot, actually,” he told his employees. “But as the saying goes, the fourth time’s the charm, right?”

Denne historien er fra June/July 2016-utgaven av Maxim.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra June/July 2016-utgaven av Maxim.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA MAXIMSe alt
150 YEARS of SUPERYACHTS STYLE
Maxim US

150 YEARS of SUPERYACHTS STYLE

Here's why Benetti's expensive-but-worth-it vessels have been favored by the beautiful people, from James Bond to Donald Trump, David Bowie and Jay-Z

time-read
5 mins  |
May - June 2024
KING of the PRANCING HORSES
Maxim US

KING of the PRANCING HORSES

The extremely sought-after Ferrari 250 series-including the sales record-setting 250 GTO-are the most valuable cars that money can buy

time-read
5 mins  |
May - June 2024
LUST for LIFE
Maxim US

LUST for LIFE

French photographer Philippe Shangti's world of lush, sometimes lurid seenes isn't always what it seems

time-read
3 mins  |
May - June 2024
A CENTURY of MOROCCAN STYLE
Maxim US

A CENTURY of MOROCCAN STYLE

The legendary La Mamounia in Marrakech unveils a multimillion-dollar renovation on the occasion of its 100th anniversary

time-read
5 mins  |
May - June 2024
SPRITZ & SPREZZATURA
Maxim US

SPRITZ & SPREZZATURA

Everything you need to know about the evolution of the spritz, which has gone beyond bitter into vibrant, refreshing and eclectic

time-read
4 mins  |
May - June 2024
APEX PREDATOR
Maxim US

APEX PREDATOR

Driving the new GT 63 supercar across the hills of Spain reveals Mercedes-AMG only made a great supercar better

time-read
4 mins  |
May - June 2024
HAPPIEST ANNIVERSARIES
Maxim US

HAPPIEST ANNIVERSARIES

When it comes to fine smokes, \"anniversario\" blends just keep getting better with time

time-read
4 mins  |
May - June 2024
THE RAZOR'S EDGE
Maxim US

THE RAZOR'S EDGE

Collectors are taking note of William Henry's nextlevel pocket knives, the ultimate in luxury cutting tools

time-read
3 mins  |
May - June 2024
LIGHTS, CAMERA ,ACTION!
Maxim US

LIGHTS, CAMERA ,ACTION!

A conversation with Emmy-winning cinematographer and director Keyan Safyari

time-read
2 mins  |
May - June 2024
ROLLIN' THUNDER
Maxim US

ROLLIN' THUNDER

Malaysia's Rollin Machine crafts a world-class tribute to the Royal Enfield Interceptor

time-read
4 mins  |
May - June 2024