Chapter 6: The Unified Theory of Elon Musk

Before diving into today's chapter, make sure to read Chapter 5: Elon Musk: Lift-Off to New Heights to follow Elon Musk's journey from the beginning.

The Rive Brothers grew up with their cousin Elon Musk in South Africa. Before the dot com bubble, they established the software company Everdream. The brothers were looking for a new venture. Musk suggested that they get into solar energy. At the time, it was hard for consumers to buy and install solar panels. There wasn't a guarantee that the panels would get enough sunshine on their houses. The SolarCity was started by the Rives brothers in 2006.

The company had software to determine if solar energy sources are compatible with the property. There would also be a team of SolarCity employees to install the panels. Furthermore, the panels would be on lease on a monthly fixed rate. Musk is the largest shareholder in SolarCity, owning around 30%. After six years, SolarCity became the leading installer of solar panels in the U.S. From residential use, it has expanded its service for companies like Wal-Mart and Intel. SolarCity went public in 2012. By 2014, its net worth reached $7 billion.

Musk realized that an hour of solar energy can provide for the world's energy consumption for a year. The trick is to charge battery packs that can be reserved for night use and power outages. Aside from this, efficient solar cells should be used to turn light into energy. Musk made it all possible in 2014. The three companies began as underdogs in their respective industries. But because of Musk's hard work, they became the best in their fields. By 2025, Tesla would have six cars available in the market. SolarCity would become a major utility company.

SpaceX, meanwhile, would send weekly flights of humans and cargo to space. Its reusable rockets would circle the moon. They would go back to Earth and land exactly where they started. After the moon, the next target of SpaceX would be Mars. The unified field theory of Elon Musk is that all his companies are interrelated. SolarCity provides the solar panels used for recharging electric cars. Tesla, meanwhile, produces the battery packs sold by SolarCity. SpaceX and Tesla share knowledge on the design and manufacture of their products. All three of them represent Musk's meaningful worldview. He wanted mankind to have sustainable energy and to be saved from self-destruction.

Elon Musk may have experienced many hardships in life. He was bullied as a child and had a bad relationship with his father. He lost his first son and ended his first marriage. Musk almost lost everything. His companies became very close to bankruptcy. The press continues to plague him about his personal life and the failures of his company. But, Elon Musk keeps on going. He continues to work hard.

Musk is known to work on weekends. He encourages his employees to do the same. There was a time when he took a vacation with ex-wife Justine in South Africa. He got infected with malaria and had to stay in the ICU for ten days. Musk said, "I came very close to dying. That's my lesson for taking a vacation: vacations will kill you."