Author: Paul Ratner / Source: Big Think
- In 2008, Elon Musk told an interviewer about his role models.
- His father had less of an influence than has been reported.
- Musk was a fan of both Edison and Tesla but preferred Edison.
Who was the greater genius – Thomas Edison or Nikola Tesla? As the founder of Tesla Motors, you’d expect Elon Musk to be on the side of Tesla, but you wouldn’t be fully right.
As he explains in a 2008 interview, Elon Musk saw both Edison and Tesla as role models. He read books about both and found both of the visionaries inspiring.
Edison (1847-1931), of course, was probably America’s most illustrious inventor, being credited with important contributions like the phonograph, an early motion picture camera, and a long-lasting light bulb. Overall, the impact of his ideas on how we generate electricity, make sound and film recordings, or communicate are hard to overestimate.
Edison, holder of 1,093 patents, is also credited with creating the world’s first industrial-scale research laboratory.
Nikola Tesla (1856-1943), who once worked for Edison, was often a rival of the more-famous inventor. While he died in relative obscurity and financial ruin, Tesla’s reputation has grown over time to…
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