Elon Musk, now the world’s wealthiest individual, had a challenging beginning in corporate America. The Tesla CEO has often spoken about his struggles and how he eventually carved his entrepreneurial journey.
Reflecting on the wave of innovation in the mid-90s, Musk shared that he never initially planned to start his own business. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, he applied for a job at Netscape, where Marc Andreessen, now a friend, was a key figure. However, his résumé received no response. “Since they didn’t get back to me, I figured I might as well create internet software myself,” Musk recalled. This led him to develop the first-ever online maps and directions in 1995.
Musk revealed that it wasn’t just Netscape—no tech company wanted to hire him. “I simply wasn’t given an opportunity to work in the internet industry. If I had been, I probably would have ended up working for Netscape,” he admitted.
In a 2012 interview, Musk mentioned how he frequently visited Netscape’s lobby, hoping to start a conversation but was too shy to approach anyone. Born in South Africa, Musk held a bachelor’s degree but lacked formal education or experience in computer science, which he believed hurt his chances. Feeling disheartened, he decided to take a different route.
By 1996, he co-founded Zip2, launching his career as a tech entrepreneur. The rest, as history shows, was just the beginning.
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