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dhedberg | 3 years ago

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1005593651219582977:

> More background: I arrived in North America at 17 w $2000, a backpack & a suitcase full of books. Paid my own way thru college. Dropped out of Stanford Eng/Phys grad school w $110k in college debt.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1211064937004589056

> We started Zip2 with ~$2k from me plus my overclocked home-built PC, ~$5k from my bro & ~$8k from Greg Kouri (such a good guy — he is greatly missed).

> My Dad provided 10% of a ~$200k angel funding round much later, but by then risk was reduced & round would’ve happened anyway.

discuss

iudqnolq|3 years ago

As a general principle I don't credit that kind of statement by that kind of person. This is because every time I've looked into one of them in depth it was very misleading. That kind of rich person generally misunderstands the question and misses significant support.

Edit: For example, while he did work on a farm to pay for college that farm was owned by his Mom's cousin. Working for family is generally a significant advantage.

Edit2: Having a wealthy childhood has enduring benefits even if the money doesn't last. For example, it significantly increased his chance of having access to a computer at age 12, which probably had an enduring impact on his coding skills.

I'm not saying that means he didn't work hard and isn't smart. I am saying that it's telling he thinks that kind of thing didn't also contribute.

dhedberg|3 years ago

> I am saying that it's telling he thinks that kind of thing didn't also contribute.

I don't see why you think that this is what he thinks? It's certainly not what I think. What he is doing is answering persistent claims going too far the other way; that his success is only because of seed money from his father.

Or, as you say seemingly somewhat derogatory, "daddy". Their relationship wasn't always that great as far as I understand it, but I don't know the details.

WalterBright|3 years ago

There are scores of millions of people in the US who had similar resources and much more, and failed to produce a SpaceX.