Hearing the name Elon Musk, you must be ringing with the amount of wealth and the ranks of the companies he leads. Moreover, the January 28, 2022 edition of Forbes, again named him the richest person in the world with assets reaching 218.3 billion USD.
However, this abundant wealth certainly requires hard work and a long journey. In fact, Elon Musk also started his career from the bottom by undergoing various professions, you know!
Curious about how Elon Musk's career journey? Come on, take a peek at Elon Musk's profession before becoming the richest person in the world below!
Video Game Maker at 12 Years Old
Long before becoming a billionaire, Elon Musk's interest in technology and space development appeared to have emerged from an early age. With his abilities as a programmer at the age of twelve, Elon Musk made a video game called Blastar which was designed with the mission of destroying alien space ships. Thanks to this creativity, Elon Musk managed to sell Blastar for 500 USD.
Working as a Cleaner in a Wood Factory
There is no successful person who does not go through the twists and turns of life. Likewise with Elon Musk who had to leave his homeland and migrate to Canada. When he arrived in Canada in 1988, Elon Musk went straight to the employment office and found out what professions offered high wages.
From various options, finally Elon Musk decided to become a boiler room cleaner in a wood factory. With this job, Elon Musk gets paid 18 USD per hour. At that time, Elon Musk was still passionate about work and focused on achieving his bigger dreams.
Intern at the Bank of Nova Scotia
Not only loves to innovate, Elon Musk's success is also rooted in high initiative. One of the unique initiatives he has ever undertaken is to invite company executives to lunch and chat with him. With his brother, Elon Musk took turns calling executives.
After many tries, finally an executive from Bank of Nova Scotia named Peter Nicholson is willing to take up his offer. Impressed with the tenacity of Elon Musk and his brother, Peter finally offered them both an internship at the Bank of Nova Scotia in the summer for 14 USD per hour.
Selling Computer Components in the Dormitory
While studying at Queens University, Ontario, Elon Musk never ran out of ideas to find additional income. With his foresight to see opportunities, Elon Musk began assembling computer hardware and selling it to his dorm friends.
Not only that, Elon Musk also offers services related to computer repair to people who are facing problems with their devices. For example by repairing damaged electronic devices, computers that do not boot, or virus attacks.
Setting up Start Up Zip2
Many people never give up even after dropping out of college, as well as Elon Musk.
In 1995, Elon Musk dropped out of university and founded a technology startup that took advantage of the power of the internet. With the help of his brother, Elon Musk founded a company that provides maps and directories to an online newspaper called Zip2.
Elon Musk managed to manage his father's funds of 28 thousand USD into millions when a computer company called Compaq bought Zip2 in 1999. Unmitigated, Compaq agreed to pay 307 million USD in cash and 34 million USD in stock options to Elon Musk.
Founded X.Com
Becoming a millionaire after selling Zip2 does not necessarily make Elon Musk complacent and stop working. Elon Musk is increasingly being challenged to create a new company. He invested 12 million USD to set up X.com, a company that became the seed of online banking.
In 2000, X.com merged with Confinity and changed its name to Paypal. Until now, PayPal still managed to become the most popular online banking system that accommodates payment transactions around the world, you know.
Elon Musk's career journey shows that nothing is impossible as long as someone is willing to try, persevere and keep improving. Because every challenge and test is part of the process to success.