What if Elon Musk’s wildest, weirdest, and most unbelievable secrets were hiding in plain sight??
curiosities about elon musk – While most people recognize him as the mind behind Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter), the real story of Elon Musk is filled with untold struggles, bizarre habits, and moments that seem pulled from a science fiction movie. From coding games at age 12 to being kicked out of his own companies, Musk’s journey is unlike any other.
In this article, we’re diving into the lesser-known facts and bizarre episodes that shaped Elon Musk into the most controversial and visionary billionaire of our time. Get ready — some of these stories will blow your mind.
1. He Sold His First Video Game Code at Age 12
Before the electric cars and rockets, there was a boy with a Commodore VIC-20 computer in Pretoria, South Africa. At just 12 years old, Elon Musk programmed a simple space-themed game called Blastar and sold the source code to a magazine for $500.
Think about that — $500 for a child who had just taught himself to code by reading manuals. The code still exists online and is a testament to his early obsession with technology and innovation. He was already thinking like a futurist, using primitive tools to build interstellar fantasies.
Most kids at that age are barely discovering their hobbies, but Elon was already commercializing his imagination. The story is a foreshadowing of the many unconventional paths he’d take in adulthood.
2. He Was Hospitalized After Brutal Bullying
Growing up wasn’t easy for Musk. In fact, he has described his childhood as “nonstop horrible.”
Musk was frequently bullied in school, once being thrown down a flight of stairs and beaten so badly that he had to be hospitalized. The experience left a mark — both physical and emotional — and helped shape his intense drive to prove himself.
He’s admitted that the isolation and abuse made him introspective and even more obsessed with reading and computers. These tough years instilled a psychological resilience that seems to fuel his fearlessness in taking risks.
3. He Survived on $1 a Day to Prepare for Failure
Most people assume billionaires were always cushioned by wealth. But Elon Musk flipped that script — intentionally. At just 17, while studying at the University of Pennsylvania, he embarked on a radical experiment: surviving on only $1 a day for food. Hot dogs, oranges, pasta, and peanut butter were his staples.
He wasn’t broke — he was testing his limits. Musk wanted to know if he could endure extreme poverty so that fear of financial ruin would never hold him back. It was mental conditioning, a self-imposed bootcamp for future failure. He believed that if he could survive on almost nothing, he’d never be afraid to bet everything on bold, risky ideas.
That mindset became his superpower. Years later, when both Tesla and SpaceX hovered on the edge of collapse, Musk poured every last dollar he had into saving them. Why? Because he had already proven to himself that survival didn’t require comfort — just conviction.
At the age of 17, Musk moved from South Africa to Canada, then eventually to the United States. When he was studying at the University of Pennsylvania, he lived on $1 per day for food to see if he could survive extreme poverty.
His grocery list? Hot dogs, oranges, pasta, and peanut butter.
Why? He wanted to prove to himself that he could survive with almost nothing — so fear of failure wouldn’t stop him from taking big risks. It was a form of mental conditioning. Musk didn’t want money to become a crutch. If he could survive on peanuts — literally — he’d never be afraid to go broke chasing impossible ideas.
This experiment gave him the courage to pour all his money into Tesla and SpaceX years later, even when both were on the brink of collapse.
4. He Was Kicked Out of His Own Companies – Twice
While many think of Musk as the founder of PayPal, most don’t know that he was actually fired from the company.
It started with Zip2, Musk’s first company. Before its $307 million sale to Compaq, investors pushed him out as CEO. He was considered too intense and unmanageable.
Then came X.com, which became PayPal. Again, Musk was removed from the CEO position — while he was on his honeymoon.
Despite being ousted, Musk walked away with millions — and reinvested everything into his next big idea: building rockets. He refused to let the boardroom politics crush his vision.
This pattern repeated at Twitter (now X), where his aggressive approach sparked backlash and controversy. But as always, he pushed forward.
5. He Read 2 Books a Day as a Teenager
While most kids were watching cartoons, Elon Musk was reading — often two books a day. His favorites included Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series, biographies, and engineering manuals.
Books weren’t just entertainment. They were mentors. Musk credits Foundation for his belief that humanity must expand to other planets.
This voracious reading habit created a mental framework that blends sci-fi imagination with real-world science. Today, you can see that same blend in SpaceX’s mission to colonize Mars.
Musk once said that he taught himself rocket science by reading textbooks. That’s not just ambition — it’s obsession. And it’s that obsessive curiosity that drives everything he does.
6. He Lives in a $50,000 Tiny House – curiosities about elon musk
It might sound unbelievable, but the man behind rockets, electric cars, and multibillion-dollar ventures chooses to live in a $50,000 foldable, 400-square-foot prefab home made by Boxabl. While most would expect a billionaire to reside in lavish mansions, Elon Musk sold off most of his real estate and moved into this tiny house near SpaceX’s Starbase in Texas.
He says it helps him stay focused on what truly matters. For Musk, fewer possessions mean fewer distractions — a mindset that fits perfectly with his minimalist philosophy and vision for humanity’s survival on other planets.
The most shocking part? It’s not for show. This isn’t a PR gimmick or an experiment — it’s how one of the richest men in the world actually lives. And in doing so, Musk is sending a message: if billionaires can live simply, maybe the rest of us can too.
Despite being worth over $200 billion, Elon Musk lives in a foldable, 400-square-foot prefab house made by a startup called Boxabl.
The house is set up near SpaceX’s Starbase in Texas. Musk says the minimalist lifestyle helps him focus on what really matters.
It’s not a PR stunt. He sold most of his real estate holdings and lives simply. For Musk, less stuff means fewer distractions. This philosophy aligns with his view that humans must be lean and resourceful if we’re going to survive on other planets.
The tiny house also reflects his belief that innovation should be accessible. If billionaires can live simply, maybe the rest of us can too — without sacrificing comfort or function.
7. He Named His Son “X Æ A-12”
In 2020, Musk and musician Grimes announced the birth of their son: X Æ A-12.
Breakdown:
- X = the unknown variable
- Æ = “Ai” (love or artificial intelligence)
- A-12 = precursor to the SR-71 aircraft
The name had to be modified to “X AE A-Xii” to meet California law.
The name shocked the internet, but for Musk, it was perfectly logical. He sees names as data — and this one encodes values: mystery, love, and speed. Whether you think it’s brilliant or bizarre, it’s classic Musk: unexpected, futuristic, and unapologetic.
8. He Wants to “Die on Mars” (But Not on Impact)
One of Musk’s most quoted lines: “I want to die on Mars — just not on impact.”
SpaceX’s goal is to make humanity a multiplanetary species. Musk believes Earth is vulnerable to extinction events and Mars is our backup plan.
He even launched a Tesla Roadster into space with a mannequin named Starman orbiting the Sun.
This isn’t just PR. SpaceX is building Starship — the most powerful rocket ever — to carry cargo and humans to Mars. Musk has spent billions, burned bridges, and challenged governments to make it happen.
And here’s the wild part: it might actually work. NASA is now partnering with SpaceX, and Starship could reshape the future of space travel.
9. He Tried to Trade X.com to Take Over Tesla
Before becoming the face of Tesla, Musk wasn’t even part of the original founding team. He tried to buy his way in by offering the domain X.com — the precursor to PayPal — in exchange for control of Tesla. The founders declined. Eventually, Musk invested heavily and fought for leadership, finally being recognized as cofounder after a lawsuit.
10. His Companies Nearly Went Bankrupt Simultaneously
In late 2008, both Tesla and SpaceX were hanging by a thread. Musk was burning through his fortune, working 24/7, and even sleeping in Tesla’s factory. On Christmas Eve, SpaceX secured a NASA contract that saved both companies. Without that miracle deal, neither Tesla nor SpaceX would exist today.
11. He Announced His Asperger’s Diagnosis on Live TV
In a 2021 appearance on Saturday Night Live, Musk revealed he has Asperger’s syndrome, a condition on the autism spectrum. It was the first time he spoke publicly about it. This sheds light on his often awkward behavior and intense focus — traits that fuel his work but often confuse critics.
12. He Built a Secret School for His Kids
Musk didn’t trust traditional education, so he built his own school: Ad Astra, later renamed Astra Nova. No grades, no standard curriculum — just critical thinking, ethics, and hands-on science. It started with his own children and a few kids from SpaceX employees.
13. He Chose Edison Over Tesla — and Sparked Outrage
When asked to choose between Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison, Musk picked Edison — the businessman. Fans were outraged, but Musk admired Edison’s ability to bring inventions to market. Ironically, he leads a company named Tesla.
14. He Wants to Make Humans Multiplanetary — No Matter What It Costs
While critics argue he’s wasting money on fantasies, Musk insists Earth needs a backup. Colonizing Mars isn’t a dream — it’s a mission. From reusable rockets to plans for a Martian city, he’s betting everything on humanity’s future beyond Earth.
Conclusion: Elon Musk Is Weirder (and Smarter) Than You Think
Elon Musk is not just a billionaire — he’s a walking paradox. Brilliant, eccentric, visionary, and controversialcontroversial, his story is far more complex than what you see in headlines.
Whether he’s living in a tiny house, being ousted from his own companies, or naming his child after aircraft and AI, Musk continues to challenge conventional thinking.
His story isn’t just about wealth or fame. It’s about resilience, obsession, and redefining what’s possible. Musk takes insane risks because he’s not afraid of losing — he’s afraid of stagnation.
But maybe that’s the secret. In a world that rewards predictability, Musk thrives by being completely unpredictable. And in doing so, he’s quietly rewriting the rules of business, technology, and even life itself.
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