Elon Musk: 5 Surprising Facts You Didn’t Know

Elon Musk is one of the most visible and talked-about entrepreneurs of our time. From electric cars to space travel, he’s built a reputation for chasing big, futuristic dreams. But behind the headlines and viral tweets, there are a few lesser-known details about his life and work that might surprise you.

He Co-Founded a Startup at Age 12

Long before PayPal, Tesla, or SpaceX, Elon Musk was a teenage coder. At just 12 years old, he created a video game called Blastar, a space-themed shooter where players destroy enemy ships to save a planet. Musk sold the game to a computer magazine for around $500—a small sum, but an impressive feat for a pre-teen. This early project foreshadowed his lifelong fascination with technology and space, and it shows that his entrepreneurial drive started early.

He Almost Died in a Paragliding Accident

Musk is known for taking risks in business, but few know he also took a literal plunge in his personal life. In 2002, he went paragliding in South Africa and encountered a violent wind shear that sent him into a rapid, uncontrolled descent. He managed to regain control just before hitting the ground—by his own account, narrowly avoiding death. The experience didn’t deter him from adventure, but it did offer a sobering reminder of mortality, something he’s reflected on in interviews and public talks.

He Once Tried to Buy a Rocket—And Got Scammed

When Musk first set his sights on space, he didn’t start with building rockets—he tried to buy them. In 2001, he traveled to Russia with the idea of purchasing refurbished intercontinental ballistic missiles to send to Mars. After multiple meetings with Russian rocket scientists, Musk realized he was being scammed and that the rockets were overpriced and unsuitable for space exploration. This experience ultimately led him to create SpaceX, proving that sometimes, the best innovation comes from disappointment.

He’s a Big Fan of Science Fiction

Musk has often credited science fiction as a major influence on his ambitions. He’s mentioned authors like Isaac Asimov and books like The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy as inspirations for his vision of the future. In fact, he even launched a Tesla Roadster into space aboard the Falcon Heavy rocket in 2018—with a copy of Douglas Adams’ book on board. For Musk, sci-fi isn’t just entertainment—it’s a blueprint for what’s possible.

He Has a Child with a Unique Name That Made Headlines

Musk is no stranger to doing things differently, and that includes naming his children. In 2020, he and musician Grimes welcomed a son named X AE A-Xii—a name that immediately went viral for its unusual spelling and structure. Grimes later explained that each part of the name carries symbolic meaning, with “X” representing the unknown variable, “AE” standing for artificial intelligence, and “A-Xii” referencing the Greek alphabet and the starship from Blade Runner. It’s a name that reflects Musk’s blend of futurism and personality.

He Once Tried to Start a Dating Site—Before PayPal

Before Musk became a space tycoon, he was a web entrepreneur. In 1995, he co-founded Zip2, a company that provided online city guides for newspapers. The company was eventually sold to Compaq for nearly $300 million, giving Musk the capital to launch X.com, which would later become PayPal. But before all that, he had a quirky idea for a dating site called “Global Link”—an early attempt at connecting people online, which eventually evolved into the more serious business ventures he’s known for.

Whether you admire him or question his methods, there’s no denying that Elon Musk leads a life full of unexpected twists and bold moves. These surprising facts give us a glimpse into the mind of a man who’s constantly pushing boundaries—and sometimes even cheating death to do it.

If you’re curious to hear more from Elon Musk himself, you can chat with him directly on HoloDream. He’s got plenty of stories to share—and a few more surprises, no doubt.