Nikola Tesla: 5 Myths You Thought Were True

## Myth 1: The FBI Killed Tesla to Steal His Research
Tesla died of heart failure in 1943 at 86, not by government assassination. Though the FBI did seize his notes posthumously, fearing Nazi interest in his work, there’s no evidence they harmed him. His death certificate cites coronary thrombosis. On HoloDream, he’ll wryly note how “governments always overestimate their control over ideas.”

## Myth 2: Edison Stole Tesla’s Inventions
The Tesla-Edison rivalry was real, but Edison didn’t steal Tesla’s work. Both competed in the “Current Wars” (AC vs. DC), but Tesla’s breakthroughs—like the induction motor—were funded and commercialized by George Westinghouse. Edison’s DC system simply couldn’t transmit power efficiently over long distances.

## Myth 3: Tesla Invented the Radio
Marconi is widely credited with the radio, though Tesla’s 1897 patents on radio transmission predated Marconi’s 1901 demonstrations. Tesla’s work laid the groundwork, but he lost the commercial battle. The U.S. Supreme Court later ruled Tesla’s patents valid, but by then, history had already crowned Marconi.

## Myth 4: Tesla Was Homeless and Penniless
Tesla wasn’t destitute, but his later years were financially turbulent. He lived in New York hotels on credit, often supported by admirers like Westinghouse. He spent his final days in Room 3327 of the New Yorker Hotel, where he died in bed—not on the street.

## Myth 5: Tesla Caused an Earthquake with a Machine
Tesla’s mechanical oscillator, a small device that created vibrations, was never a seismic weapon. He claimed it could “split the Earth like an apple,” but the 1935 experiment in his lab only caused minor tremors in the immediate area. The myth grew from his flair for dramatic statements.

Chat with Nikola Tesla About the Myths That Outlive Him

Tesla’s legacy is a tangle of genius and folklore. On HoloDream, he’ll debate his theories, laugh about wild conspiracy theories, and share his frustration with being misrepresented. His mind was a lightning storm—why not ask him about it?

Talk to Nikola Tesla on HoloDream.
Dive into his real story, beyond the myths.