What Was Elon Musk Like As A Student?
/Elon Musk, perhaps the world's most renowned entrepreneur today, had a university life that introduced us to his intellectual enthusiasm and early drive. From boyhood in South Africa to university years in North America, Musk's university life introduces us to a curious young man with an interest in technology and a work ethic way beyond what one might expect. His interests, challenges, and habits as a student provide an insight into how he became the founder of SpaceX, Tesla, and Neuralink companies later in life.
Elon Musk was born in Pretoria, South Africa, in 1971. Musk was said to have been introverted, quiet, and by himself most of the time reading books. From various interviews, Musk was said to have begun reading two books a day at the age of 9, and he was especially interested in science fiction, technology, and philosophy. Musk had reportedly read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica at the age of 9 and taught himself to computer program at the age of 10.
By the time he was 12 years old, Musk had already penned and sold a computer game called "Blastar" for approximately $500. This initial success indicated how much he prioritized technology even before school life. His school teachers characterized him as shy but highly intelligent, while other students were prone to misinterpreting his introspection, so bullying happened occasionally.
Elon Musk’s Early Education In South Africa Showed His Passion For Learning And Technology
Musk moved to Canada at the age of 17 to attend Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. It wasn't just for school; he wanted to flee South Africa to avoid mandatory military service and end up in the United States eventually. At Queen's University between 1989 and 1992, he studied economics and physics and was known for his intense work ethic.
Musk was more outgoing at Queen's than he had been in previous years. There, he met his future first wife, Justine Wilson. He was said to pose profound questions in class and carry on discussion far beyond the end of class. Although he did not become famous as a strict "star student," professors noticed that he was curious and could do much more than what was established in class work during his independent study time.
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Musk transferred to the University of Pennsylvania after two years at Queen's, where he worked toward a dual degree one in economics at the Wharton School and one in physics. He graduated in 1997. He has also been reported to have started a PhD in applied physics at Stanford but left after only two days to try a business idea.
Musk wasn't exactly a studious fellow at UPenn either. He and his roommate rented out a 10-bedroom house and converted it into a nightclub on weekends to pay extra rent. That demonstrated the early business acumen he possessed of balancing risk, strategy, and profit.
As described by his former classmates and professors, Musk would continually test hypotheses during class and was accustomed to coming up with tough solutions independently. He was particularly fascinated by space exploration, energy, and clean technology—interests that would later form the foundation of his future endeavors.
Data Shows That Elon Musk Was An Exceptionally Independent And Driven Student
Musk's GPA at UPenn was not made public, although reports from students and faculty indicate that he did very well. He allegedly spent 10 hours a day studying books on business, engineering, and physics. His college life was far from normal: little sleep, complete concentration, and unrivaled productivity.
In interviews, Musk has explained that he used to think that if you worked 80 to 100 hours a week, you could accomplish twice the amount of work that someone working 40 hours a week would accomplish. That was how he used to think in college and hasn't really changed since then.
Elon Musk’s Experience As A Student Reflected His Lifelong Curiosity And Work Ethic
Despite the fact that Elon Musk was not a model student with flawless grades or popularity, he exhibited the relentless concentration, wide interest, and spirit of entrepreneurship that characterize him today. His interest in programming computers, self-study, and solid academic background in physics and economics equipped him with the equipment that he would utilize later to become successful.
Musk's student story is not one of fitting in but one of standing out by working hard, having big ideas, and asking big questions. Whether developing video games at age 12 or studying quantum physics at UPenn, his student years were an early preview of the future he would create.
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