4 ms·

Ask HN: Could any talented and creative engineer become Elon Musk if given $10B?

5 points by 0xff00ffee 7y ago

mikst 7y ago
I believe DNA guarantees a "no".
api 7y ago
Yes provided they are very very talented (Musk is an amazing engineer), a polymath, and extremely driven to the point that the money won't make them slack off. The thing about Musk is that he has a sense of mission beyond just money. So yeah, I think there are a decent number of people walking around who could do the sort of thing he does... maybe 1%-2% of the engineering profession if I had to guess. Why are there not more actual Musks? Because the skills and interests that get you rich are typically not these. They are skills like charisma, charm, social networking ability, etc.
- 0xff00ffee 7y ago
  And luck.
CyberFonic 7y ago
Elon's superlative talent is as a salesperson and as an inspiring leader. Very few engineers would come even close. Elon has probably never done much hands on engineering work himself. Instead he has hundreds of very talented engineers working for him.
- api 7y ago
  This is usually the case with executives but not for him, at least from several first and second hand stories I've heard. Musk doesn't do much long hours in front of a CAD program type work but he is definitely very involved in the engineering process and not just in a hiring and sales capacity. He is not just doing the "stone soup" trick. (I have yet to see stone soup actually work. I think its bullshit.) I personally don't find him that charismatic in the salesman sense, at least in his presentations. He may be different in person. I do think he has some marketing talent but I think most of it comes from his legend, and that legend has resulted from a history of shipping very impressive stuff. He does not strike me as having a lot of the type of charisma that would work minus his reputation factor. Keep in mind that he was very rich when he started SpaceX and took over the skeleton of Tesla, so he had the capital to prove himself before having to seriously raise and sell.
photawe 7y ago
Probably not. If you're that smart, you'll make that money on your own anyway
AskerINVESTOR 7y ago
I belive CIA : )
AskerINVESTOR 7y ago
I can do this e-car better, cheaper. HVR some costs blocking any way to do this.

5 points by 0xff00ffee 7y ago

I believe DNA guarantees a "no".

api 7y ago

Yes provided they are very very talented (Musk is an amazing engineer), a polymath, and extremely driven to the point that the money won't make them slack off. The thing about Musk is that he has a sense of mission beyond just money. So yeah, I think there are a decent number of people walking around who could do the sort of thing he does... maybe 1%-2% of the engineering profession if I had to guess. Why are there not more actual Musks? Because the skills and interests that get you rich are typically not these. They are skills like charisma, charm, social networking ability, etc.

0xff00ffee 7y ago
And luck.

CyberFonic 7y ago

Elon's superlative talent is as a salesperson and as an inspiring leader. Very few engineers would come even close. Elon has probably never done much hands on engineering work himself. Instead he has hundreds of very talented engineers working for him.

api 7y ago
This is usually the case with executives but not for him, at least from several first and second hand stories I've heard. Musk doesn't do much long hours in front of a CAD program type work but he is definitely very involved in the engineering process and not just in a hiring and sales capacity. He is not just doing the "stone soup" trick. (I have yet to see stone soup actually work. I think its bullshit.) I personally don't find him that charismatic in the salesman sense, at least in his presentations. He may be different in person. I do think he has some marketing talent but I think most of it comes from his legend, and that legend has resulted from a history of shipping very impressive stuff. He does not strike me as having a lot of the type of charisma that would work minus his reputation factor. Keep in mind that he was very rich when he started SpaceX and took over the skeleton of Tesla, so he had the capital to prove himself before having to seriously raise and sell.

photawe 7y ago

Probably not. If you're that smart, you'll make that money on your own anyway

AskerINVESTOR 7y ago

I belive CIA : )

AskerINVESTOR 7y ago

I can do this e-car better, cheaper. HVR some costs blocking any way to do this.