It's actually pretty well documented that if the companies failed (and both almost did, by almost I mean within weeks of failing), Elon would have been ruined.

It's actually pretty well documented that if the companies failed (and both almost did, by almost I mean within weeks of failing), Elon would have been ruined. At the point where he invested in Tesla and SpaceX, he wasn't actually billionaire, and his companies certainly were not liquid. The one out Elon had was having Google buy Tesla (which almost did happen). A few sources: 1. http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2010/06/22/sorkin-elon-musk-of-paypal-and-tesla-fame-is-broke/?_r=0 http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2010/06/22/sorkin-elon-musk-of-p... 2. http://www.carbonated.tv/technology/spacex-founder-and-tesla-motors-cofounder-elon-musk-on-cbs-60-minutes http://www.carbonated.tv/technology/spacex-founder-and-tesla...