Peter Thiel and you may Elon Musk have recognized each other for many years, right back into when they mutual their particular on the web finance companies, Paypal and you can X, during the 2002.

Since that time, its dating keeps viewed a lot of pros and cons in addition to their networths have become of the billions of dollars. In his the publication, “The brand new Contrarian: Peter Thiel and Silicone Valley’s Search for Electricity,” Maximum Chafkin takes a close look on complicated reputation of both guys, who are in manners polar opposites.

step one. A resource which spoke in order to both males asserted that Musk thinks Thiel try “a good sociopath,” and Thiel considers Musk “a scam.”

Musk and you will Thiel, when you find yourself longtime collaborators, was ultimately opposites: Musk is known as an outbound, eccentric risk-taker, and Thiel is named a careful introvert.

“While Thiel will be comically secretive, actually among close friends, Musk is actually struggling to censoring himself,” authored Chafkin. “While Thiel had a tendency to believe with regards to restricting chance, Musk is perpetually opting for broke.”

dos. Musk crashed their $1 million McLaren with Thiel on passenger chair.

Following the newest PayPal-X merger, Musk and Thiel was in fact on the treatment for an ending up in investors when Musk totaled the automobile whenever you are looking to present its velocity, “sending the McLaren traveling toward air.” Thiel was not amazed, watching their business partner because the “irresponsible.”

“The experience shook Thiel,” wrote Chafkin, “which involved get a hold of Musk due to the fact reckless; Musk saw Thiel because a loans boy exactly who cared on the technology primarily as a way to profit.”

step 3. PayPal and you can X, Elon Musk’s individual on the internet banking platform, combined from inside the 2000 since Thiel is “scared from losing the business.”

Because PayPal took significant losings within the very early age, Musk strolled in the. However caught piece of cake that his opponent might make a deal with Yahoo and you may didn’t need X to be pushed out – so, the guy convinced Thiel to combine its a few enterprises.

However, when you’re Musk is President, Thiel smartly place loyal confidantes (members of his very-named “Paypal Mafia”) on the best ranks.

4. Thiel and his awesome partners conspired and you can overthrew Musk just like the PayPal Ceo while he try towards the his honeymoon.

Whenever you are Musk along with his spouse leftover into the a-two-few days vacation, Thiel loyalists – sick of what they noticed because an endless listing of calamities considering Musk’s were unsuccessful leadership – endangered to prevent whether your board did not invest in make Thiel President.

5. The 2 billionaires for every spent most of the otherwise element of its childhoods inside the Southern area Africa in advance of getting at Stanford University.

Ahead of they got over Silicone polymer Valley, the two boys originated equivalent origins. Musk was born in South Africa and you will existed here up to school, and Thiel’s family relocated around for a few decades when he was a child.

Musk originally structured to your bringing a beneficial PhD inside the physics during the Stanford, “but biggercity prijs decrease over to initiate Zip2, a business index online that functioned since the an internet types of the fresh new Yellow pages.” At the same time, Thiel learned legislation, dreaming out-of a supreme Courtroom clerkship – but are eventually refuted once interviews with Anthony Kennedy and you will Antonin Scalia.

six. Musk mentioned that Thiel would not put money into Tesla partly due to the fact regarding his skepticism about environment changes.

Whenever Musk was obtaining their digital vehicle providers, Tesla Automobiles – well worth over $800 mil of the 2020 – up and running, Thiel told you zero in order to investing. “He does not fully buy into the environment transform question,” said Musk.

eight. Thiel was crucial in the SpaceX’s triumph.

Regardless of if its relationship try on stones following the PayPal coup and you can Tesla financing refusal, Thiel served Musk’s aerospace business – albeit reluctantly – in initial phases.

His $20 mil financial support assisted secure the providers afloat shortly after a third botched skyrocket discharge during the 2008. A month later on, SpaceX reached orbit.