Peter Thiel and Elon Musk has actually recognized each other for a long time, right to after they shared the particular online banking companies, Paypal and X, from inside the 2002.

Since that time, the relationships enjoys viewed a lot of good and the bad and their networths have cultivated by the huge amounts of dollars. Inside the the brand new publication, “The latest Contrarian: Peter Thiel and you can Silicone Valley’s Pursuit of Fuel,” Max Chafkin requires a closer look within tricky history of both people, who will be in ways polar opposites.

1. A source just who talked in order to both guys asserted that Musk believes Thiel was “good sociopath,” and Thiel considers Musk “a fraud.”

Musk and you can Thiel, when you’re longtime collaborators, is fundamentally opposites: Musk is considered an outbound, peculiar chance-taker, and Thiel is known as a cautious introvert.

“While Thiel could well be comically secretive, even certainly best friends, Musk try incapable of censoring himself,” had written Chafkin. “Whereas Thiel tended to imagine regarding restricting chance, Musk try perpetually going for bankrupt.”

dos. Musk eris crashed their $one million McLaren with Thiel in the traveler chair.

After the PayPal-X merger, Musk and you may Thiel have been on their means to fix a meeting with dealers when Musk totaled the vehicle if you are seeking to flaunt the speed, “delivering the newest McLaren flying toward sky.” Thiel wasn’t impressed, viewing his team partner because the “irresponsible.”

“The action shook Thiel,” penned Chafkin, “just who concerned see Musk once the reckless; Musk watched Thiel once the a financing child who cared regarding tech mostly as a way to profit.”

3. PayPal and you can X, Elon Musk’s own on the internet banking program, blended during the 2000 just like the Thiel is actually “terrified away from losing the firm.”

While the PayPal took extreme loss within the very early decades, Musk stepped during the. He would stuck piece of cake that his competition might make a take on Bing and you will failed to require X to-be pushed aside – thus, he confident Thiel to combine their a couple of companies.

However, if you find yourself Musk could be President, Thiel strategically placed faithful confidantes (members of his therefore-titled “Paypal Mafia”) on finest ranking.

4. Thiel with his partners conspired and overthrew Musk while the PayPal Chief executive officer while he was with the his honeymoon.

When you find yourself Musk and his wife left towards a two-week trips, Thiel loyalists – sick of what they spotted while the an endless variety of calamities considering Musk’s unsuccessful leaders – threatened to end should your board didn’t commit to generate Thiel Chief executive officer.

5. The two billionaires for each and every spent most of the or part of their childhoods during the Southern Africa ahead of landing in the Stanford School.

Prior to they grabbed more than Silicon Area, both men originated from similar origins. Musk was born in Southern area Africa and you will resided around up to university, and you may Thiel’s relatives moved there for a few ages as he try children.

Musk to start with arranged for the bringing a PhD within the physics from the Stanford, “however, decrease out over start Zip2, a corporate list online you to definitely performed once the an internet particular the fresh new Telephone book.” At the same time, Thiel examined laws, thinking of a great Judge clerkship – however, is ultimately declined immediately after interview with Anthony Kennedy and you may Antonin Scalia.

6. Musk said that Thiel refused to put money into Tesla partially since the out-of his skepticism regarding climate alter.

Whenever Musk is making an application for his electronic car company, Tesla Motors – well worth over $800 billion of the 2020 – off the ground, Thiel said no to help you investing. “The guy does not totally buy into the environment transform material,” told you Musk.

7. Thiel is crucial when you look at the SpaceX’s success.

In the event its relationship try on stones after the PayPal coup and you can Tesla investment refusal, Thiel served Musk’s aerospace providers – albeit hesitantly – with its first stages.

Their $20 million capital assisted contain the organization afloat after a third botched rocket discharge when you look at the 2008. One month afterwards, SpaceX reached orbit.