Everything Elon Musk has said about SA: ‘Violent’, ‘unhappy’
Despite his own admission that he does not consider himself to be South African, billionaire businessman Elon Musk has said a lot about his country of birth. His latest, follows an indirect jab at EFF leader Julius Malema, whom he accused of “pushing a genocide of white people.” Elon emigrated to Canada at age 17, […]
Despite his own admission that he does not consider himself to be South African, billionaire businessman Elon Musk has said a lot about his country of birth. His latest, follows an indirect jab at EFF leader Julius Malema, whom he accused of “pushing a genocide of white people.”
Elon emigrated to Canada at age 17, following his early years in Pretoria. The world’s richest man later moved to the US, where he is now an accomplished entrepreneur.
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ELON MUSK: ‘SA IS A VIOLENT PLACE’
Speaking on the Full Send Podcast last year, Elon Musk claimed SA was a “violent” country. This, following a childhood where he was repeatedly bullied at school.
He said: “I’ve been in real hard-core street fights. I got beaten up real badly in a few of them, actually.”
“I grew up in South Africa. It’s a very violent place.”
When asked if his experience of being bullied contributed to his success, Elon added: “It’ll certainly toughen you up, that’s for sure.”
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UNHAPPY CHILDHOOD
Responding to a Twitter user, Elon Musk shed light on his childhood in SA. Elon attended a series of affluent schools in Johannesburg, including Bryanston High and Pretoria High School.
But his life of privilege did not afford him happiness.
He tweeted: “I grew up in a lower, transitioning to upper, middle-income situation, but did not have a happy childhood. I haven’t inherited anything ever from anyone, nor has anyone given me a large financial gift.
Elon also shot down allegations his father, Errol Musk, was a mining magnate.
He continued: “Regarding the so-called ‘emerald mine,’ there is no objective evidence whatsoever that this mine ever existed. He told me that he owned a share in a mine in Zambia, and I believed him for a while, but nobody has ever seen the mine, nor are there any records of its existence.
“If this mine was real, he would not require financial support from my brother and me.”
I grew up in a lower, transitioning to upper, middle income situation, but did not have a happy childhood. Haven’t inherited anything ever from anyone, nor has anyone given me a large financial gift.
My father created a small electrical/mechanical engineering company that was…
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 6, 2023
IN A HURRY TO LEAVE?
In another tweet, Elon Musk hinted that he left his life of comfort only to land in more than $100k of student loan debts.
According to his parents, Elon left SA because he feared joining the Apartheid military service.
He tweeted: “II left South Africa by myself when I was 17 with just a backpack and suitcase of books”.
This is a pretty awful lie. I left South Africa by myself when I was 17 with just a backpack & suitcase of books. Worked on my Mom’s cousin’s farm in Saskatchewan & a lumber mill in Vancouver. Went to Queens Univ with scholarship & debt, then same to UPenn/Wharton & Stanford.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 28, 2019
DOES ELON MUSK CONSIDER HIMSELF SOUTH AFRICAN?
When one tweep asked Elon Musk if he considered himself American or African, he replied: “American, but born in South Africa.”
According to The Sun, Elon has citizenship in three countries: South Africa, Canada, and America.
American, but born in South Africa. Left by myself when I was 17.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 19, 2020