Nikola Tesla, often considered one of the greatest inventors in history, played an essential role in transforming electricity into an indispensable resource for millions of people around the world. Despite its importance, Tesla’s name remained forgotten for decades, until Elon Musk brought it back to public attention by naming his car company Tesla Motors.
Musk, who identifies with the inventor, described him as “a brilliant engineer, but also an eccentric”, according to the The Mail. Tesla arrived in New York in 1884, the same year the Statue of Liberty was inaugurated. It was introduced to Thomas Edison, the famous creator of the electric light bulb. However, the relationship between the two quickly deteriorated due to a rivalry over how electricity should be distributed: Edison advocated the use of direct current, while Tesla promoted alternating current, a more efficient alternative.
According to , this dispute, known as the “war of currents”, ended with Tesla’s victory. His system was chosen to light the Chicago International Fair in 1893 and to exploit the hydroelectric power of Niagara Falls. However, history was more kind to Edison and other inventors, while Tesla remained in the shadows. Despite this, throughout his life he registered 278 patents and developed innovations that continue to influence technological advances.
Tesla was as well known for his genius as he was for his eccentricities. He slept just two hours a day, had a prodigious memory, and dreamed up visionary ideas, such as a portable device that would enable global communications — a precursor to the modern cell phone. However, his life ended tragically: isolated, without money and obsessed with numbers. Nikola Tesla died in 1943 in a New York hotel room.
After his death, the FBI confiscated his documents, fearing that his inventions would fall into the wrong hands. Among his most controversial creations would be a weapon capable of causing mass destruction, which was never tested. For many, Tesla was the Da Vinci of the modern era: a visionary who revolutionized the world, but who suffered from being unable to transform his ideas into profitable businesses.
Nikola Tesla was a crucial source of inspiration for Elon Musk, who considers him one of the greatest geniuses in history. By naming his electric car company Tesla Motors, Musk paid homage to the inventor. For him, Tesla represents the visionary and innovative spirit necessary to face the challenges of the future, transforming revolutionary ideas into advances capable of benefiting all of humanity.
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