Elon Musk Used To Transform His College House Into A Nightclub To Pay The Rent

Elon Musk's knack for making money started during his time at the University of Pennsylvania, according to an interview in Vogue. Musk and his then-roommate Andeo Ressi, an entrepreneur and investor, converted their college house into a nightclub to earn money for rent.

While others were busy cramming for exams or hitting the books, Musk saw an opportunity to turn their abode into a cash-generating hotspot. Who needed a boring part-time job when you could create your own party empire?

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While most college parties are all about fun, for Musk these blowout events were strictly business. According to Ressi, there were nights when he would go looking for Musk, only to find him locked in his room playing video games, disconnected from the action taking place downstairs.

But Musk's path to success wasn't always easy. The Vogue story shares that Musk faced bullying during his high school years, and there was a time when he was so severely beaten by bullies he ended up in the hospital. Reflecting on those difficult times, Musk mentioned that growing up in South Africa was filled with violence, almost like the world depicted in "Lord of the Flies." He became a target when he stood up for another bullied student, further fueling the aggression toward him.

The entrepreneur's relationship with money has always been intriguingly detached, much like many aspects of his life. When he arrived in Silicon Valley in 1995, his main goal wasn't making money but immersing himself in the emerging internet revolution. As Musk remembers, the focus was not on getting rich; it was about being part of something groundbreaking. Despite pursuing a double major in physics and economics at the University of Pennsylvania, Musk's true passion resided in physics, which led him to intern in Silicon Valley during his summer breaks.

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His academic journey took an unexpected turn when he enrolled in a physics Ph.D. program at Stanford University but left after just two days. Musk admitted that he couldn't bear to watch the internet's rapid progress — he wanted to actively participate and make an impact.

In 1995, Musk and his brother Kimbal founded Zip2, an online maps and business directory. After four years, they sold the company for over $300 million, which earned Musk a substantial $22 million at age 27. Musk then ventured into the realm of online financial services by creating X.com, which eventually became PayPal Holdings Inc. In 2002, eBay Inc. acquired PayPal for $1.5 billion, as described in author Ashley Vance's book “Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future.”

In that same year, Musk shifted his focus to rocket technology and invested $100 million to establish SpaceX. In 2004, Musk became one of the early major investors in Tesla Inc., the renowned electric vehicle company.

Musk's journey, from turning a college house into a nightclub to leading groundbreaking enterprises like SpaceX and Tesla, showcases his entrepreneurial spirit and relentless pursuit of innovation. As his ventures continue to reshape industries, the world eagerly awaits the next revolutionary breakthrough from the visionary billionaire.

While Musk's blowout parties at his college house were certainly legendary, Collab is taking a different approach to maximize financial gains. Recognizing the consistent success of the student housing sector, the startup has devised a creative way for individuals to co-own income-generating student properties. The best part? It takes just $500 to get started. 

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