Elon Musk’s Childhood Passion: He Created a Video Game at Age 13 and Sold It for $500
Elon Musk, the enigmatic entrepreneur known for his ventures in space exploration, electric cars, and more, had a lesser-known passion during his formative years: gaming. In a revealing excerpt from Walter Isaacson’s biography on Musk, it was unveiled that Musk’s fascination with video games began at an early age, culminating in the creation of his own game when he was just 13 years old.
Musk’s journey into the world of gaming started with him teaching himself programming languages like Pascal and Turbo C++. At the tender age of 13, his burgeoning programming skills led him to develop a video game he named “Blastar.” The game revolved around the player’s mission to destroy an alien space freighter carrying hazardous hydrogen bombs and potent status beam machines.
However, what sets Musk’s gaming venture apart is that he didn’t merely create a game for personal enjoyment; he took it a step further. Musk successfully sold his self-developed video game to a magazine, earning a substantial sum of $500 for his creation. This early entrepreneurial endeavor hinted at the innovative spirit that would come to define Musk’s career in the years to come.
Musk’s entrepreneurial spirit extended beyond “Blastar.” The biography further reveals that the young Musk went on to sell two more video games to the same magazine. These games encompassed a wide range of genres, with one bearing resemblance to the popular arcade game “Donkey Kong” while the other functioned as a roulette and blackjack simulator.
While Elon Musk has gained fame for his groundbreaking work in the fields of technology and space exploration, his affinity for gaming has never waned. In May of the current year, Musk drew attention for sharing his character build in the highly acclaimed open-world fantasy game “Elden Ring.” This game, developed by FromSoftware Inc., garnered widespread acclaim upon its release in 2022. Musk, an avid gamer himself, displayed his character build on Twitter, earning both praise and criticism from fellow players.
The biography also offers insights into Musk’s intense gaming sessions. His cousin, Peter Rive, remarked, “If you are playing with Elon, you play pretty much nonstop until finally you have to eat.” Additionally, the book recounts an incident where Musk ingeniously hacked arcade games during a vacation trip, allowing him and his cousins to play games for free without needing coins.
During his teenage years, Musk harbored ambitions of establishing his arcade, envisioning it as a profitable venture. However, logistical challenges arose when he and his cousins encountered the need for city permits. As an adult’s signature was required to complete the application process, Musk’s dream of owning an arcade never materialized.
Musk’s love for gaming persisted through the years, as recalled by his ex-girlfriend, Grimes. She recounted an instance when Musk stayed up until 5 in the morning playing “Elden Ring” shortly after offering to buy Twitter, highlighting his enduring passion for the gaming world.
Elon Musk’s multifaceted journey, from his early gaming days to his transformative impact on technology and space exploration, continues to captivate the world, showcasing the remarkable evolution of an innovator and visionary.
