In 2013, Tesla was on the verge of bankruptcy and had negotiated a $6 billion acquisition agreement with Google. On the eve of the signing, Musk saw factory workers working overtime to install Model 3 doors. He ultimately abandoned the deal and opted for a last-ditch effort.
At the height of the pandemic in 2020, Tesla's cash flow was barely enough to sustain it for three months. While the factory was shut down, the media exposed a scandal involving his father and stepsister, sparking a wave of outrage on Twitter.
Musk hid in X's server room and cried.
