A few hours before the bankruptcy, musk and Tesla do? -Thomas g, Tesla, SpaceX-IT information
IT information note: this selected works are since musk biography, iron man in Silicon Valley: ailong·masike adventure of life
In 2008, SpaceX launched successfully
SpaceX are not assigned any mission just completed an emission performance of fact does not reduce employees ' enthusiasm. When the rocket soaring, employees at the SpaceX headquarters erupted into enthusiastic cheers. Each milestone of the next-to leave the island, engine check feedback show everything is normal-are accompanied by an ecstatic whistles and cheers. After the level arrows from, two arrows start flying after 90 seconds later, staff completely lost in Ecstasy, whole Studio network they are shouting. "Too perfect. "A spokesman exclaimed, two-stage rocket engine" Kestrel "glowing red, started up to 6 minutes of burning. "When the burn is finished, my knees finally stopped shaking, I felt I could breathe again. "McClaughry said.
Cowling opened about 3 minutes after launch and fell back to the ground. Finally, in 9 minutes after the journey, "Falcon 1th" stopped working as planned, the world's first privately built rocket completed the feat, went into orbit. 500 people spent 6 more years than musk-originally planned for 4.5 years, succeeded in creating the modern miracle of science and business.
In order to distract yourself and relieve a lot of pressure on the launch day of musk and brother Guimbal went to Disney and the children. Then, to make the 4 o'clock in the afternoon launch, musk rushed company, entered until two minutes before the launch of SpaceX's control room. "After the successful launch, everyone shed tears of emotion," Kimbarl said, "it was the most exciting day of my life. "Musk walked out of the room, in the hallways of the factory was welcomed like a rock star.
"That feels so good," musk said, "there are many people who say that we will not succeed, and indeed is to many, many people, but even they say, ' sum fate does not oppose and fourth overall success, isn't it? Complete feat this handful of countries in the world, this project is usually done by the State, rather than a company ... ... My brain is a bit confusing, I can't say anything, but, Oh my! This is definitely the best day of my life! I think most people here think so. We told everyone that we did it! This is only first step in our plan to come ... ... I don't know how to celebrate tonight, but I'm going to have a big party ... ... "then Mali·beisi·bulang patted Mr MASKEY's shoulder, pulling him to another meeting.
After-party after the end of the passion and joy from the victory fading, volume of soil is SpaceX the financial crisis should not be underestimated. SpaceX's "Falcon 9th" has received more support, and another plan to transport supplies the international space station in the future, or even one day can put a man into space "Dragon" spacecraft also obtained production license. Based on past experience, that any of the project's cost at more than $ 1 billion, but SpaceX had to find ways to use fraction of less than US $ 1 billion to complete two projects. While the company's salary increased, and moved to Headquarters in Hawthorne, California. SpaceX has signed a commercial contract for the Malaysia Government to launch a satellite, but launch and the payments are to complete by mid-2009. Prior to this, SpaceX are struggling in order to pay staff salaries.
Media is not clear how the economic situation of musk, but Tesla's clear precarious financial situation, and daily to make fun of entertainment delight in its precarious financial situation. "The vehicle of the truth" (www.thetruthaboutcars.com) site was opened in May 2008 the "Countdown to Tesla's death" (Tesla Death Watch) column and published a series of articles. Bowen denied musk is the founder of the company, described him as a genius engineer aibohade stole Tesla's investors and the Chairman. When aibohade on the blog talking about the Tesla customers advantages and disadvantages when obtained strong support from this site.
United Kingdom car TV show top (Top Gear) to award Tesla to pieces, making it look as if you haven't hit the road has no electricity. "People like to see the same concern ' countdown to Tesla's death ', but that's actually very cruel," jinbaer·masike said, "one day, even at the same time there are 50 articles about how Tesla death article. ”
Shortly thereafter, in October 2008 (SpaceX launched successfully after a few weeks), "Silicon Valley gossip" reappearance. Thomas g replace Drori was it irony as Tesla CEO, on the grounds that it believes musk's success in the past just because of luck. Shortly thereafter it made a Tesla employee a message addressed to the general public. This article reports that Tesla has just experienced a round of job losses, closed its Office in Detroit and the funding of only $ 9 million in the Bank. "We have more than 1 200 orders, meaning that all we got from customers tens of millions of dollars in cash being frittered away," said Tesla employee wrote, "at the same time, we only produce less than 50 vehicles. In fact, once I convinced a friend to spend $ 60,000 to buy Tesla, I cannot in good conscience be a bystander, allowed my company to continue to deceive the masses and dear customer. Tesla to be surrounded by all because of these customers and the public that they should not be deceived. ”
Yes, most of the negative attention is the Tesla should have to bear. Musk felt, 2008 people's hostility towards bankers and the wealthy will he become a target. "I was in were pistols took turns strafing," musk said, "there are many people of Schadenfreude, which is very bad for me in every way. Justin through the media to torment me, always Tesla negative reports in the media, as well as reports of SpaceX launch failure for the third time, which for me is a lot of damage, I have serious doubts about their lives anymore, cars anymore he is going through divorce proceedings, and all of this. I felt nothing. I think we can't go. I think maybe it is all over. ”
When musk when browsing the SpaceX and Tesla's finances, found that only one company a chance to survive. "I can only select one of SpaceX and Tesla, or put money into two halves," musk said, "this is a difficult decision. If I separate the funds, both companies couldn't survive. If all funds to one of the companies, its probability of survival will be higher, but it also means that another company is sure to fail. I tossed and turned thinking for a long time. " Just when Thomas g puzzle, United States economic conditions deteriorated sharply, musk's financial situation to become more difficult. And when in 2008 when coming to an end, Mr MASKEY ran out of money.
L ' Oréal started musk's life as a Shakespearean tragedy. Sometimes g will open up to her, but sometimes he retreated to his own world. L ' Oréal will secretly see musk read e-mail when you receive bad news, he'll face sad. "You would see him in my mind and their dialogue," l ' Oréal says, "seeing someone you love suffering is painful. "Because working long hours and irregular meals, musk body weight goes up and down. Began to appear the following bags under his eyes, his face looks like it's been through a long marathon exhausted athletes.
"He looks like death," Nell Gwynne said, "I think this guy died of a heart attack, he looks like a hovering on the brink of death. "Mr MASKEY often screaming nightmares and woke up in the middle. "He is suffering physical suffering," Nell Gwynne said, "he will be sleeping cases, crawl into my body began to scream. "The couple must have to borrow money from friends score musk, l ' Oréal's parents are willing to mortgage their house again. Musk is no longer used his private jet to and from Los Angeles and the Silicon Valley, he began by Southwest Airlines. (United States budget airlines. ）
Due to spend about $ 4 million each month, Tesla needs to complete a new round of financing to be able to survive in 2008. In order to give employees paid weekly salary, musk only while dealing and investors turn to friends. He asked every friend he thought possible squeezed out a little money issued a sincere request. Bier·Li invested $ 2 million in Tesla, Sergey Brin invested $ 500,000. "Many Tesla employees in order to help keep the company running out of money," Tesla's Vice President of business diermide·AO, Cornell (Diarmuid O'Connell) said, "they become investors, but at the time, which is there is no return of $ 25000, 50000 dollars. Like is going to die, and everything destroyed. ”
Guimbal lost most of their assets in the financial crisis, but he sold his remaining property to invest in Tesla. Kimbarl said, "I was about to go bankrupt. "To purchase Tesla Roadster customers received advances, Mr tusk needs the money to keep the company going, but soon run out of these funds. This financial strategy is worrying the Guimbal, "I believe Andy Herron will be able to make everything on track, but he did jail time risk misappropriation of another person's property. ”
In December 2008, Mr MASKEY also launched several initiatives to try to save his company. He heard a rumor that NASA is about to sign a supply contract for the international space station, and SpaceX as the fourth launch successfully, so you can win this allegedly more than US $ 1 billion contract. Musk used contacts in advance in Washington, found SpaceX may be the top candidate of this contract. So he at all trying to persuade us that the company has sufficient capacity to overcome difficulties, the capsule into the international space station.
Tesla and musk can once again to request the existing investors, hoping that they can on Christmas Eve to raise money to avoid collapse. In order to give investors a little more confidence, Thomas g whatever it takes will be left of their property and funds into the company. Get NASA's permission, he borrowed a sum of money from the SpaceX Tesla. He was trying to sell in the secondary market SolarCity solar energy installation company shares on their hands. He also Dell tried to buy one by his cousin was founded, their involvement in investment data center software company Everdream earned 15 million US dollars. "It sounds like the matrix," musk talks about his financial policy, said that "Everdream this deal saved my business. ”
Musk himself has raised nearly $ 20 million, and Tesla's investors-investment-because there are no new customers are willing to put up the same amount of money. Investors agreed to his request. On December 3, 2008, when they are in this round of funding instrument when final confirmation, musk has found a problem. VC VantagePoint Capital signed all the documents, but there is no sign on the most important page. Musk call co-founder and Manager of VantagePoint ailun·saerziman (Alan Salzmann) for information. Salzman answered some questions for this round of financing, because they reduce the valuation of the Tesla.
"So I said, I have a good idea. Fate I have bet on it, I'm really hard to raise money. Now only enough money in the Bank to pay next week's salary. So unless you have any other idea, can you please put what you think a reasonable amount of money, or try to pass this round of financing in order to avoid corporate bankruptcy? "Salzman hesitated, so he let musk at 7 in the morning to directly to the executives of the company next week. Wait a week, musk requests go to the next day, but Salzman refused his request, musk can continue to live on credit. "Salzman is the sole cause of the meeting in his Office, he wanted me to kneel down to beg him for money, and he can be cocky to me saying ' no '," musk said, "what a jerk. ”
VantagePoint declined to discuss the matter, but musk said, Salzman's trick is to collapse the Tesla, make it go bankrupt. Investment company wanted to expel Thomas g Tesla, restructuring assets, make yourself a Tesla's largest shareholder. Then they sold the company to Detroit's automakers or on sales of electronic power transmission system and battery pack, rather than what made electric cars. "VantagePoint forced a more expansive dreams of entrepreneurs to swallow, give up your dream," Draper Fisher Jurvetson (Draper Fisher Jurvetson) Tesla investors and partners of shidifu·youerweisong (Steve Jurvetson) said, "maybe they used used son force CEO to give, but Andy Herron did not eat it. ”
Instead, musk took a big risk. Tesla will be fundraising from shareholders ' equity to debt financing, because VantagePoint does not interfere with debt financing. But what is difficult is, such as Draper Fisher Jurvetson venture capital firm does not carry out debt financing transactions, for a company could collapse within days to convince investors and banks to change investment strategies is a very difficult task. Understands the rules of the game, musk decided to bluff. He told investors that he can borrow $ 40 million from the SpaceX again to finish this round of financing. His strategy worked. "If the opportunity becomes scarce, so naturally, people become greedy and are more interested in," youerweisong said, "it also make it easier for us to return to the company saying, ' now this is the case, vote or not to vote? "This round of financing finalized on Christmas Eve, and then several hours later Tesla may have to declare bankruptcy. When Mr MASKEY got hundreds of thousands of dollars, even unable to pay employees the next day. Finally, Mr MASKEY has contributed 12 million dollars for this round of financing, the rest of the parts provided by the investment company. Salzman, musk said, "he should be ashamed of regret. ”
Meanwhile, in SpaceX, musk and executives spent December in a panic. According to media reports, NASA contract number one contender SpaceX suddenly lost the space agency's favor. Had almost become SpaceX co-founder Michael Griffin became NASA's new boss, began to target the Thomas g. Griffin does not care about musk's aggressive business strategy, he believes musk walking behaviors incompatible with business ethics. Others guess Griffin is jealous of musk, SpaceX.
However, on December 23, 2008, SpaceX has received a great deal of good news. NASA workers continue to give Griffin and eventually helped SpaceX to be suppliers of the international space station. SpaceX has received payments of us $ 1.6 billion, as the cost of transport of 12 for the international space station. Musk is in Boulder, Colorado on vacation and Guimbal, heard that SpaceX and Tesla well and the musk cried excitedly. "Before I even have the opportunity to buy a Christmas present for da dew," musk said, "I ran to the streets of Boulder, just a store that sells assorted gadgets is still on, but it will soon close. Where can I find the best thing is the plastic monkeys and coconuts-those three monkeys (the three monkeys, a covered his eyes, just cover your ears, cover your mouth). ”
Gracias, 2008 allowing him to fully understand the character of musk. He saw an unarmed came to the United States to fight, losing a child, by a reporter and ex-wife in the media shame, the exhaustion of all men of the company is in bankruptcy.
"He is harder than anyone I know, and able to withstand more pressure," Gracias, "says he suffered in 2008 might have let the others collapse. He survived, and continued to focus on his work. "Still focus on the ability to work in a crisis to musk in other managers and apart. "Most of those who have experienced that kind of pressure back," Gracias, "said they will be making mistakes. But musk has become more rational, and still able to make clear and far-sighted decisions. More pressure, he did better. Anyone who has seen everything he experienced with respect to him. I have never met a man more determined than he. ”
再过几个小时就要破产，马斯克和特斯拉怎么办？ - 马斯克,特斯拉,SpaceX - IT资讯
IT资讯注：本文选自马斯克传记《硅谷钢铁侠：埃隆·马斯克的冒险人生》
2008年，SpaceX发射成功
SpaceX没有被赋予任何发射任务而仅仅是完成一次发射表演的事实并没有降低员工们的热情。当火箭节节攀升，SpaceX总部的员工们爆发出了热烈的欢呼声。接下来的每一个里程碑—离开这座小岛、引擎检查反馈显示一切正常—都伴随着欣喜若狂的口哨和喝彩声。在一级箭体脱离后，二级箭体经过90秒的启动开始飞行后，员工彻底陷入狂喜之中，整个网络直播室充满了他们欣喜若狂的叫喊声。“太完美了。”一位发言人欢呼道，二级箭体的引擎“茶隼”闪着红光，开始了长达6分钟的燃烧。“当燃烧结束后，我的膝盖终于不再颤抖，我感到自己又可以呼吸了。”麦克劳里说。
整流罩在发射后大约3分钟时打开并落回地面。最终，在9分钟的旅途过后，“猎鹰1号”按计划停止工作，世界上第一枚私人建造的火箭完成了此次壮举，进入了轨道。500个人花费了6年时间—比马斯克原计划多了四年半，终于创造了这个现代科学和商业的奇迹。
为了分散自己的注意力并缓解巨大的压力，在发射的这一天马斯克和兄弟金巴尔以及孩子们一起去了迪士尼游玩。然后，为了赶上下午4点的发射，马斯克匆忙赶回公司，在发射前两分钟才踏进SpaceX的控制室。“发射成功后，每个人都流出了激动的泪水，”金巴尔说，“那是我人生中最激动人心的一天。”马斯克走出控制室，在工厂的走廊上受到了摇滚明星般的热烈欢迎。
“那感觉真是太棒了，”马斯克说，“有许多人说我们不可能成功，事实上是很多很多人，但就算他们这样说，‘命运不会总和我们作对，第四次总该成功’，不是吗？世界上完成这种壮举的国家屈指可数，这种项目一般是由国家来完成的，而不是某家公司……我的脑子有点混乱，我什么都说不出来，但是，天啊！这绝对是我人生中最棒的一天！我想这里大部分人都这样想。我们告诉所有人我们做到了！这只是未来许多计划中的第一步……我不知道你们今晚如何庆祝，不过我要举办一场盛大的派对……”接着，玛丽·贝思·布朗拍了拍马斯克的肩，把他拉去开另一场会议。
庆功派对结束后，这场胜利所带来的激情与喜悦渐渐褪去，卷土而来的则是SpaceX不容小觑的财务危机。SpaceX的“猎鹰9号”项目得到了更多支持，而另一艘计划未来能够给国际空间站运输物资，甚至某天能把人类送上太空的“龙”飞船也得到了生产许可。根据以往的经验，这之中任何一个项目的成本都在10亿美元以上，但是SpaceX必须找到方法用不到10亿美元的零头完成两个项目。同时公司的薪水大幅度提高，并且搬到了位于加州霍桑更大的总部。SpaceX已经签署了一份商业合同—为马来西亚政府发射一颗卫星，但是发射和付款都得到2009年中旬才能完成。在这之前，SpaceX得为了支付员工薪水而苦苦挣扎。
媒体不清楚马斯克的经济状况如何，但是他们对特斯拉岌岌可危的财政状况一清二楚，并以每日取笑消遣它不稳定的财务状况为乐。“汽车真相”（www.thetruthaboutcars.com）网站于2008年5月开设了一个名为“特斯拉死亡倒计时”（Tesla Death Watch）的栏目，并且发布了一系列文章。这些博文拒绝承认马斯克是公司的创始人，将他描述为从天才工程师艾伯哈德手中偷走了特斯拉的投资人兼董事长。当艾伯哈德在博客上谈论成为特斯拉顾客的利与弊时，得到了这个网站的大力支持。
英国著名汽车电视节目《最高档》（Top Gear）将特斯拉批得一无是处，使它看上去好像还没上路就已经没电了。“人们像是看笑话一样关注‘特斯拉死亡倒计时’，但那其实非常残酷，”金巴尔·马斯克说，“有一天甚至同时出现了50篇谈论特斯拉会如何灭亡的文章。”
紧接着，2008年10月（SpaceX发射成功后几周），“硅谷八卦”重出江湖。它首讽了马斯克代替德罗里正式出任特斯拉CEO，理由是它认为马斯克过去的成功仅仅是因为好运。紧接着它发表了特斯拉的一位员工写给广大民众的一封邮件。这篇报道称特斯拉刚经历一轮裁员风波，关闭了其在底特律的办公室，并且银行里只剩下900万美元的资金。“我们有超过1 200份订单，这意味我们从顾客手里拿到的几千万现金全都被挥霍一空，”这名特斯拉员工写道，“同时，我们只交出了不到50辆车。事实上，我曾经说服了一位好友花6万美元购买特斯拉，我无法昧着良心做一个旁观者，任由我的公司继续欺骗广大群众和亲爱的顾客。特斯拉能够被簇拥都是因为这些顾客和群众，他们不应该被欺骗。”
是的，绝大部分的负面关注是特斯拉理应承受的。马斯克却感到，2008年人们对银行家和富人的仇视心理将他变成了众矢之的。“我简直是被手枪轮番扫射，”马斯克说，“有很多人在幸灾乐祸，这在各个方面都对我十分不利。贾斯汀通过媒体来折磨我、媒体中总是出现特斯拉的负面报道，以及SpaceX第三次发射失败的报道，这对我来说是很大的伤害，让我严重怀疑自己的生活过不下去了，汽车做不下去了，自己正在经历离婚诉讼以及所有的这一切。我感觉自己一无是处。我觉得我们撑不下去。我觉得说不定一切都完了。”
当马斯克浏览SpaceX和特斯拉的财政状况时，发现只有一家公司有机会存活下来。“我只能选择SpaceX或者特斯拉中的一个，或者将资金分成两半，”马斯克说，“这是一个艰难的决定。如果我将资金分开，可能两家公司都没法活下来。如果我将资金全都给其中一家公司，它生存的概率会更高，但这也意味着另一家公司肯定要倒闭。我为此翻来覆去思考了许久。”就在马斯克苦苦思索时，美国的经济环境急剧恶化，马斯克的财政状况变得更加艰难。而当2008年进入尾声时，马斯克的钱用完了。
莱莉开始将马斯克的人生看成一出莎士比亚悲剧。有时候马斯克会对她敞开心扉，但有时他又退回到自己的世界里。莱莉会暗中观察马斯克阅读电子邮件，当收到坏消息时，他会满脸愁容。“你会看到他在脑海中与自己对话，”莱莉说，“看见你爱的人如此煎熬是很痛苦的。”因为长时间工作以及不规律的饮食，马斯克的体重忽上忽下。他的眼睛下面开始出现眼袋，面容看起来就像是经历了超长马拉松后疲惫不堪的运动员。
“他看起来就像是死神，”莱莉说，“我当时觉得这家伙会因为心脏病而死，他看起来像在死亡边缘徘徊。”马斯克经常半夜做噩梦并尖叫着惊醒。“他正在承受生理上的煎熬，”莱莉说，“他会在睡着的情况下，爬到我的身上开始尖叫。”这对夫妇必须得向马斯克的好友斯科尔借钱，莱莉的父母也愿意再次抵押他们的房子。马斯克不再使用他的私人飞机来往于洛杉矶和硅谷，他开始乘坐西南航空。（美国廉价航空。）
由于每个月要花费400万美元左右，特斯拉需要完成新一轮融资才能够在2008年存活下来。为了给员工们支付每周的薪水，马斯克只能在和投资人周旋的同时求助朋友。他向每一个他想到的可能挤出一点钱的朋友发出了真诚的请求。比尔·李给特斯拉投资了200万美元，谢尔盖·布林也投资了50万美元。“许多特斯拉员工都为了帮助维持公司运转出了钱，”特斯拉的业务副总裁迪尔米德·奥康奈尔（Diarmuid O’Connell）说，“他们最终都变成了投资人，但在当时，这些就是有去无回的25000美元或50000美元。当时就像是要完蛋了，一切都要被毁灭了。”
金巴尔在金融危机中损失了大部分资产，但他还是卖掉了自己所剩无几的财产来投资特斯拉。金巴尔说，“我当时快要破产了。”特斯拉向购买了Roadster的顾客收取了预付款，马斯克需要这些钱才能让公司继续运转，但是很快，这些资金也用完了。这种金融策略令金巴尔担忧，“我相信埃隆一定能让一切走上正轨，但是他确实冒着坐牢的风险挪用了他人的财产。”
2008年12月，马斯克同时启动了几项计划，试图挽救他的公司。他听到传闻说NASA即将为国际空间站签订一份补给合约，而SpaceX因为第四次发射成功，所以有机会赢得这份据称超过10亿美元的合约。马斯克动用关系提前接触了华盛顿方面，发现SpaceX可能是这份合约的头号候选人。于是，他不惜一切试图让大家相信公司有足够的能力克服困难，将太空舱送入国际空间站。
而特斯拉方面，马斯克只能再次去请求现有的投资人，希望他们能在圣诞前夕再筹集一批资金以避免公司倒闭。为了给投资人一点信心，马斯克竭尽所能将自己仅剩的财产和资金投入了公司。在得到NASA的允许后，他从SpaceX借了一笔钱资助特斯拉。他试图在次级市场上卖出自己手上太阳能安装公司SolarCity的股份。他也在戴尔试图收购一家由其表弟创办、自己参与投资的数据中心软件公司Everdream时赚到了1500万美元。“这听起来像是黑客帝国，”马斯克谈起自己的金融策略时说，“Everdream这笔买卖拯救了我的生意。”
马斯克自己筹集了近2000万美元，并要求特斯拉现有的投资人—因为没有新客户愿意投资—也拿出同样多的资金。投资者们答应了他的要求。2008年12月3日，当他们在进行这轮融资的文书最终确认时，马斯克却发现了一个问题。创投机构VantagePoint Capital签署了所有的文件，但却没有在最重要的一页签字。马斯克立即致电VantagePoint的联合创始人及管理者艾伦·萨尔兹曼（Alan Salzmann）询问情况。萨尔兹曼回答公司对这轮融资有些疑问，因为他们降低了对特斯拉的估值。
“于是我说，我有一个好主意。我已经把命运都押在了上面，我现在真的很难筹到钱。现在银行里的资金只够支付下周的薪水。所以除非你有别的主意，可以请你投入你认为合理的资金数量，或者尽力通过这轮融资以免公司破产吗？”萨尔兹曼犹豫不决，于是他让马斯克下周早上7点来公司直接向高层解释。等不及一周，马斯克请求第二天就去，但萨尔兹曼拒绝了他的请求，让马斯克只能继续靠贷款度日。“萨尔兹曼将会议设在自己办公室的唯一原因是，他希望我跪下来求他给钱，然后他就可以趾高气扬地向我说‘不’，”马斯克说，“真是个混蛋。”
VantagePoint拒绝谈论这件事，但据马斯克说，萨尔兹曼的计策是为了瓦解特斯拉，使之破产。投资公司想要将马斯克驱逐出特斯拉，重组资产，让自己成为特斯拉的最大股东。接着他们就可以将公司卖给底特律的汽车制造商或者专注销售电子动力传动系统和电池组，而不是造什么电动汽车。“VantagePoint在逼迫一个怀有更广阔梦想的创业者忍气吞声、放弃梦想，”德丰杰（Draper Fisher Jurvetson）的合伙人及特斯拉投资人史蒂夫·尤尔韦松（Steve Jurvetson）说，“也许他们习惯了用这招儿逼CEO屈服，但埃隆不吃这一套。”
相反，马斯克冒了一个更大的风险。特斯拉将这轮融资从股东权益融资变为债务融资，因为VantagePoint无法干涉债务融资。但棘手的是，德丰杰这类风险投资机构并不开展债务融资交易，对于一家几天内就可能倒闭的公司而言，说服投资人和银行改变投资策略是非常艰巨的任务。深谙游戏规则的马斯克决定虚张声势。他告诉投资人他可以再次从SpaceX借4000万美元来完成这轮融资。他的战略奏效了。“如果机会变得稀缺，那么自然而然，人就会变得贪婪并且更感兴趣，”尤尔韦松说，“这也更便于我们回到公司说，‘现在情况就是这样，投还是不投？’”这轮融资最终完成于圣诞前夕，再迟几个小时特斯拉可能就要宣布破产。当时马斯克只剩下几十万美元，甚至无法第二天给员工支付薪水。最终，马斯克为这轮融资贡献了1200万美元，剩下的部分都由投资公司提供。对于萨尔兹曼的行为，马斯克说，“他应该为此感到羞愧后悔。”
与此同时，在SpaceX，马斯克和高管们在恐慌中度过了12月。根据媒体的报道，NASA合约的头号竞争者SpaceX突然失去了航天局的宠爱。曾经差点成为SpaceX联合创始人的迈克尔·格里芬成了NASA的新老大，开始处处针对马斯克。格里芬丝毫不关心马斯克咄咄逼人的商业策略，他认为马斯克打擦边球的行为不符合商业道德。其他人则猜测格里芬是嫉妒马斯克和SpaceX。
但是，2008年12月23日，SpaceX却收到了一个巨大的喜讯。NASA里的工作人员不断给格里芬做工作并最终成功帮助SpaceX成为国际空间站的供应商。SpaceX因此收到了16亿美元的款项，作为为国际空间站提供12次运输的费用。当时马斯克正和金巴尔一起在科罗拉多的博尔德度假，听闻SpaceX和特斯拉交易顺利，马斯克激动地流下了眼泪。“我之前甚至没有机会为妲露拉买件圣诞礼物，”马斯克说，“我跑到博尔德的街上，只有一家卖杂七杂八的小玩意儿的商店还开着，但当时它也快打烊了。我在那儿能找到的最好的东西是塑料的猴子和椰子—那些三不猴（三只猴子，一只捂眼睛，一只捂耳朵，一只捂嘴巴）。”
对于格雷西亚斯来说，2008年让他充分了解了马斯克的品格。他亲眼见证了一个赤手空拳来到美国打拼、失去了一个孩子、被记者和前妻在媒体上狠狠羞辱、用尽毕生心血的公司处于倒闭边缘的男人。
“他比我认识的任何人都更刻苦，并且能够承受更多压力，”格雷西亚斯说，“他在2008年所经受的一切可能早就让其他人崩溃了。他不仅仅生存了下来，并且持续专注于他的工作。”在危机中依旧专注工作的能力让马斯克在其他管理人员和竞争者中脱颖而出。“经历过那种压力的人大多数都退缩了，”格雷西亚斯说，“他们会出现决策失误。但是马斯克却变得更加理性，依旧能够做出清晰并且有远见的决定。压力越大，他做得就越好。任何见识了他所经历的一切的人都对他怀有敬意。我从未见过比他更坚毅的人。”