Larry Page has secretly spent $100 million building flying cars - here is a patent diagram of one
USPTO/Zee.Aero
Larry Page, one of the cofounders of Google who now works as CEO of its parent company Alphabet, has secretly spent more than $100 million to develop flying cars.
That's according to a bombshell new report from Bloomberg Businessweek based on conversations with numerous sources.
Page reportedly owns a secretive startup called Zee.Aero which launched in 2010.
David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images
And that's not all: Page is also reportedly funding a second flying car startup called Kitty Hawk. Kitty Hawk works independently from Zee.Aero, but has similar goals. (It's not clear how much Page has invested into Kitty Hawk.)
This isn't all just hypothetical plans, either. Zee.Aero reportedly has two prototype aircrafts based in a hanger nearby, which take "regular test flights." Its vehicles are electric-powered.
The diagram above, from a patent originating in 2011, was an early design, Bloomberg reports. It is now pursusing a "simpler, more conventional-looking design."
Zee.Aero's website doesn't give much away. "Based in the heart of Silicon Valley, Zee is developing a revolutionary new form of transportation," it says in a call for job applicants. "Working at the intersection of aerodynamics, advanced manufacturing, and electric propulsion, we provide a stimulating environment where creative employees can explore new challenges."
Zee.Aero
Page has apparently worked hard to keep his involvement in Zee.Aero secret. Early in the company's history, when it was based in building that he rented the upper floor of, he wasn't even called by his true name, Bloomberg reports. Instead, employees only said "GUS" - short for "Guy UpStairs."
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