Elon Musk's childhood was 'excruciating' and he got beaten up a lot
Elon Musk is the founder of one of the most valuable tech companies in the world.
But his rise to success wasn't so easy.
A new book written by Bloomberg technology reporter Ashlee Vance, "Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX and the Quest for a Fantastic Future," is filled with anecdotes about SpaceX, PayPal, Tesla Motors, and more.
She also talks about Musk's childhood, which the New York Times describes as "excruciating," and shows just how resilient Musk is.
Born in Pretoria, South Africa, Musk was a "bookish" and awkward young boy, interested in computers and sci-fi. His father was emotionally abusive and tough on his children, allegedly ordering Musk and his brother "to sit silent for four hours as he lectured them," according to the Washington Post.
Musk was also viciously bullied in school. His classmates pushed him down a concrete stairwell. In one instance, he was beaten so badly that he needed to go to the hospital.
Here's Musk recounting that horrific experience:
His difficult experiences both at home and school would eventually lead Musk to leave South Africa for the United States.