Elon Musk Beats Out Mark Zuckerburg, Steve Jobs as The Most Admired Tech Leader

By Precious Gem de Peralta
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk
Elon Musk beats out Amazon's Jeff Bezos, Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and Apple's Steve Jobs as the most admired tech leader in a survey among 700 founders. Web Summit via Flickr

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk beats out Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and Apple's Steve Job as the most admired tech leader among 700 founders. The survey by VC firm First Round Capital was conducted from August to September 2016 and published just recently.

Musk received 23 percent of the votes. Amazon's Jeff Bezos was way behind at only 10 percent. He was followed by Zuckerberg with just 6 percent and Jobs got 5 percent. Another Facebook executive, Sheryl Sandberg was the most cited female with one percent. According to the Country Caller, Musk was described by the San Francisco-based firm as "more revolutionary than the legendary Steve Jobs".

Musk is nothing short of an ambitious businessman. He has several unearthly goals up his sleeves. From setting up a global high-speed internet connection through thousands of satellites to establishing a colony on Mars by 2024. SpaceX wants to be the first one to send an unmanned spacecraft to the famous Red Planet by 2018. The company has also been a constant partner of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). In fact, SpaceX has been striking deals with NASA. According to Recode, they are set to launch satellites "that will monitor the earth's surface water and climate change".

But this is not to say that SpaceX did not suffer from any hurdles along the way. Their rocket has exploded a few months ago. The investigation is still underway and the definite cause is yet to be determined. Though the said Falcon 9 rocket is planned to be launched on Dec. 16 since the incident.

As for Tesla, the US automaker had a good third quarter earnings. Musk was also instrumental for the company's shareholders to vote in favor of SolarCity's acquisition. Tesla's Autopilot driver assistance system hit the news after a fatal crash incident that involved a driver while using the said technology. Germany even sent a letter to Tesla owners and reminded them to not rely entirely on the Autopilot.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles has also a proposed regulations that would prohibit Tesla and other carmakers to use the word "auto-pilot" or "self-driving". Apparently, they are only misleading consumers as they are being used in marketing. Still, Musk just confirmed that Tesla will be releasing an Enhanced Autopilot feature. This is a step towards the company's goal of fully autonomous cars.

Imagine once Musk is able to achieve those feats regarding Mars and cars, he will be admired much more.

    Most Popular
  • Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Faith-based films often receive mixed reactions, and The Last Supper is no exception. The movie attempts to bring a fresh perspective to one of the most iconic moments in Christian history, but does it succeed? Some reviews from critics and audiences provide insight into its strengths and shortcomings.

  • ‘The Chosen’ Season 5: The darkest season yet—What to know before watching

    The wait is over—The Chosen is back with its fifth season, and this time, things are getting intense. The new episodes dive straight into the final days of Jesus’ life, covering some of the most emotional and dramatic moments in the Bible. If you’ve been following the series, you already know that The Chosen isn’t just about retelling familiar stories—it’s about bringing them to life in a way that feels real.

  • Massacres in Syria: Over 1,000 dead, including Christians and Alawites

    Syria’s coastal regions have been devastated by a series of massacres, with reports indicating that over 1,000 people—many from Christian and Alawite communities—have been killed in brutal attacks. Entire families have been wiped out, and survivors are fleeing in search of safety as sectarian violence escalates.

  • Kim Sae-ron and Wheesung: The tragic irony of Korean society and the principles of happiness

    Not long ago, the media was in an uproar over actress Kim Sae-ron’s passing. Just months before, the same people who had relentlessly criticized her for her DUI incident were now expressing sympathy, saying, "The world was too harsh on her." The irony is impossible to ignore.

  • Newsboys move forward as a quartet after Michael Tait’s departure

    After more than a decade as the lead singer of the Newsboys, Michael Tait has officially parted ways with the band, marking a significant shift in the Christian rock group’s lineup. The remaining members—Jeff Frankenstein, Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips, and Adam Agee—have assured fans that they will continue forward, embracing a new season of music and ministry.

Top Stories