That above is the man the New York Times called “arguably the most successful and important entrepreneur in the world” at age eight.

It’s been a big few weeks for Elon Musk, with Tesla and SpaceX keeping him rather busy.

On Friday we showed you Tesla’s new semi-truck, which Elon said was going to blow people’s minds clear out their skulls.

Pop in HERE to see that truck – we take no responsibility for what happens to your mind.

Today we’re focusing on Elon’s new Rolling Stone cover, and the extensive interview they conducted with ‘the Architect of Tomorrow‘.

First up here’s the cover:

And some highlights from the interview, which goes “inside the inventor’s world-changing plans to inhabit outer space, revolutionize [sic] high-speed transportation, reinvent cars – and hopefully find love along the way”.

He’s probably the only person who has started four billion-dollar companies – PayPal, Tesla, SpaceX and Solar City. But at his core, Musk is not a businessman or entrepreneur. He’s an engineer, inventor and, as he puts it, “technologist.” And as a naturally gifted engineer, he’s able to find the design inefficiencies, flaws and complete oversights in the tools that power our civilization [sic].

Turns out Musk broke up with his girlfriend whilst the interviewer was just getting started – or rather, she broke up with him:

“I just broke up with my girlfriend,” he says hesitantly. “I was really in love, and it hurt bad.”

He pauses and corrects himself: “Well, she broke up with me more than I broke up with her, I think.”

…Musk discusses the breakup for a few more minutes, then asks, earnestly, deadpan, “Is there anybody you think I should date? It’s so hard for me to even meet people.” He swallows and clarifies, stammering softly, “I’m looking for a long-term relationship. I’m not looking for a one-night stand. I’m looking for a serious companion or soulmate, that kind of thing.”

…”I will never be happy without having someone. Going to sleep alone kills me.” He hesitates, shakes his head, falters, continues. “It’s not like I don’t know what that feels like: Being in a big empty house, and the footsteps echoing through the hallway, no one there – and no one on the pillow next to you. Fuck. How do you make yourself happy in a situation like that?”

I can think of someone in this office who would be happy to help, Elon.

Let’s leave his love life alone and pluck out some other pearls of wisdom:

“The fundamental intention of Tesla, at least my motivation,” Musk explains in his halting, stuttering voice, “was to accelerate the advent of sustainable energy. That’s why I open-sourced the patents. It’s the only way to transition to sustainable energy better.

“Climate change is the biggest threat that humanity faces this century, except for AI,” he continues. “I keep telling people this. I hate to be Cassandra here, but it’s all fun and games until somebody loses a fucking eye. This view [of climate change] is shared by almost everyone who’s not crazy in the scientific community.”

To finish, let’s check in with just how much Elon hates his father:

“He was such a terrible human being,” Musk shares. “You have no idea.” His voice trembles, and he discusses a few of those things, but doesn’t go into specifics. “My dad will have a carefully thought-out plan of evil,” he says. “He will plan evil”…

“My dad was not physically violent with me. He was only physically violent when I was very young.” (Errol countered via email that he only “smacked” Elon once, “on the bottom.”)

Elon’s eyes turn red as he continues discussing his dad. “You have no idea about how bad. Almost every crime you can possibly think of, he has done. Almost every evil thing you could possibly think of, he has done. Um…”

There is clearly something Musk wants to share, but he can’t bring himself to utter the words, at least not on the record. “It’s so terrible, you can’t believe it.”

The tears run silently down his face. “I can’t remember the last time I cried.”

Yeah, he really did open up during this interview.

You can read the full piece, including Elon’s father responding to those allegations, HERE.

[source:rollingstone]