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Nikola Tesla
1856-07-10 - 1943-01-07
Serbian-American inventor and engineer. Built the modern world with AC power, radio, and a bunch of wild ideas. Died broke, but changed everything.
Completeness:
9/10
Confidence:
9/10
The Overview
Deceased (1856-1943)
Where are we at ?Age 32 to 87 (55 years)
🚀
First Major Success
Age 32
🏢
Companies
2
💰
Peak Net Worth
$2 million (in royalties and deals)
🌍
Industries
3
👥
People Employed
Dozens directly, but his inventions powered industries that employed millions
⚡
Major Failures
6
Dropout, Breakdown, Edison Betrayal & More
🎓
Education
Dropout
Austrian Polytechnic (Graz)
🤝
Key Partner
George Westinghouse
Business partner
⭐
Known For
Alternating Current (AC) System
Tesla Coil, Radio (disputed with Marconi)
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Click on a milestone or inactivity period to see details
Career
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Breakthrough
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Inactivity
Connections, Finances & Insights
George Westinghouse
Business partner
Westinghouse bet the company on Tesla's AC patents. Made Tesla a household name.
Timeframe: 1888-1897
Thomas Edison
Boss/Adversary
Edison gave him a shot, then stiffed him. Taught Tesla how cutthroat the game was.
Timeframe: 1884-1885
J.P. Morgan
Investor
Morgan funded Tesla's wildest project, then pulled the plug when it didn't pay off. Huge lesson in how fast fortunes can turn.
Timeframe: 1901-1905
Data quality: 9/10 completeness, 9/10 confidence
Based on 12 sources • Last updated: 2024-06-10