In 2008, Tesla was hanging by a thread. The electric car startup was running out of money, facing delays, and on the brink of collapse. Then came Elon Musk — with his moon-shot visions, bold bets, and a Twitter presence that could light up headlines around the world. His larger-than-life persona didn’t just lead Tesla. It was Tesla. Product launches felt like rock concerts. Tweets moved markets. His presence turned EVs from a niche idea into a global movement. And for a whil