1. A family tragedy
Nikola Tesla was born in 1856, in a village in what was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and today lies in Croatia. His father Milutin was a Serbian Orthodox cleric, while his mother Djuka lacked formal education but was reputedly a woman of high intelligence. The couple had three daughters and two sons — the oldest boy was Dane, seven years Nikola’s senior. But tragedy struck the family when Dane was killed in a riding accident at the age of 12, leaving five-year-old Nikola devastated. It’s said that as a result of the trauma, Nikola was plagued by strange and unsettling visions for the rest of his life.
However, a cloud of sorrow overshadowed their lives when, tragically, Dane lost his life in a harrowing riding accident at the young age of 12. This incident deeply affected young Nikola, leaving a profound mark on his psyche. As a consequence of this overwhelming grief, it has been suggested that Nikola was haunted by peculiar and unsettling visions for the entirety of his life.
2. Digging ditches
In 1884, the talented Nikola Tesla set foot on American soil, filled with ambition and dreams. Not long after his arrival, he secured a position with Thomas Edison’s renowned company located in Menlo Park, New Jersey. However, the partnership between these two titans of the electrical world was short-lived. Within a matter of months, disputes arose, leading to a heated disagreement between Tesla and Edison. This culminated in Tesla leaving the company in a fit of frustration and determination.
With unwavering resolve, Tesla plotted his next steps, aspiring to establish his own venture where he could fully harness and showcase his unparalleled expertise as an electrical engineer and inventor. Yet, he was faced with a significant hurdle. Lacking the necessary capital to initiate his enterprise, Tesla had to find alternative means to sustain himself while fervently searching for potential backers. Demonstrating a relentless spirit and commendable dedication to his goals, he humbly accepted a labor-intensive job, digging trenches at a meager pay of $2 per day.
3. Twain and Tesla nearly invent X-rays
Mark Twain, renowned for his masterful literary prowess, is often exclusively associated with the world of letters. However, a lesser-known anecdote linking him indirectly to the early days of X-ray technology remains buried in the annals of history. By the early 1890s, Twain and the genius inventor Nikola Tesla had struck an unlikely yet deep friendship. During one of their interactions, Tesla, eager to experiment with cutting-edge techniques, attempted to capture Twain’s likeness using a novel lighting apparatus, the Crookes tube. To Tesla’s bewilderment, the resulting image of the eminent author was of decidedly poor quality.
The mystery behind this anomaly persisted until a revelation came just a few weeks later. Wilhelm Röntigen, a German inventor, unveiled his groundbreaking discovery of X-radiation, achieved through the very same Crookes tubes Tesla had used. Connecting the dots, Tesla arrived at the startling realization that the inferior quality of Twain’s photograph was not due to a fault in technique, but because the Crookes tube had inadvertently X-rayed the screws and inner mechanics of the camera, obscuring the intended image.
4. “Battle ships will cease to be built”
During the tumultuous period of the Spanish-American War in 1898, Nikola Tesla, ever the visionary, shifted his focus to the realm of military technology. He envisioned and subsequently designed a groundbreaking innovation that was far ahead of its era: a boat that could be steered and controlled from a distance using pioneering radio signals. However, when he eagerly approached the U.S. Patent Office to formalize his invention, he was met with skepticism.
Officials there found the concept so radical that they doubted its practicality. In an unprecedented move, they dispatched a representative to Tesla’s laboratory, wanting to see with their own eyes whether such a device truly existed. Tesla, undeterred and confident in his avant-garde creation, held lofty expectations for its potential impact. He expressed to the New York Post that with the advent of his remote-controlled boat, traditional “Battle ships will become obsolete, and even the mightiest artillery at sea will be rendered as insignificant as discarded metal.”
5. Message from another planet
In the year 1899, nestled among the rugged terrains of Colorado, Nikola Tesla embarked on a groundbreaking experiment that involved the use of receivers strategically positioned at lofty altitudes. His ambitious objective was to forge a pioneering method to transmit messages and possibly even electric power across vast distances. During his research, while utilizing his advanced equipment to delve into the mysteries of lightning storms, Tesla stumbled upon an unexpected phenomenon. He discerned a peculiar sequence of rhythmic beeps, the origin of which eluded his comprehension initially.
After much contemplation, he arrived at a rather audacious conclusion: these signals, he surmised, were emanating from another celestial body, possibly another planet. This hypothesis might sound fanciful to the layman. However, nearly a century later in 1996, a team of dedicated researchers sought to replicate Tesla’s iconic experiment. Their findings were astonishing; the cryptic beeps Tesla detected were indeed genuine and originated from one of Jupiter’s moons as it traversed the colossal planet’s magnetic field.
6. Death beam
Among the myriad of tales and inventions associated with Nikola Tesla, one of the most enigmatic was his assertion that he had conceived a device he ominously termed the “death beam.” Tesla described this formidable contraption as a weapon with the capacity to down an adversary’s aircraft from a staggering distance of 250 miles. But the question lingered: did such a device truly come to fruition? The answer remains shrouded in ambiguity as, to the best of our knowledge, no concrete demonstration of its capabilities was ever made public. However, within the confines of Tesla’s laboratory, there stood a nondescript wooden box. Tesla passionately maintained that this container held a functional prototype of his purported death beam.
In a twist of fate, this very box found its way to the Hotel Governor Clinton in New York, offered as a settlement for an outstanding debt he had incurred. For years, it was relegated to the shadows of a storage room, gathering dust. The world’s curiosity was finally satiated after Tesla’s passing in 1943 when the box was prised open. To the bewilderment of many, it revealed not a weapon of destruction but rather an assemblage of mundane electrical components.
7. A strange portent
In the deep hours of a July night in 1856, as Nikola Tesla’s mother, Djuka, was caught in the intense pangs of labor, the heavens above roared and raged. A tempestuous thunderstorm rolled in, painting the darkness with brilliant and frequent strokes of lightning. The attending midwife, known to be a woman inclined toward superstitions, reportedly voiced her ominous prediction, suggesting that the dramatic atmospheric events were an ill omen for the fate of the yet-to-be-born child.
However, Djuka, resilient in spirit and optimistic in nature, vehemently disagreed. As documented on the PBS website, she retorted with conviction, “No. He will be a child of light.” Her foresight, it would seem, was astoundingly prescient, for Tesla’s contributions illuminated many realms of science and technology.
8. Smartphones and wifi
The question, “When was the smartphone invented?” often elicits a straightforward answer from many: the unveiling of Apple’s groundbreaking iPhone, complete with comprehensive wifi capabilities, in 2007. This is a logical conclusion for most. However, while Nikola Tesla wasn’t directly responsible for the advent of smartphones or wifi, his visionary ideas eerily foreshadowed these innovations — and this was several decades before the inception of Apple as a company.
During a 1926 conversation with Colliers magazine, Tesla prophetically remarked, “When wireless is perfectly applied, the entire Earth will transform into a colossal brain, reflecting the reality that everything is interconnected, each element being a particle of a harmonious and rhythmic universe.” Further, he intriguingly hinted that the instrument to realize this vision would be compact enough to snugly fit into one’s vest pocket. The description, to many of us today, resonates strikingly with the characteristics of a modern-day smartphone connected via wifi.
9. Twain’s emergency bathroom visit
Nikola Tesla, in his insatiable quest for knowledge and invention, constructed a high-frequency oscillator at his expansive laboratory situated on Manhattan Island. This peculiar apparatus, colloquially dubbed as the “earthquake machine,” was a marvel of engineering. Its design integrated a piston positioned right beneath a platform. When activated, this mechanism induced vibrations so potent that not only did Tesla’s laboratory quiver, but adjacent buildings also reverberated as though in the grasp of a localized seismic event.
In his meticulously researched 2013 publication titled “Tesla: Inventor of the Electrical Age,” W. Bernard Carlson unveils a rather whimsical anecdote involving Tesla’s close acquaintance, the celebrated author Mark Twain. According to Carlson, on one fateful day, Twain made a visit to Tesla’s experimental sanctum. Seizing the opportunity, Tesla showcased the prowess of his oscillator and, in a playful gesture, invited Twain to position himself atop the vibrating platform. The ensuing intense gyrations, however, had an unforeseen and rather urgent effect on Twain’s digestive tract, compelling the literary giant to make a hasty and rather embarrassed dash to the nearest restroom.
10. An inexplicable quirk
Nikola Tesla, when it pertained to personal grooming and appearance, was exceptionally fastidious and had a penchant for sartorial elegance. His biographer, Carlson, observed and underscored his distinct flair for dressing, characterizing him as a paragon of dapperness with a profound inclination towards traditional formalities. This deep-rooted appreciation for decorum was manifest in many ways, including his unwavering practice of donning pristine white gloves for his evening meals.
However, amidst his refined tastes, there was a peculiar aversion that Tesla harbored: a profound distaste for pearls. For reasons unknown, if Tesla ever encountered a woman bedecked in pearl jewelry, he found himself rendered incapable of establishing eye contact or engaging in conversation with her. In a particularly telling episode, when his secretary once turned up at the laboratory adorned in pearls, Tesla, in his characteristic unpredictability, promptly gave her the rest of the day off. Such idiosyncrasies were but a glimpse into the enigmatic tapestry that was Tesla’s persona.
11. Illness saved Tesla from the priesthood
Nikola Tesla’s father, Milutin, was a devout Orthodox priest who harbored aspirations for his son to embrace a similar clerical vocation. However, from an early age, Tesla displayed an innate proclivity for the disciplines he was deeply passionate about during his schooling years: namely, science and mathematics. His fervent desire was to immerse himself in the study of engineering. Tragically, soon after celebrating his high school graduation at the tender age of 17, young Tesla was afflicted by a severe and debilitating onset of cholera.
This grave illness confined him to his bed for a prolonged period of nine months, during which his condition was so dire that medical practitioners were resigned to the belief that he might not survive. In the throes of his illness and during some of his weakest moments, Tesla sought and secured a solemn pledge from his father: that should he triumph over his ailment and make a recovery, he would be granted permission to pursue engineering studies at the esteemed Polytechnic School located in the historic Austrian city of Graz. Miraculously, Tesla overcame his health ordeal, and true to his word, Milutin upheld the promise he made to his son.
12. Photographic memory
Nikola Tesla’s cognitive prowess was nothing short of remarkable, as numerous accounts and evidences suggest that he possessed mental faculties that were truly beyond the ordinary. From a tender age, he was plagued by intense and often petrifying nightmares, potentially stemming from the traumatic loss of his elder brother during their childhood. However, rather than succumbing to these fears, Tesla demonstrated an impressive ability to harness the incredible strength of his own imagination and intellect to surmount these daunting inner demons.
In addition, he was gifted with a rare photographic memory, a trait so advanced that it has been analogized to him maintaining a mental repository, not unlike a digital archive, housing a vast collection of books and knowledge. This formidable mental library was a tool he frequently accessed during his tenure as an inventor. Such was the clarity of his mind’s eye that he could intricately conceptualize his innovative designs in vivid detail. This included not just visualizing, but also mentally simulating his inventions with impeccable precision, allowing him to inspect and test-run these imagined machines in a complete three-dimensional space, all within the expansive theatre of his own imagination.
13. Obsessions
Throughout the entirety of his existence, Nikola Tesla’s actions and decisions were often deeply influenced by a series of peculiar fixations that undeniably became an intrinsic part of his unique character. Among his many eccentricities was an almost obsessive attraction, bordering on compulsive reverence, for the number three. Whenever he made a reservation at a hotel, the assigned room number wasn’t just a trivial detail to him; it bore immense significance.
In essence, the room number, without fail, needed to be one that could be neatly and unequivocally divisible by three. Further shedding light on his idiosyncratic nature, Tesla once crafted an article for the Electrical Experimenter magazine in 1919, wherein he candidly outlined his “many strange likes, dislikes, and habits.” Elaborating on this theme, he remarked, “I would not touch the hair of other people except, perhaps, at the point of a revolver,” vividly illustrating the depth of his distinctive aversions.
14. Tesla turned down a Nobel
Throughout his illustrious career, Tesla’s monumental contributions to the realms of physics and electrical engineering did not go unnoticed by the eminent minds of his time. In recognition of his pioneering works, the Nobel Committee, in 1912, declared that the esteemed physics prize for that particular year would be jointly conferred upon both Tesla and his contemporary, Thomas Edison. However, in a move that left many astounded, Tesla gracefully declined to accept this prestigious accolade. Instead, the recognition and award went to Nils Gustaf Dalén, a Swede, for his notable advancements in lighthouse illumination techniques.
The decision to decline such a distinguished honor was certainly no minor act on Tesla’s part. Beyond the recognition, the prize also carried with it a significant cash award of $20,000 — a sum that, when adjusted for inflation, equates to a staggering amount of over $600,000 in today’s currency. Delving into the possible reasons behind this intriguing choice, the Franklin Institute website postulates that Tesla may have declined the honor based on a fundamental distinction; it states, “Tesla was a pure scientist and Edison an applied scientist, and they should not be in combination.”
15. Tesla’s love of pigeons
In the wake of 1901, after J.P. Morgan, one of Nikola Tesla’s chief financial backers and a prominent financier, decided to withhold any further funding for the visionary inventor, it appears that Tesla’s mental and emotional state began to waver and deteriorate. This precarious period in his life manifested in an especially peculiar behavior — a profound and deep-seated affection for New York City’s population of feral pigeons.
Choosing to reside in various hotels throughout the metropolis, Tesla always ensured that his room windows remained ajar, providing an open invitation to his avian companions. The Britannica website sheds light on this intriguing aspect of his life, noting, “He dedicated numerous hours every week to the act of feeding these pigeons in the park. Furthermore, demonstrating his compassion, Tesla would habitually bring home any injured bird he came across, extending his care to rehabilitate and restore them to health.”
16. A lonely death
As the decades of the 20th century progressed, Tesla’s situation grew increasingly bleak; he found himself steeped in poverty and distanced from social interactions, with his deep fondness for feral pigeons becoming a significant solace in his life. Among all the birds, a specific white pigeon captured his heart and held a unique place in his affections. The Britannica website recalls his poignant words about this avian companion:
“I cherished that pigeon in the same way a man treasures a woman, and she reciprocated my affection. Her presence ensured that my life retained meaning and purpose.” Yet, despite his brilliance, Tesla faced the challenge of maintaining stable accommodation. He was continuously evicted from multiple hotels. His last days were spent amidst the grandeur of the Hotel New Yorker, and in a tragic twist of fate, this once-celebrated inventor met his end there, in solitude, on the day of Orthodox Christmas in January 1943.
17. An angry J.P. Morgan
In the early days of the 20th century, specifically 1901, Nikola Tesla successfully secured a sizable investment from the immensely affluent financier, J.P. Morgan. The amount, a staggering $150,000, was a princely sum for that era. Morgan, under the impression that he was bankrolling the establishment of Tesla’s state-of-the-art laboratory and workshop situated on Long Island, saw the arrangement as a lucrative opportunity. From Morgan’s perspective, the terms were highly favorable; he retained rights to a whopping 51 percent of any potential profits Tesla might reap from groundbreaking communication advancements.
However, in a twist, Tesla channeled a significant portion of this capital to erect a towering 186-foot structure, a physical embodiment of his audacious vision: a wireless electricity system that would universally distribute power at no charge to its recipients. Yet, when Tesla reached out to Morgan for additional financing, he was met with refusal. Morgan was visibly displeased, even incensed, upon learning that Tesla had diverted from the initial plan and ventured into this ambitious wireless energy endeavor.
18. War of the Currents
In the realm of electric power delivery, there fundamentally exist two predominant methods: direct current (D.C.) and alternating current (A.C.). The esteemed inventor, Thomas Edison, had fervently championed D.C., investing heavily both financially and reputationally, and was ardently determined to ensure its dominance in the emerging electrical landscape. On the flip side, with the powerful backing of the Westinghouse Electric Company, Tesla’s A.C. system began to make significant inroads.
A.C. held a distinct advantage over D.C., primarily due to its enhanced capability to modulate voltage levels efficiently. Unwilling to accept the rising popularity of A.C., Edison embarked on a relentless and rather unscrupulous campaign to malign A.C., decrying it as perilous. However, as the tides of innovation and practicality shifted, the versatile A.C. ultimately outpaced and overshadowed D.C. in mainstream adoption. Yet, the modern era has seen a nuanced balance; while most household and industrial appliances predominantly operate on A.C., certain devices, especially computers, rely intrinsically on D.C. for their functionality.
19. Dangerous science
Tesla’s groundbreaking experiments often treaded on the razor’s edge of safety, frequently venturing into realms fraught with potential danger. The electro-mechanical oscillator he meticulously crafted in his Manhattan laboratory stands as a testament to this penchant for the perilous. This innovative device had the capacity to generate immensely potent waves of vibration. Legend has it that during one particular test, the machine’s intense reverberations nearly precipitated a localized earthquake in the immediate vicinity of Tesla’s workshop.
Not content to rest on his laurels, the ingenious scientist later relocated to Colorado Springs, diving deeply into refining his iconic Tesla Coils. There, he assembled an enormous prototype that was capable of producing staggering bolts of artificial lightning. The sheer magnitude of these electrical discharges was so immense that unsuspecting butterflies fluttering near the workshop were tragically electrocuted in mid-flight. Moreover, the voracious energy demands of this supercharged coil wreaked havoc on the local electrical grid, leading to sporadic and widespread blackouts throughout Colorado Springs.
20. Sensory overload
Nikola Tesla, by his own detailed testimonies, possessed senses of almost superhuman sharpness. He fervently asserted that he could discern the faint rumblings of thunder from an incredible distance of up to 550 miles. Equally astonishing, he professed the ability to pick up on the mechanical drone of a train’s engine when it was still a staggering 50 miles away — and to him, the sound was overwhelmingly loud. The seemingly silent touchdown of a fly on a tabletop registered in his ears as a clear, distinct thump.
Even the subtle tick-tock of a pocket-watch, sequestered three rooms distant, did not escape his keen auditory senses. Beyond his sensory peculiarities, cleanliness bordered on an obsession for Tesla. An encounter ending in a handshake invariably led him to meticulously wash his hands not once, but thrice. As he ambled about, he compulsively counted each footfall, tallying every step with meticulous precision. Living in the shoes of the prodigious Nikola Tesla was undeniably a unique and intricate experience.
21. “We are drawn to our doom”
In the present era, a growing number of advocates passionately champion the cause of renewable energy, viewing it as a superior alternative to the detrimental burning of fossil fuels. However, Nikola Tesla, with his visionary foresight, was leagues ahead in this realm. He had already started delving deep into the intricacies of renewable energy sources at the dawn of the 20th century. In 1900, he penned a thoughtful article for the esteemed publication, The Century, aptly titled “The Problem of Increasing Human Energy, with Special References to the Harnessing of the Sun’s Energy.”
In this piece, Tesla elaborated on innovative methodologies to harness wind and solar energy, emphasizing their potential. He also expressed deep concern regarding humanity’s reckless consumption of non-renewable resources. Reflecting on the consequences of such unsustainable practices, he poignantly stated, “Merciless is the law of nature, and rapidly and irresistibly we are drawn to our doom.”
22. No ladies’ man
As documented by the Nikola Tesla Museum, “Tesla was an imposing figure, standing tall with impeccable posture, flaunting clear skin, and possessing deep-set gray eyes that appeared to be windows to a vast universe of thoughts. His facial features were finely chiseled, and he exuded the aura of a man of noble birth and refined upbringing.” Given such a description, one might naturally assume that he would be an irresistible catch for any woman seeking a romantic partner.
Surprisingly, however, it appears that Tesla chose to remain celibate throughout his existence. It wasn’t due to any inherent distaste for women. On the contrary, he deeply respected and even believed that women were often superior to their male counterparts. However, Tesla was also of the conviction that romantic entanglements would serve as unwelcome distractions from his primary passion and singular obsession: his relentless pursuit of scientific and engineering advancements.
23. A crucial influence
The advent of light bulbs, powered by electricity, undeniably revolutionized human existence, granting individuals the freedom to engage in myriad activities long after the sun dipped below the horizon, enveloping the world in its nightly darkness. A widespread legend, rife with intrigue and drama, asserts that it was none other than Nikola Tesla who first conceived this groundbreaking invention, only to have his pioneering idea surreptitiously pilfered by Thomas Edison.
Interestingly, she even had a streak of inventiveness, evidenced by her creation of an innovative gadget specifically designed for whisking eggs. Moreover, she possessed an exemplary memory, a trait that her illustrious son, Tesla, undeniably inherited. Delving into Tesla’s history, a PBS website article aptly notes, “Tesla often remarked that he owed the origins of his inventive prowess and instincts to the influence of his mother, Djuka.”
24. The light bulb
On a fateful evening in March 1895, after Tesla and his dedicated team had concluded their work and vacated the Manhattan laboratory, catastrophe descended without warning. A ferocious fire, speculated to have been ignited by a thoughtlessly discarded cigarette butt from a dry-cleaning establishment situated directly below the lab, rapidly engulfed the premises. The unrestrained inferno consumed priceless equipment and irreplaceable research notes within a matter of hours.
However, this captivating narrative doesn’t hold water — in reality, neither Tesla nor Edison was the original inventor of the light bulb. The journey of the light bulb’s inception is, like many great innovations, a complex and multifaceted tale. A mosaic of contributions from various inventors across different geographies paved the way for its evolution. In the United States, William Sawyer and Albon Man made notable strides in its development, while across the Atlantic in Britain, Joseph Swan also made significant contributions. All of these inventors played a role in shaping the light bulb’s history before Edison eventually secured a patent for it.
25. Blazing inferno
From the moment he set foot on American soil, Nikola Tesla displayed a distinct aversion to traditional domesticity. As articulated by the Tesla Universe website, “Being a bachelor and deeply engrossed in the intricate world of his myriad inventions, Tesla found little room in his life for the chores and responsibilities associated with managing a typical household. He opted instead for the comfort and convenience of residing in a series of upscale, luxury hotels.”
The sheer devastation was palpable. Approached by The New York Times the following day, an emotionally distraught Tesla remarked, “I am in too much grief to talk. What words can capture the magnitude of my loss? The culmination of nearly half my life’s endeavors was obliterated by a blaze that raged for just an hour or two. Everything that I had meticulously built and documented – it’s all vanished. I find myself at a daunting starting point once more.”
26. A nomadic life
Edison and Tesla, while often recognized for their shared brilliance in the realm of electrical innovation, ultimately found themselves embroiled in fierce competition, most memorably during the heated War of the Currents — with Edison ardently championing Direct Current (D.C.) and Tesla fervently advocating for Alternating Current (A.C.). Yet, tracing back to Tesla’s initial days in America, when he was but a financially-strapped immigrant with boundless potential, it was none other than Edison who offered him a position. Tesla came armed with a commendatory note from a previous employer, Charles Batchelor.
His last ten years were spent enveloped in the opulence of the New Yorker Hotel, touted as “among the finest and most exquisite hotels in the heart of Manhattan.” Nestled adjacent to the bustling Madison Square and merely a leisurely stroll away from the majestic Empire State Building, this hotel stands as a testament to architectural grandeur. Today, the New Yorker Hotel continues to flourish and proudly brands itself as a shimmering “beacon of New York Art Deco elegance.”
27. Tesla worked for Edison
In the balmy days of the summer of 1884, filled with ambition and dreams of a brighter future, Tesla bid adieu to Europe and embarked on a voyage across the vast Atlantic, setting his sights on the land of opportunity, America. As chronicled by the Britannica website, when Tesla set foot in New York, he was left with a mere “four cents to his name, alongside a modest collection of his own poetic creations, and intricate calculations for an ambitious flying machine.”
As cited by the Smithsonian Magazine, the glowing endorsement declared, “My Dear Edison: In my estimation, there exist two paramount figures in the world of innovation, and you, sir, stand as one. The other? This very young man before you!” Regrettably, despite such a promising start, their professional relationship soured due to a financial disagreement. Edison had dangled a tantalizing sum of $50,000 before Tesla, promising it as a reward if he could enhance the existing D.C. technology. Upon achieving this feat, Tesla awaited his due payment. Yet, Edison, rather than honoring his pledge, dismissively retorted, “When you fully acclimate as an American, you’ll come to understand and perhaps even relish an American jest.”
28. Four cents in his pocket
In the height of the electrifying War of the Currents, where Tesla’s unwavering advocacy for A.C. found itself in direct opposition to Edison’s fervent support of D.C., the battle escalated beyond professional disagreements and took a darker, more personal tone. Driven by his deep-seated financial interests in the D.C. technology and a resolute determination to safeguard them, Edison took extreme measures to besmirch A.C. He descended to the harrowing act of seizing innocent stray animals, only to electrocute them using A.C., thereby aiming to sensationalize its perceived dangers.
Originally, Tesla had embarked on this journey equipped with financial support generously provided by two of his uncles. However, misfortune struck when he fell victim to a robbery. This cruel twist of fate not only stripped him of his hard-earned money but also deprived him of some vital pieces of his luggage. As if this setback wasn’t challenging enough, his journey took another dark turn when the ship’s crew, in a fit of rebellion, staged a mutiny. During the tumultuous upheaval, Tesla found himself perilously close to being hurled overboard amidst the chaos.
29. A human conductor
Nikola Tesla’s brilliance in the field of scientific research and innovation was indisputable. However, when it came to navigating the complex waters of finance and business, his abilities seemed notably less pronounced. A salient example of Tesla’s shortcomings in monetizing his pioneering work can be seen in his association with the celebrated inventor and business magnate, George Westinghouse. After a notable rift with Thomas Edison, Tesla found himself aligning professionally with Westinghouse.
But Tesla, never one to be easily outmaneuvered, put up a fierce counteract to this smear campaign. At his workshop, he showcased riveting public demonstrations wherein he audaciously allowed A.C. electricity to surge through his own physique, illuminating lights and proving its safety. However, it’s worth noting that using oneself as a conduit for electricity, as Tesla did, is a perilous endeavor and most certainly not something to be replicated in the casual confines of one’s home.
30. A poor businessman
Nikola Tesla’s brilliance in the field of scientific research and innovation was indisputable. However, when it came to navigating the complex waters of finance and business, his abilities seemed notably less pronounced. A salient example of Tesla’s shortcomings in monetizing his pioneering work can be seen in his association with the celebrated inventor and business magnate, George Westinghouse. After a notable rift with Thomas Edison, Tesla found himself aligning professionally with Westinghouse.
The terms of their agreement stipulated that Tesla would receive a sum of $2.50 for every horsepower of A.C. current that was sold. Such an arrangement had the potential to secure Tesla’s financial future, catapulting him into immense wealth. Yet, when Westinghouse expressed his financial constraints and the inability to uphold this deal, Tesla, in an arguably naive gesture, acquiesced to nullify the contract. It was a decision that many would regard as a significant business blunder on Tesla’s part.
