A Second Chance: The Unexpected Bond Between a Homeless Veteran and Elon Musk
The biting December wind howled through the streets of San Francisco, cutting through Tom Wilson’s threadbare jacket as if it weren’t even there. At 73, he had been living on these streets for the past five years, ever since the medical bills from his wife’s cancer treatment had taken everything they had. Huddled in his usual spot near the Tesla headquarters, Tom clutched a cardboard sign that read, “Veteran. Any help appreciated.”
Most days, the well-dressed tech workers hurried past him, their eyes glued to their phones. Tom didn’t blame them; he had long since learned that invisibility was part of being homeless. But that day started like any other, until a sleek black car pulled up nearby, drawing attention from passersby.
As Tom adjusted his position, he noticed the driver emerging from the car, looking frustrated and disheveled. A familiar face, he realized—Elon Musk. The billionaire entrepreneur was pacing around his vehicle, phone in hand, clearly agitated. “No signal today of all days,” he muttered, running his fingers through his hair.
Despite his own dire situation, Tom felt a pang of empathy for the man. Slowly, he got up, his joints protesting with every movement, and shuffled over. “Excuse me, sir,” Tom said softly, his voice steady despite the cold. “I couldn’t help but notice you’re having car trouble. I used to be a mechanic in the Army. Maybe I could take a look?”
Elon looked up, surprised. For a moment, Tom saw the flicker of hesitation that people usually had when approached by someone homeless, but something in Tom’s gentle demeanor must have reassured him. “That would be helpful,” Musk replied, his tone shifting from frustration to curiosity. “I have an important meeting, and my phone’s not getting any signal here.”
Tom carefully set his cart aside and leaned under the hood. The familiar smell of oil and metal brought back memories of his younger days fixing vehicles in Vietnam. His gnarled fingers, though stiff from arthritis, still remembered their way around an engine. “Your cooling system’s got a leak,” Tom explained, pointing to the problem. “I can do a temporary fix that’ll get you to your meeting. It won’t last forever, but it’ll do for now.”
Using some supplies from his cart, including his own drinking water and a piece of rubber he’d been saving, Tom worked methodically for about 20 minutes. His hands trembled slightly, but his mind was as sharp as ever. “Try it now,” Tom called out.
The engine started smoothly, and Elon’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “That’s impressive,” he said, checking his watch. “You just saved me from missing a crucial meeting. How much do I owe you?”
Tom shook his head. “Nothing, sir. Just happy to help. My dad always said helping others is its own reward.”
Elon studied Tom for a moment, taking in his worn clothes and the shopping cart containing all his worldly possessions. “At least let me give you something for your trouble,” Musk insisted, reaching for his wallet.
“Really, it’s fine,” Tom said, starting to shuffle back to his spot. “Just glad I could be useful again.”
“Wait,” Elon called out, his voice firm. “What’s your name?”
“Tom Wilson, sir.”
“Well, Tom Wilson, I don’t believe in coincidences. Would you tell me your story?”
For the next few minutes, Tom shared his tale—his service in Vietnam, his 30 years as a mechanic, and how the medical bills had taken everything after his wife’s passing. He spoke without self-pity, simply stating facts in his quiet way. “These things happen,” Tom concluded with a small shrug. “Can’t change the past.”
Elon was silent for a moment, then pulled out a business card. “Tom, I want you to go to this address tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. Ask for Sarah in HR. Will you do that for me?”
Tom took the card carefully, his heart racing. “I don’t want charity, sir.”
“It’s not charity,” Elon replied. “It’s an opportunity—one you’ve earned through your skills and character. You helped me without expecting anything in return.”
That night, Tom could hardly sleep in his usual doorway. He kept touching the business card to make sure it was real. When dawn broke, he used the last of his saved quarters at a public bathroom to clean up as best he could and put on his least worn clothes. At exactly 9:00 a.m., Tom stood at the Tesla headquarters reception desk, feeling out of place among the gleaming surfaces and well-dressed employees.
To his surprise, he was immediately escorted to an office where a kind-faced woman introduced herself as Sarah. “Mr. Wilson, we
World’s richest man Elon Musk mocks Washington Post op-ed…
New majority Twitter shareholder Elon Musk issued several polls to his millions of followers on the social media platform on Saturday.
The outspoken Tesla CEO, known for his social media antics, initially asked if he should transform the company’s Silicon Valley headquarters into a homeless shelter, before suggesting the removal of the letter ‘w’ in Twitter.
In the first post, Musk – who purchased a 9.2 percent stake in the social media giant earlier this week and was subsequently named to the company’s board of directors – seemingly took aim at the company’s lax remote working policies, saying he came up with the plan ‘since no one shows up anyway.’
So far, the results of the 24-hour poll, posted at 9:30 PM ET by the billionaire businessman, suggests overwhelming support for the prospective undertaking – with 91.1 percent of more than 923,459 respondents voting in favor of the plan.
The second tweet about deleting ‘w’ saw Musk give two options without no as an answer, with 55.8 percent saying ‘yes’ and 44.2 percent ‘of course’ of 445,158 votes to-date.
It comes weeks after Twitter brass – who offered staffers the option of working from home ‘forever’ during the pandemic – reopened its offices March 15, with remote work remaining an option for staffers.
In the first post, Musk seemingly took aim at the company’s lax remote working policies, saying he came up with the plan ‘since no one shows up anyway.’ So far, 91.1 percent of 923,459 respondents voted in favor of the plan
The second tweet about deleting ‘w’ saw Musk give two options without no as an answer, with 55.8 percent saying ‘yes’ and 44.2 percent ‘of course’ of 445,158 votes to-date
Musk became the company’s majority shareholder this week after it was revealed he purchased a 9.2 percent stake in the social media giant earlier this week and was subsequently named to the company’s board of directors
‘It’s been almost two years since we closed our offices and travel and I’m excited to announce that we’re ready to fully open up business travel and all our offices around the world!’ Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal wrote in a note to employees posted to Twitter March 3.
‘Business travel is back effective immediately, and office openings will start on March 15,’ the exec wrote.
In the statement, Agrawal, who was promoted to CEO of the San Francisco-based company in November, said that he would be honoring a policy put in place by former head exec Jack Dorsey during the early days of the pandemic, that said staffers could work remotely ‘forever’ if they wanted to.
‘Our top priority since the beginning of the pandemic has been to keep you all safe and this will continue,’ Agrawal wrote.
‘Now we are returning to a stage where you’re living your lives, adjusting to local health guidelines, and deciding what works best for you.
‘So, the decisions about where you work, whether you feel safe travelling for business, and what events you attend, should be yours,’ the exec added, in a sentence this time set in bold.
‘As we open back up, our approach remains the same,’ Agrawal, 37, went on.
‘Wherever you feel most productive and creative is where you will work and that include working from home full-time forever,’ the CEO wrote, in another bolded sentence.
‘Office every day? That works too. Some days in the office, some days from home? Of course.’
Agrawal, however, warned that ‘distributed working will be much, much harder’ and said ‘there will be lots of challenges’ amid the new policy.
Agrawal went on to tout the advantages of having staffers in the same physical space, where they can experience the ‘company culture,’ and said that visits to the office will ‘bring that culture to life in such a powerful way.’
The CEO then provided a signoff that seemed hopeful of staffers’ desire to return to in-person work.
‘I look forward to seeing you all back at the office or perhaps at an event, somewhere in your home city, or mine?’
‘Cant’ wait… Parag.’
The post from Muck comes weeks after Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal announced the company would be reopening its offices March 15, with remote work remaining an option for staffers. During the pandemic, the company offered staffers the option of working from home ‘forever’
In the statement, Agrawal, who was promoted to CEO of the San Francisco-based company in November, said he would be honoring a policy put in place by former head exec Jack Dorsey during the early days of the pandemic that allowed staffers to work remotely indefinitely
More than a month later, as Silicon Valley’s tech workers are starting to filter back to the office as Covid-19 cases plummet, it looks as if the CEO’s faith in staffers’ desire to return to work in-person was misplaced – something new board member Musk seemed to hone in on with his evidently mocking post.
Google, for instance, told employees last month that it would begin requiring employees to return in person at least three days a week – a policy that went into effect this past week
Apple similarly announced that by April 11, employees will have to work from the office at least one day a week.
Twitter, meanwhile, has not issued any in-person requirements for its staffers – a decision Musk seemingly panned in his post.
Staffers at the San Francisco-headquarter company now have the option to come into the office – a policy Musk seemingly took aim at with the Saturday poll. Pictured is Twitters San Francisco office last summer
Prior to posting the poll, Musk also suggested further changes to Twitter’s business models in a series of tweets suggesting tweaks to the platform’s premium Blue service, including a cheaper subscription price, banning ads and offering the option to pay in cryptocurrency.
The service, which offers users access to additional features, like an undo button and ad-free news articles, currently costs $2.99 a month.
‘Price should probably be ~$2/month, but paid 12 months up front & account doesn’t get checkmark for 60 days (watch for credit card chargebacks) & suspended with no refund if used for scam/spam,’ Musk wrote Saturday.
‘And no ads,’ the South African mogul added. ‘The power of corporations to dictate policy is greatly enhanced if Twitter depends on advertising money to survive.’
Musk also declared that ‘Everyone who signs up for Twitter Blue (ie pays $3/month) should get an authentication checkmark.’
Prior to posting the poll, Musk also suggested further changes to Twitter’s business models in a series of tweets suggesting tweaks to the platform’s premium Blue service, including a cheaper subscription price, banning ads and offering the option to pay in cryptocurrency
Musk, the world’s wealthiest man, ruffled feathers this week when it was announced he purchased a 9.2 percent stake in the social media giant – making him the platform’s largest shareholder – and was joining the company’s board of directors.
Twitter entered into its board membership agreement with Musk on Monday, an SEC report revealed.
After submitting the regulatory filing Tuesday, Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal announced Musk’s board membership on the social media, alleging the billionaire brings ‘great value’ to the company.
