For four years, AI startup founder Pranjal G was engrossed in everything Elon Musk. He devoured every biography, listened to hours of interviews, tracked every move, and believed that mirroring Musk’s mindset was the key to success.
But after purchasing two Teslas, pouring money into risky stock investments, and dedicating years to studying Musk instead of building his own legacy, reality hit hard.
In a candid LinkedIn post titled “You Won’t Succeed by Watching Elon Musk,” Pranjal shared a tough realization: what he thought was inspiration had actually been an expensive distraction.
“This isn’t a flex. It’s a confession,” he wrote.
In just 18 months, Pranjal acquired two Teslas, thinking they signified his professional progress. Instead, they became glaring reminders of what he called “the most expensive mistake” of his career. His obsession went beyond just cars—17 biographies, over 200 hours of podcast interviews, risky Tesla stock investments, and four years of lost focus on his own ambitions.
His wake-up call came from a simple yet piercing message. After proudly posting a photo of his second Tesla, a mentor bluntly asked: “Impressive cars. But what are YOU building while you’re busy buying Elon’s products?”
That question left him speechless.
Pranjal admitted that while he had been immersed in Musk’s journey, his own projects had stalled. He spent more time defending Musk online and tracking his tweets than working on his own startup. His garage was full, but his portfolio was empty.
The financial toll was steep: $192,000 on luxury cars, $18,000 lost in poor stock trades, and over $140,000 in missed business opportunities. However, the deeper loss was personal—wasted time, stagnant skills, and the mental toll of comparing his early journey to Musk’s already-established empire.
His takeaway? Billionaire habits don’t guarantee success. Morning routines, motivational insights, and legendary work ethics are often products, not causes, of wealth. Many of their celebrated habits come from teams they’ve hired, and their failures are carefully packaged into eventual success stories.
For Pranjal, the lesson was clear: Admire success, but build your own.
