Elon Musk and Tesla have become synonymous - his personal ties to the company extend far beyond providing direction and vision. He has invested vast amounts of his personal money when others had little to no faith, and many a time has he or the company come close to bankruptcy. But what does that mean for the company today?

When Tesla first launched in the early 2000s, CEO Elon Musk faced criticism and skepticism from other automakers, stakeholders and car buyers alike, but he saw the potential of electric vehicles and persevered.

The journey for Musk has never been smooth sailing. The original Tesla Roadster launched in early 2008, showcasing just what the company was capable of creating. Although based on a modified Lotus Elise chassis, the electric powertrain was entirely the work of Elon Musk and his team. A 0-60 mph sprint time of less than 4 seconds and instant torque really shocked the world, but with a price tag of over $80,000, only 2,500 were ever sold.

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