When we hear the name Tesla today, we instantly think of Elon Musk and the world’s most famous electric car company. But have you ever wondered how Musk actually got the name? The story isn’t just about business, it’s about persistence, inspiration, and the legacy of one of history’s greatest inventors: Nikola Tesla.
The Trademark Battle for “Tesla”
Back when Elon Musk was building his electric car dream, he wanted the company to be called Tesla, no other name would do. But there was one problem: the trademark for “Tesla” had been owned since 1994 by a man named Brad Siewert.
Siewert had no interest in selling. Musk sent multiple representatives to his office, hoping to negotiate, but each time, Siewert refused.
Finally, Musk tried a different approach. He sent one of his calmest, most patient senior employees with one mission: do not leave until he agrees to sell the name.
The employee went to Siewert’s office and stayed there all day, enduring every bit of frustration and harsh words thrown his way. He simply didn’t react.
By evening, Siewert finally gave in—offering the trademark for $75,000, with the condition that the amount could not be negotiated up or down by even a single dollar. Musk agreed. And just like that, Tesla Motors was born.
But why was Musk so obsessed with this name? Because Nikola Tesla wasn’t just an inventor—he was a visionary who understood the universe in ways that still fascinate scientists today.
Nikola Tesla – The Man Who Saw the Universe as Energy
Nikola Tesla was a brilliant Serbian-American inventor, fluent in more than eight languages, blessed with a photographic memory, and holder of over 300 patents. His innovations laid the groundwork for countless technologies: electric motors, radio, remote controls, wireless communication, and even the alternating current (AC) system that powers our modern world.
Tesla believed that to truly understand the universe, you must think in terms of energy, frequency, and vibration—a philosophy that connects deeply with both modern physics and ancient Indian thought.
1. The Universe is a Bubble of Energy
Dr. J. J. Rawal, explaining Tesla’s ideas, described the universe as nothing more than a bubble of electromagnetic energy. Everything we see—living or non-living—is just waves vibrating at different frequencies.
At the deepest level, there is no “solid” matter—only patterns of vibration.
Ancient Indian traditions have long understood this: the calming effect of chanting “Om” in unison, the phenomenon of telepathy, and the power of mantras are all expressions of frequency science.
2. Mathematics – The Language of the Cosmos
Tesla believed the universe has only one true language: mathematics.
Mathematics was not invented by humans—it existed from the beginning of time. It shapes every atom, every planet, and every galaxy.
Hidden within nature are repeating number patterns known as sacred geometry—sometimes called “the blueprint of God.” One of Tesla’s favorite patterns was the repeating sequence 1-2-4-8-7-5, which continues infinitely when processed mathematically.
But here’s the mystery: in this cycle, the numbers 3, 6, and 9 are missing. Tesla called them the keys to the universe. In numerology, 3 and 6 are considered “master numbers,” and 9 represents a higher dimension of energy. Even modern science shows that in countless natural and cosmic calculations, 9 appears again and again—like the digital root of the speed of light, the number of seconds in a day, and the angles of a circle.
3. The Power of the Triangle
We often think the universe works in opposites—positive and negative, light and dark, good and evil. But Tesla saw that nothing in the universe works in pairs alone—it works in triplets.
Take a magnet: it has two poles (positive and negative), but it also has a third invisible force—the axis—that holds it together. In atoms, there are protons, neutrons, and electrons. Time itself has past, present, and future.
Tesla linked these ideas to 3, 6, and 9—with 9 being the invisible controlling force of creation.
4. Everything is Possible Through Frequency
Tesla believed that every object, every thought, and every living being is made of energy vibrations. Match the frequency of anything in the universe, and you can affect it—sometimes in ways that seem impossible.
Indian classical music, for example, speaks of ragas so powerful they could bring rain or light lamps. Even modern science sees this—high-intensity sound waves can shatter glass, ultrasonic waves can see inside the human body, and laser frequencies can perform surgery without a blade.
5. Nothing Happens Without Reason
To Tesla, the universe was perfectly meaningful. Everything exists because of a cause, and every cause produces an effect. If something exists, it has a reason; if the reason disappears, so will the thing itself.
In other words, nothing in this universe is random—even if we can’t yet see the reason.
Tesla’s Legacy
Nikola Tesla didn’t just invent machines—he left behind a way of looking at the universe that blends science, philosophy, and spirituality. He believed that energy is eternal, that our souls are forms of energy that cannot be destroyed—only transformed.
Perhaps this is why Elon Musk wanted his company to carry Tesla’s name—not just as a tribute to an inventor, but as a declaration of a vision: a world powered by pure energy, shaped by frequency, and driven by human imagination.
If you enjoyed this story, remember, it’s not just about technology, but about how one man’s ideas still challenge us to rethink the nature of reality itself.