Latest news with #Asperger'sSyndrome
Wales Online
39 minutes ago
- Business
- Wales Online
Elon Musk's lifelong diagnosis and 14 children with array of women while battling his own 'terrible' dad
Elon Musk's lifelong diagnosis and 14 children with array of women while battling his own 'terrible' dad The Tesla owner has seen his huge net worth plummet due to the fierce exchange of insults Elon Musk and Donald Trump are locked in a bitter spat (Image: Getty Images ) The world's richest person constantly dominates headlines and that has been no different this week following his rift with Donald Trump. The two most powerful men in America have exchanged public insults after Musk criticised one of Trump's new policies. The exchange has played out on social media for the world to watch, as the unlikely alliance appears to be coming to a rather abrupt ending. The 53-year-old tech entrepreneur had until this point been one of Trump's biggest, and most important, allies. How did he make his money? The boss of X, Tesla and SpaceX first made his money when he dropped out of a physics graduate degree at Stanford University to found two tech start-ups during the "dotcom boom" of the 1990s. These start-ups were a web software firm and what became PayPal. He sold PayPal to eBay in 2002 for an impressive $1.5bn (£1.2bn). It was with this money that he was able to create SpaceX and invest heavily in Tesla where he went on to become CEO and product architect. Now, his businesses include Tesla, SpaceX, X (formerly Twitter), Starlink, Neuralink and his latest AI project. He also previously founded OpenAI. Bloomberg now estimates his net worth to be around $335bn, but is largely dependant on Tesla's shares value which have seen a further downfall after his rift with Trump. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter . Article continues below Family life and 14 children Elon Musk was born in Pretoria, South Africa to Errol and Maye Musk. From an early age he showed entrepreneurial flare, selling homemade easter eggs and making his first computer game aged 12. Musk suffers from Asperger's Syndrome and his parents divorced while he was young. He left home at the first opportunity to study economics and physics at the University of Pennsylvania. His relationship with his dad, Errol, has seemingly been fraught. Musk Snr has seven children, including two with his stepdaughter. While their relationship seems to have improved, with Musk allegedly paying his father's medical bills after a recent diagnosis of prostate cancer, Musk previously described him as a "terrible human being". Musk himself is thought to have fathered at least 14 children. He met his first wife, Justine Wilson, in college. He married the writer in 2000 and the couple had six children together, sadly losing their first to sudden infant death syndrome when they were ten weeks old. They share a set of triplets and twins with whom they've shared custody since their divorce in 2008. Musk never had any children with his second wife Talulah Riley, the pair married and divorced twice over the course of five years. The tech entrepreneur subsequently went on to have three children with Canadian musician Grimes; X Æ A-12, Exa Dark Sideræl and Techno Mechanicus. Elon Musk and his son X í† leaving the Capitol Building (Image: Getty Images ) However, just weeks before their second child was born, Musk also had IVF twins with Shivon Zilis, the director of operations and special projects at Neuralink. The couple had a further two children together, in 2024 and 2025. Around a similar time, Musk also allegedly had a child with Ashley St. Clair. What has happened between Musk and Trump? The public fall-out between America's two most high-profile individuals has captured global attention. It stemmed from Elon criticising his new legislation, the tax and spending bill. Now, the pair are locked in a war of words, with Musk slamming the US President on X, while Trump threatens Musk's government contracts Article continues below
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Who is Elon Musk and what is his net worth?
It seems like not a day goes by without billionaire Elon Musk making headlines. The boss of X (formerly Twitter), Tesla and SpaceX is the world's richest person and has used his platform to make his views known on a vast array of topics. He has charged ahead with human brain chip trials at his firm Neuralink - three patients currently have implants supplied by it. He's also played with turning X into a super app and tried to cement his presence in the fast-growing world of artificial intelligence, despite having warned it could lead to humanity's extinction. And Musk's reach has expanded further still, after Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 US presidential election - in which the Tesla executive played a key but controversial role. The president picked the self-proclaimed "first buddy" to lead the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (or Doge - a nod to Musk's favourite cryptocurrency, Dogecoin). Musk denied a "hostile takeover" as his agency, which is not an official government department, implemented cuts such as dismantling the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which distributes tens of billions of dollars' worth of overseas aid every year. But also cut were sales and profits at Tesla, as some buyers objected to Musk's actions. Some online have used the moniker "Swasticars" to refer to them, following Musk's controversial arm gesture at a rally celebrating Trump's return to office. He announced his departure from the White House on 28 May. Days earlier, he had criticised one of Trump's signature policies, which includes multi-trillion dollar tax breaks and a pledge to increase defence spending. Musk told the BBC's US partner CBS News he was "disappointed" by the plan, which he felt "undermines" the work he did for the president on reducing spending. He said that while he would leave the White House, Doge's mission to cut government spending would continue and "only strengthen over time". It's not just in the US where Musk has waded into political controversy. In the UK, Musk accused Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer of being "deeply complicit" in grooming gang "mass rapes in exchange for votes" - while Sir Keir accused critics of "spreading lies and misinformation". In Germany, Musk has endorsed the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), and urged Germans to back the party in forthcoming elections. In the UK and Germany, 71% of people said they took a negative view of Musk, with 63% saying they don't think he has much knowledge of national issues, according to YouGov. Born in Pretoria, South Africa, Musk showed his talents for entrepreneurship early, going door-to-door with his brother selling homemade chocolate Easter eggs and developing his first computer game at the age of 12. He has described his childhood as difficult, affected by his parents' divorce, bullying at school and his own difficulty picking up on social cues because of Asperger's Syndrome. At the earliest opportunity, he left home for college, moving to Canada and then the US, where he studied economics and physics at the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League college. In a 2010 essay for Marie Claire, his first wife, Justine Musk, a writer whom he met in college and married in 2000, wrote that even before making his millions Musk was "not a man who takes no for an answer". "The will to compete and dominate, that made him so successful in business, did not magically shut off when he came home," she recalled, adding that he told her while dancing at their wedding, "I am the alpha in this relationship." After being accepted to a physics graduate degree programme at Stanford University, Musk quickly dropped out and founded two technology start-ups during the "dotcom boom" of the 1990s. These included a web software firm and an online banking company that eventually became PayPal, which was sold to eBay in 2002 for $1.5bn (£1.2bn). He ploughed his fortune into a new rocket company, SpaceX - which he aimed to make a cost-effective alternative to Nasa - and a new electric car company, Tesla, where he chaired the board until becoming chief executive in 2008. The two firms are credited with upending their industries, even as they sometimes veered close to financial collapse. More recent business ventures include his takeover of social media platform Twitter in October 2022. He dramatically reduced the size of its workforce including, controversially, cuts to teams responsible for keeping the platform safe; rebranded the company as X; and introduced new premium subscriptions so that the business did not rely on advertising alone for income. Musk's long-term ambition is for X to become an "everything app" offering a range of services. However, so far the value of the firm has plunged from the $44bn he originally paid to just $9.4bn, according to some estimates. Since Musk's takeover companies have been choosing to leave the platform in what's been termed "the great X-odus". Reports suggest hate speech has been growing under Musk's X tenure, and some firms don't want to be associated with that. Leaving X can be a tricky decision for brands He also has ambitions in the AI sector, being an early investor in ChatGPT's parent company before parting ways in 2018, and setting up his own company xAI "to understand the true nature of the universe" in 2023. In February 2024, he sued OpenAI and its boss Sam Altman, saying the firm he helped found had reneged on its non-profit, open source origins by hitching its wagon to Microsoft. A year later, Musk led a takeover bid which was firmly rejected by Altman, who suggested a $9.74bn counter-offer for X. "I'm never hugely convinced that he knows what he wants to do tomorrow," says journalist Chris Stokel-Walker of Musk's wide-ranging interests. "He very much leads by instinct." In a 2015 biography, author Ashlee Vance described Musk as "a confrontational know-it-all" with an "abundant ego". But he also called him an awkward dancer and diffident public speaker. In the press, he's been dubbed both a mad genius and Twitter's biggest troll - known as much for his lofty ambitions as his petty fights, not to mention the more serious lawsuits he and his companies have faced from regulators, investors and others over issues such as racial discrimination and the trustworthiness of his claims. Divorced three times - twice from the same woman, British actress Talulah Riley - Musk is frank about his faults. "If you list my sins, I sound like the worst person on Earth," he said in a TED interview in 2022. "But if you put those against the things I've done right, it makes much more sense." Those contradictions certainly haven't stopped Musk from amassing a fortune. According to Bloomberg's index, tracking the wealth of the world's billionaires, Musk is the richest of them all. It estimates his current net worth to be around $386bn, with his fortune soaring alongside Tesla's share price following Trump's election victory. That's based largely on the value of his shares in Tesla, of which he owns more than 13%. The company's stock soared in value - some say unreasonably - in 2020 as the firm's output increased and it started to deliver regular profits. The shares plunged at the end of 2022, with some blaming the distraction of the Twitter takeover for the fall, though they have since recovered a lot of ground. And throughout 2024 Musk was locked in a legal battle over a $56bn pay package from Tesla with a Delaware judge rejecting his claim to it for a second time in December. Judge Kathaleen McCormick called the pay-out an "unfathomable sum", and argued Musk had influenced the company's board and shareholders - with 75% of them voting to back his pay deal in June. Is Elon Musk worth his $56bn Tesla pay package? Musk also champions digital currencies and has a hand in several other smaller companies, including tunnel-maker the Boring Company. Musk, who wears the mantle of a workaholic proudly, has often said he's not in business simply to make money - claims he repeated recently with regard to his Twitter takeover. "Elon only gets involved with things if he feels that they're critically important for some reason... for the sake of society or humanity," says friend and Tesla investor Ross Gerber. For a long time Musk, who became a US citizen in 2002, resisted efforts to label his politics - calling himself "half-Democrat, half-Republican", "politically moderate" and "independent". He says he voted for Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and - reluctantly - Joe Biden, all of them Democrats. But in recent years he's swung behind Donald Trump, who is a Republican. Musk told media company the Daily Wire that his transgender daughter was "killed" by transitioning, and that he "vowed to destroy the woke mind virus". He is now estranged from his daughter. Musk officially endorsed Trump for a second term in 2024 after his attempted assassination and became one of the campaign's foremost backers and influencers. He became critical of the Democrat party's stance on a number of issues, including the economy, immigration and gun control - decrying many of its policies as "woke". Musk also repeatedly claimed that freedom of speech, enshrined in the first amendment of the US Constitution, would be under threat with another Democrat government. He appeared at several Republican rallies in the run-up to the election, raised millions to fund a political action committee to help re-elect Trump, and frequently voiced his support for Trump in posts on X. Musk's America Super PAC also ran a controversial $1m giveaway to voters in battleground states in the last weeks of the campaign. Why tech bros are turning to Trump It was far from his first political controversy. He has shared controversial takes on X about issues facing countries worldwide, such as suggesting the UK was on the cusp of "civil war" amid violent unrest in August 2024. While Musk provided his Starlink satellite internet service to Ukraine, he also attracted criticism for refusing an emergency request from Kyiv to activate Starlink in Sevastopol, home to a major Russian navy port. In the US, he moved to Texas, complaining of California's regulations and high taxes; has clashed with union organisers; and, in the spring of 2020, decried coronavirus lockdowns as "fascist". In the past he has said that he sees his businesses as a form of philanthropy, because they are focused on solving major human issues, such as climate change in the case of Tesla. However, he has since moderated his views on climate change, tweeting that it is "real, just much slower than alarmists claim". Despite his own interest in artificial intelligence, he has also been one of the most prominent figures expressing concern about the supposed threat to humanity's future that super-intelligent AIs might pose. He has claimed that the rise of artificial intelligence, combined with a declining birth rate, could result in "not enough people" being in the world. Musk has had 12 children - six with his first wife, three with Canadian singer Grimes, and three with Shivon Zilis. Following the birth of his twins with Ms Zilis, he tweeted: "Doing my best to help the underpopulation crisis." Additional reporting by Tom Espiner & Tom Gerken Inside the rural Texas town where Elon Musk is basing his business empire What is Doge and why is Musk stepping back? How the world's richest person bought Twitter Racially charged row between Musk and South Africa over Starlink
Daily Mirror
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Springwatch's Chris Packham says dogs 'saved my life' during 'dark' time
Chris Packham, 64, has opened up about his mental health battles and how he once 'didn't want to be on this planet any longer', but his beloved pets gave him 'purpose' Chris Packham has poignantly disclosed that his pets provided him with 'purpose' during his lowest moments, confessing: "My dogs saved my life." The much-loved wildlife expert is set to grace our screens again on Monday, May 26, with the return of the beloved series Springwatch, where he will co-host with his long-time colleague Michaela Strachan. Despite his cheerful television presence, the 64-year-old has spoken out about his struggles with mental health and a time when he "didn't want to be on this planet any longer". In an intimate chat with Country Living, Chris, who rose to fame with the '80s hit show The Really Wild Show, revealed: "My dogs saved my life." He elaborated: "I've been in some dark places. I was so miserable I didn't want to be on this planet any longer, but my dogs took that choice away. They gave me the gift of purpose - and it's the reason I'm still here," reports Gloucestershire Live. The devoted animal enthusiast expressed how his connection with his Poodles was so profound that he "couldn't break it". He remarked: "I used to call my previous dogs 'my joy grenades'. I'd let them off the lead, and they'd run for the sheer joy of running. It didn't matter how miserable I was, that would always put a smile on my face." Diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome at the age of 44, Chris notes that individuals on the autism spectrum can often form even stronger bonds with dogs. "I think it's because we're never judged. We are always accepted by that animal: the bonds are very tight," he explained. "Dogs offer us unconditional love. They are always pleased to see us. We trust them implicitly. I sleep with my dogs, we eat the same thing. I have an enormous responsibility and duty of care to make sure that my dogs are happy and healthy." Springwatch is celebrating its 20th year with a brand new segment called Springwatch Street, giving viewers a glimpse into the hidden lives of urban wildlife like foxes and swifts. Ahead of the new series, Chris spoke about his relationship with co-host Michaela, saying: "We're great friends. We know each other really well, so sometimes we may disagree about something, and the team may look at us and think, 'Oh my goodness, the presenters have fallen out!' "But we haven't. We don't get upset about those things. We don't have to agree about everything. We just move on. So, the fact that we're great, lifelong, trusted mates helps, but also that we work in very different ways in terms of way that we approach our job." Springwatch returns to BBC Two from Monday, May 26 at 8pm
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Supermoms who conquered adversities, took challenges head-on with grit & smile
As the world celebrates Mother's Day, Vivek Singh Chauhan traces the stories of three remarkable women from Lucknow who redefined success by making their specially-abled children the center of their lives Congratulations! You have successfully cast your vote Login to view result When you meet Dr Parul Saxena , a physician in the home guards department who lives on the SGPGIMS premises, you see calmness and confidence. But behind her composed demeanour lies a journey of struggle, tough choices, and deep love. Her only son was diagnosed with high-functioning Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism spectrum disorder ( ASD ) that affects communication and social interaction. 'At first, everything seemed normal. Until the age of one, there were no signs. But then I noticed regression in speech and repetitive behaviour. A team of experts in New Delhi confirmed the diagnosis — a moment that shattered me emotionally, despite my medical training. As a physician, I understood the technicalities. But as a mother, I was devastated. There's no cure — only support, therapy, and patience.' Dr Parul and her husband, a neurosurgeon, were doing well in Delhi but the diagnosis changed everything. They moved closer to family, and she took a year-long career break. 'It wasn't easy. Professionally, I was thriving, but early intervention was critical. My child needed me more than my job did.' They followed a structured therapy plan — speech therapy, occupational therapy, and special education. Regular visits to Delhi every three months helped track his progress. Slowly, signs of improvement began to show. Today, her son studies at a campus school and thrives as a talented tabla player. 'Every small improvement — a new word or a social gesture — is a victory,' she says, eyes glowing with pride. She adds that living on a medical campus helped — there was empathy and understanding. But outside that bubble, awareness remains low. 'People judge or question your parenting. But I've learned to ignore it. No one is at fault. Every child is different, and every journey deserves respect.' Her biggest challenge? Balancing work and caregiving. 'Even now, every day is a juggling act. But the smile on my child's face gives me strength,' she says. Asked about the message she would like to give on Mother's Day, she says: 'Support your child unconditionally, seek help early, and never be ashamed. Our children are not broken, they are different. And with love, they can bloom.' For Tanu Goel Srivastava , a legal professional from Chowk in Lucknow, the journey began with confusion and concern. Her only son showed food texture preferences and mild speech delay around two-and-a-half years of age. 'At first, I thought he was just a picky eater. But soon, we realised it was more than that.' A detailed evaluation confirmed he was neurodivergent and likely on the autism spectrum. Tanu, Section In-Charge in the Legal/HR department of a PSU, faced a tough choice—continue her job or become a full-time caregiver. She chose the latter. 'It was both the hardest and the easiest decision. Hard, because I worked so hard to reach where I was. Easy, because my child needed me,' she recalls. Occupational and behavioural therapies began. But unlike quick results expected in the professional world, progress was slow and unpredictable. 'Some days were tough but I learned to slow down and take each day as it comes.' Tanu, wife of a corporate employee, believes society still struggles to understand the needs of neurodivergent children. 'My child is often left out — no birthday party invites. At school, he tries to participate but often needs handholding. The attitude of other parents matters. Their lack of cooperation hurts.' Despite Indian laws mandating inclusive education, she says the ground reality is different. 'There's a lack of sensitivity. We need awareness — not just among teachers but among parents of neurotypical kids too.' Financially , the family managed; emotionally, they leaned on each other. 'My husband, family, and close friends became my pillars,' she adds. Tanu dreams of a future where her son is independent —understanding money, managing daily tasks, and, most importantly, feeling accepted. Her advice to other mothers is that they should start with their own mental health. 'Read, ask, learn. Stay involved in therapy. Your child will thrive if you are strong. Happy mothers raise joyous children,' she says. Riya (name changed), an assistant manager in a leading firm in Noida, left her job just before the pandemic. Her only son, now 10, was diagnosed with autism after she noticed signs like limited communication, social withdrawal, and a strong aversion to loud sounds. 'He was physically active, but something felt off. At a family wedding, while other kids played, he sat alone with a phone. Then he stopped speaking altogether,' she says. Wife of a businessman, Riya sought assessments, enrolled him in special education, and began therapy. But finding skilled professionals was a hurdle. 'Many centres had untrained staff. That wasted precious time,' she says. With her husband's support, she left her job. 'It was emotionally hard. I studied and worked so much. But no one understood my child the way I did. I had to be there,' she says. Her days revolved around therapy sessions, school prep, and managing behavioural triggers. 'Even now, he struggles to express discomfort. If he's hungry or unwell, he won't say it. That can be scary,' says Riya, who remains optimistic despite challenges. Her son now attends school and is making steady progress. 'He's calmer and learning. But as he grows, expectations — and challenges — keep rising,' she says. 'All expenses were out of my own pocket. I wasn't even aware that any govt programme existed. That's another issue — we don't know where to turn. Society must do more than offer sympathy. Don't pity our children. Talk to them. Include them. Understand them. They are different, not inferior to anyone,' Riya says. 'I've accepted this life. I no longer grieve for my lost career. I celebrate every step my son takes forward,' she says. Her message to mothers: 'You don't need to be perfect — just be present. Be patient, loving, and always believe in your child.'
Extra.ie
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
What is Asperger's? Bill Gates's daughter accidentally reveals diagnosis
Bill Gates' daughter Phoebe accidentally revealed that her father was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. The Microsoft co-founder's daughter appeared on the Call Her Daddy podcast, where she accidentally told host Alex Cooper that her father was socially awkward, and has the condition — which raised eyebrows as Bill himself has never disclosed having it. In short, Asperger's Syndrome is a developmental disorder that's part of the wider Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Bill Gates' daughter Phoebe accidentally revealed that her father was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. Pic: Taylor Hill/WireImage A 'high functioning' form of ASD, those with Asperger's usually have a tough time relating to people socially, usually stick to a specific routine and have limited interests. They may also act in repetitive ways, known as 'stimming,' with examples of that including flapping hands. There are no specific symptoms of Asperger's per se, but they usually relate to emotional, communication and behavioural skills. Diagnoses usually happen around the ages of 5-9, but some adults can also be diagnosed later in life. Phoebe (right) casually spoke about her father's diagnosis, something that her dad never disclosed publicly. Pic: Call Her Daddy/YouTube Bill Gates' daughter Phoebe accidentally let her father's condition slip during an appearance on Call Her Daddy; something that her father never revealed, but said that he had traits similar to those on the autism spectrum. 'My dad is pretty socially awkward. He's said he, you know, has Asperger's,' Phoebe said on the podcast. 'Bringing a guy home is terrifying for the guy. It's also kind of hilarious for me,' she joked. The philanthropist never acknowledged publicly that he was diagnosed with the condition, but in his memoir Source Code from 2023, he alluded to the fact that he may have been on the spectrum, including that he was 'hyper-focused' on things growing up. Bill Gates and his daughter Phoebe. Pic:for TIME 'I was a hyper-focused kid. I would get so lost in what I was doing, I'd forget to eat,' he wrote. 'I probably would've been diagnosed today, and that's not a bad thing — it's part of who I am.' Mr Gates also spoke about his autistic traits in an interview earlier this year, telling Axios 'I always knew I was different in ways that confused people in terms of my energy level and intensity, and going off and just studying things. 'It's a little confusing when you're a kid, that you're different, or people react to you in some ways, or your social skills – you're miscuing on various things. I definitely think my parents, maybe somewhat unintentionally, because there was no diagnosis, but the way they would explain things to me or push me to socialize was very helpful.'
