Coursework graded by billionaire Tesla CEO Elon Musk to be auctioned

By Brelaun Douglas via SWNS

Two pieces of coursework graded by Elon Musk when he was just a young teaching assistant are going under the hammer.

The billionaire Tesla CEO worked the role in an entrepreneurship class at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School in 1995 where he was known by some as a “tough grader.”

Musk, now 50, was in his early 20s at the time of the course, and he graded and initialed each paper himself in red ink.

The first is a UPenn written exam booklet with key points checked off by Musk throughout its nine pages, where he removed points for incorrect or inaccurate answers.

In one answer, the student defines "Exit Strategy" as "a viable way to end operations if sh*t hits the fan.” Musk deducts two points writing "graphic".

He gave the student an overall score of 73, writing “73, EM” in red ink on the front cover.

The second piece is a five-page case study on the topic of Ruth Owades' mail-order specialty gardening tool idea. Here, Musk doesn’t make any comments, but instead checks off critical points made throughout.

He gave the student and overall score of 8 ½, writing "8 ½ , EM” in red ink on the first page.

Both pieces of coursework will be auctioned together and are estimated at $4,000.

They come accompanied by the original course syllabus, listing Musk as one of two teaching assistants, and a detailed letter of provenance from the consignor.

"Elon Musk is a pioneering titan of science and industry, universally known by his first or last name and idolized as 'Iron Man' or 'The Dogefather'," the letter of provenance reads.

“In 1995, he was just another student on the University of Pennsylvania campus. That spring he worked as a Teaching Assistant for Management 231, an entrepreneurship course I took at Wharton Business School.

“No one knew back then that Elon Musk would become the world's wealthiest and most iconic entrepreneur.

“Rather, it was Professor Myles Bass who was the legend, helping many aspiring students launch ventures from Steinberg-Dietrich Hall. My esteem for him led me to keep a few souvenirs from his course…The exam and case study both have Elon's unmistakable 'EM' signed in red pen on the front cover next to the average grades he gave me.

“He was a tough grader and didn't like my use of profanity, where I boldly wrote 'sh*t hits the fan' in a test answer. Intended as an inside joke for Professor Bass, this instead gave Elon pause.”

The papers from the SpaceX business magnate are part of RR Auctions Fine Autographs and Artifacts auction featuring Science and Technology.

"Elon Musk's autograph is rare in any form," said Bobby Livingston, executive VP for the Boston-based auction house.

"The early date and connection with his alma mater - he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with degrees in economics and physics in 1997 - make this collection truly unique and remarkable.”

The auction ending December 8 also includes Bill Gates' business card (estimated at $800) and signed material from Albert Einstein (estimated between $10,000- $60,000) and Charles Darwin (estimated between $1,000- $10,000).

For more information, visit www.rrauction.com.