Hero and innovator. He has the talent, audacity, and business sense to make a difference, break the log-jams in the auto and energy industries to herald a new era in transportation and efficient energy use. We have all thought the world should change, but who among us has really taken on the entrenched corporations to drive significant improvements? Musk has.

What about the exploration of space? We all think humans should be exploring and colonizing space. We know it must become more economical. Yet national space agencies have been disappointing in the speed of their progress. Who has developed reusable, cost efficient, booster rockets? Who is planning a manned trip to mars, years ahead of NASA? Musk has.

He has opened his patent portfolio around the battery solutions for his Tesla cars, for other companies to freely use. He designed a much more efficient and less costly solution to the high speed train, which was approved in California, for free! His design would save the state billions of dollars. Who gave it away and brought attention to other innovators to carry it forward? Musk did.

Musk is a rebel. One who has a vision, talent, and tenacity to improve the human condition and push us collectively forward to a better future.