In 2014, at the TED Conference during an interview with Charlie Rose, a significant event took place. Google cofounder Larry Page made waves with a revelation that was anything but ordinary. When asked about his views on legacy and philanthropy, Page didn't mention traditional charitable foundations or heirs. Instead, he proposed the idea of leaving his wealth to Elon Musk, the visionary behind Tesla and SpaceX.

Page's Reasoning and the Interview

His reasoning was centered around Musk's audacious mission to colonize Mars and "back up humanity." In the interview, Rose referred to past comments Page had made about this concept and sought clarification. Larry Page replied by emphasizing Musk's determination to go to Mars for the greater good. He elaborated, stating that it was a company with a philanthropic purpose. Page believed that companies, when managed effectively, had the power to drive revolutionary change. He said, "Lots of companies don't succeed over time. They usually miss the future... I try to focus on that: What is the future really going to be? And how do we create it?"

Google's Culture and Employee Wealth

Page then shifted the focus to Google's culture of innovation. He pointed out that many Google employees had become wealthy through their work. He asked why the company they worked for wasn't worthy of not only their time but also their money. He believed that the employees' passion for changing the world and making it better should extend to their financial contributions as well.

Page and Musk's Friendship

Initially, Page and Musk shared a close friendship. Musk often stayed at Page's house during his visits to Silicon Valley. Their shared passion for pushing technological boundaries made them natural allies. They even made it onto Fortune's 2016 list of "Business Leaders You Didn't Know Were BFFs." However, their relationship took a turn around 2013. Musk's growing concerns about the risks of artificial intelligence clashed with Page's more optimistic outlook. At Musk's birthday party that year, they had a heated debate about AI, with Page allegedly calling Musk a "speciesist" for prioritizing human interests.

The Tension and OpenAI

The tension between them grew when Musk cofounded OpenAI, a nonprofit focused on ensuring AI safety. This was seen as a direct challenge to Google, which had acquired DeepMind, a leading AI company. Musk even tried to dissuade DeepMind's CEO from selling to Google, further straining their relationship.

Musk's Desire to Mend Fences

Despite their falling out, Musk recently expressed a desire to repair their friendship. In a 2023 podcast with Lex Fridman, he said, "I would like to be friends again with Larry. I haven't seen him in ages. We were friends for a very long time." But he also acknowledged that Page might not feel the same, noting, "He doesn't want to talk to me anymore."Larry Page's 2014 remarks about leaving his fortune to Elon Musk showcase his belief that revolutionary change is more important than gradual progress. While the future of their friendship remains uncertain, both Page and Musk continue to play crucial roles in shaping the future of technology and potentially humanity.Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article Larry Page, Google Co-Founder, Said He’d Leave His Fortune To Elon Musk Over Charity Because Of His Plans ‘To Go To Mars To Back Up Humanity’ originally appeared on Benzinga.com © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.