Kapitel 547: Chapter 547: Your Moves Are Interesting
The day President Bush and President Yoon Chang-ho were set to meet for their summit.
I arrived at the forum where Korean and American business leaders had gathered right on time.
The businessmen accompanying President Yoon Chang-ho on his visit to the U.S. were here primarily for this forum.
Because the forum wasn't open to the media, attendees gathered in small groups, chatting freely in a relaxed atmosphere.
As soon as I entered the venue, I spotted Chairman Kim Byung-woo rushing towards me from a distance.
"Mr. Kim Mu-hyeok, you made it! I thought you said you weren't coming."
"It's been a while, Chairman Kim Byung-woo."
I shook hands with Kim Byung-woo, looking around as I spoke.
"Originally, I hadn't planned to attend, but I found myself in Washington yesterday, and I've canceled all other appointments, so I was lucky to make it after all."
"Haha, is that so? That's great to hear. It's reassuring to have you here, Mr. Kim."
As I chatted with Kim Byung-woo, we moved further inside when someone approached us.
"Charlie."
"Chairman Bill Gates."
It was none other than Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft.
"How many years has it been?"
"It's been a while. I think it's been about three years."
As we exchanged light greetings, Bill Gates's gaze landed on Kim Byung-woo beside me.
I pulled at Chairman Kim Byung-woo's shoulder as I introduced him.
"This is Chairman Kim Byung-woo of Jungwoo Group. He's my business partner and has always helped me in various ways."
Bill Gates smiled as he extended his hand to Chairman Kim Byung-woo.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Bill Gates."
"It's an honor, Chairman Bill Gates."
"Honor, what honor? Can I borrow Charlie for a bit?"
Kim Byung-woo glanced at me briefly, and I offered a faint smile and nodded.
"Sure, I'll step aside. Feel free to chat."
After our handshake, Kim Byung-woo disappeared toward the group of businessmen.
Bill Gates and I made our way to a corner of the forum venue.
"Charlie, once again, Jobs didn't show up today. He's so much of a lone wolf."
"Hmm."
"Do you think I would attend this forum if I enjoyed it? There needs to be some exchange among businesses. He always acts like this."
The complicated relationship between Bill Gates and Jobs was widely known. Once, they had been allies.
When Apple was founded and the Macintosh was created, Bill Gates had helped by providing Excel for Macintosh based on Jobs's suggestion.
This Excel played a significant role in the success of Macintosh.
However, the two's alliance didn't last long.
The success of Macintosh shocked Bill Gates, leading him to partner with IBM to create MS-DOS.
The arrival of IBM and MS-DOS dealt a serious blow to Apple.
Afterward, Jobs was ousted from the Apple he founded, while Bill Gates flourished.
Though the competition between Apple and Microsoft had a profound impact on the entire computer industry, their fates diverged completely.
Microsoft grew to lead the global market, capturing over 90% of the computer operating system market share.
Meanwhile, Apple, pushed to the brink by Microsoft's Windows, called back Jobs only when it was on the verge of collapse.
"You know Jobs better than I do, don't you, Chairman Gates?"
"As you said, I do know that guy well. But if he keeps acting like this despite returning, he'll only make enemies."
Even Gates, who spoke these words, was now the very symbol of a monopolistic entrepreneur.
Microsoft nearly split into two due to an antitrust lawsuit.
Since then, he had been trying to repackage himself as a philanthropist, working to change his image.
"I know you're a major shareholder in Apple. But don't over-rely on Jobs. He could end up causing a major incident."
"That shouldn't happen."
Oh, but it probably will. He's about to unleash a major incident with the launch of the iPhone.
If the 1990s were Gates's era, the 2000s belonged to Jobs.
"I trust Jobs, which is why I've handed over all of Apple's management to him. He's someone who can't be controlled. When he is, his creativity dies."
"Is that so?"
Gates was a realist, while Steve Jobs was a perfectionist and a dreamer.
The two men, who were the same age, represented two extremes.
Perhaps a gentle breeze could have blown between them, but that would remain a mere fantasy.
Originally, when Jobs returned to Apple, Gates was supposed to support him with $1.5 billion, but I had taken on that role this time.
I invested $2 billion in Apple alongside Jobs's return, and Jobs used that funding to launch hit products like iMac and iPod, marking Apple's brilliant comeback.
It was only natural for Gates to react this way.
His rival Jobs was praised while he was being criticized left and right.
As of now, Bill Gates symbolized monopoly in the U.S., while Jobs represented innovation.
"You overestimate Jobs."
"I'm not overestimating Jobs; you're underestimating him, Chairman."
At my response, Bill Gates shook his head in disbelief and asked.
"Who do you think will emerge as the final victor among us, Jobs and me?"
"I'm not sure. But I don't think I will invest in Microsoft unless it changes. I don't see any merit in it."
Bill Gates turned to me, shocked.
"What?"
"If you become too reliant on Windows, which is already a success, and do nothing… ultimately, Microsoft might fade away and vanish into history. The current Microsoft has lost its charm."
"Lost its charm…"
"Times are changing rapidly, technologies are advancing. You have to not just keep pace but surpass that speed to create something new. Only then can you become a leader in the future."
Following the times is meaningless; leading a new era is what makes you top-notch.
Bill Gates's face stiffened at my blunt criticism.
"I still hold a little bit of Microsoft stocks, but if you ask me if I'm going to buy more, I'd probably say no."
"…"
There was a brief, awkward silence after my honesty.
The discomfort in the atmosphere was broken by a new man.
"Chairman Bill Gates."
Bill Gates and I turned our heads simultaneously.
"Who is this? Not Musk, is it?"
"Haha! Long time no see!"
I was surprised by Elon Musk's appearance. I never expected to meet him here.
"Long time no see? Didn't we see each other last year? At that SpaceX launch party, right?"
"Ah, it was an honor that you attended, Chairman."
"What are you saying? Business figures like you need to do well for America to progress."
While the two were chatting, I observed Elon Musk's face.
He looked much younger than I remembered. Noticing my gaze, Elon Musk looked my way, and our eyes met.
"By the way… who is this?"
As Elon Musk asked, Bill Gates finally introduced me.
"You wouldn't know, huh? But you know Dream High Investment, right?"
"Who in America doesn't know that investment company?"
"He's the owner of Dream High."
"What? The owner?"
Elon Musk looked at me in disbelief. Bill Gates reiterated.
"Yes. The owner."
"Isn't James Han the CEO of Dream High?"
"That's right; he is the CEO. But…"
As I felt I might say something unnecessary, I quickly cut into their conversation.
"Hello, I'm Charlie Kim."
Elon Musk took my extended hand.
"I'm Elon Musk."
"I know. You're the founder of PayPal, right?"
"You know me?"
"Of course. If I don't know someone like you, how could I invest?"
After ending the handshake, I smiled at Elon Musk with a business-like grin.
"Hmm. So, am I indeed the owner of Dream High, as Chairman Gates said?"
"Owner might be a bit embarrassing. The capital when establishing Dream High was wholly mine."
"…You look like you're in your early 20s. So were you a teenager when you founded Dream High?"
Elon Musk's unexpected question made me laugh loudly.
People around the forum turned their gaze toward me, but I couldn't stop laughing.
After bursting out laughing for a while, I finally managed to stop and shook my head in response.
"I'm in my early 30s. Younger than you, but not by much."
"Ah, I'm sorry. You look young. I really made a blunder there."
"No problem. It's fine if you see me as younger."
While I was chatting with Elon Musk, Bill Gates looked around.
"Then I'll let you two talk. I'll be around for a bit."
With that, Bill Gates left, leaving Elon Musk and me in conversation.
"Let's find a comfortable spot and talk more. I've really wanted to meet you."
"Me?"
"Yes. Elon Musk, you."
I led the bewildered Elon Musk to an empty table.
Seated across from each other at the round table, we formally began our conversation.
"You sold PayPal and used the money to establish your space venture, SpaceX, right?"
Elon Musk nodded.
"I find your moves interesting. You attempted to buy rockets from Russia but ended up deciding to build your own after failing."
Even before Elon Musk, there had been billionaires dabbling in private space ventures as a hobby.
But most of them went bankrupt. I asked Elon Musk.
"Aren't you afraid of failure?"
Elon Musk responded to my question.
"Failure? I'm not afraid of failure. What scares me more is dying without leaving anything behind and stopping my challenges."
"You've already reached billionaire status at a young age, yet you still don't stop your ventures?"
"Money is just a tool to achieve my dreams. I won't stop taking challenges until I'm old and dead."
Elon Musk, evaluations of him vary widely.
Some consider him a grand conman who succeeded through luck, while others praise him as a genius who will change the world.
He said with shining eyes.
"Money isn't important. I'll spend my entire fortune in pursuit of my dreams."
I nodded.
"I see. Money is just a means to fulfill dreams. That's interesting. I find it fascinating."
"Is that so? Others point and call me crazy."
"This is just the beginning, right? No one can predict the outcome. So what is the end of that dream?"
Elon Musk briefly surveyed his surroundings before responding in a quiet voice.
"To create a city on Mars where humanity can live. That is my ultimate goal."
"A city on Mars? Now that's a dream that seems straight out of sci-fi!"
"If you go back hundreds of years and look at our time, everything would seem like magic. Cars traversing cities instead of horse-drawn carriages, freely communicating with distant people while sending photos, and airplanes soaring through the skies. These were all things that no one could have imagined hundreds of years ago."
I nodded silently. Then, Elon Musk, even more excited, spoke up.
"The advancement of technology is accelerating rapidly. I firmly believe I can create a city on Mars before I die."
He truly believed he could do it. There was no hint of uncertainty in his eyes or demeanor.
"Alright then, I'll join that plan as well. I want to invest in SpaceX."
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
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Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein