A heartwarming scene erupted recently at a high school in Pretoria, South Africa, when Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur and founder of Tesla and SpaceX, made a surprise visit to his old school. What began as a nostalgic trip quickly turned into one of the most poignant moments of the year, generating a wave of emotion on social media and around the world.
An unexpected reunion
During a brief stay in South Africa, Musk decided to visit his old school, Pretoria Boys High School, where he attended in his youth. Accompanied by some members of his team and a small group of journalists, Elon walked through the halls of his teenage years, reminiscing about old times.
What he didn’t expect was to find his former physics teacher, Mr. John Matthews, 79, still teaching classes as he had decades ago. Musk was visibly shocked to see his old mentor still working.
79 years old and not retired
In conversation with him, Mr. John explained his situation in a simple but heartbreaking way:
“I have no choice, Elon. My pension isn’t enough to support my family. My wife is sick, and I have two grandchildren to care for.”
These words deeply moved Elon Musk, who has always mentioned that Mr. John was a great influence in his life and in his love of science and technology.
“Thanks to him, I started asking questions and thinking differently. He was one of the first to believe in me,” Musk told the media with emotion.
An act that changed a life
What Elon did next left everyone speechless. Taking his former mentor’s hand in front of students and reporters, he declared that he would embrace his full retirement.
Within a week, Musk publicly announced that he would grant Mr. John:
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A lifetime pension,
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Full coverage of his wife’s medical expenses,
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And an educational fund for their grandchildren.
But he didn’t stop there. Musk also donated $2 million to the school to build a new state-of-the-art physics lab, named after the professor: the John Matthews Lab.
A nation shaken
The video of the encounter went viral within hours. In it, Mr. John can be seen breaking down in tears, overwhelmed by emotion and the unexpected generosity of his former student. The scene touched millions of hearts around the world.
On social media, the hashtag #ThankYouMrJohn trended. Public figures, teachers, and anonymous users celebrated Musk’s gesture.
One user wrote:
“This made me cry. Sometimes we forget that behind every genius, there was a teacher who believed in them first. Thank you, Elon, for reminding us of that.”
A lesson in gratitude
Beyond money or fame, this story reminds us of something powerful: gratitude. Elon Musk hasn’t forgotten where he came from or to whom he owes part of who he is. In a fast-paced world, where personal achievements often overshadow memories, Musk chose to stop, look back, and say, “Thank you.”
The gesture not only changed Mr. John’s life, but it inspired millions to value the role of teachers, to honor those who gave us a foundation, and, above all, to act with humanity.
