He could have retired after Zip2. Almost tenfold so after X/PayPal.

How is that 'risking everything'??

I didn't say that - just pointed out that he was loaded way before Tesla.

As a kid he was estranged from his dad, his dad ultimately only gave him around 20k. Elon Musk has been successful based on his own background, not his dads who was a remote, not positive influence in his life.

You'll excuse me if I'm a bit skeptical of the romanticized lifestory version.

It's healthy to be skeptical. At the same time, Musk wouldn't be the first successful person who came from a crappy background.