Forgotten Tesla founder had to sue the company to get his very special 'piece of history' Tesla Roadster
Published on Jul 28, 2025 at 4:43 PM (UTC+4)
by Keelin McNamara
Last updated on Jul 28, 2025 at 9:18 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
A lot of people incorrectly assume that Elon Musk is the Tesla founder.
That title, however, actually goes to a man named Martin Eberhard.
The California native is the forgotten Tesla founder.
And he had to actually sue the company he helped start back in 2009 to get his Roadster back.
DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie
Tesla founder sues company to get special Roadster back
Being the forgotten Tesla founder has to be both an honor and an insult in equal measure.
It is the distinct title held by Martin Eberhard, an engineer from California.
Another distinction held by Eberhard is owning a truly special Tesla Roadster.
The Roadster owned by the Tesla founder is the second one ever made.
Despite being a very special piece of history, Eberhard had to go through an ordeal just to get it.
As a matter of fact, it was a big part of his lawsuit against current CEO Elon Musk in 2009.
Appearing on Kim Java’s YouTube channel, the founder explained how he got his beloved Roadster.
“I had to sue them. I had to pay full price, and they tried to rescind the deal,” he said
“That was a part of the root of my lawsuit against Musk”.
Eberhard also explains that the maker had begun the process of testing new cars on public roads.
According to Eberhard, they actually smashed his Roadster into the back of a truck.
As a result, the entire front-end had to be completely rebuilt.
Eberhard and Tarpenning establish Tesla – then were forced out
Martin Eberhard left the company he co-founded in 2008.
He and Marc Tarpenning founded the company we now know in July 2003.
Current CEO Musk did not actually enter the picture until February 2004.
Musk led the first major investment round for the EV maker, injecting $6.5 million of his own money into the company.
A few years later, he ousted both Eberhard and Tarpenning, the original founders, from the firm.
Due to his fame and notoriety, Musk is, in the eyes of millions, the only Tesla founder.
That honor, however, belongs to both Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning. And it always will.
Keelin McNamara is a content writer at Supercar Blondie from Ireland, covering cars, technology, and lifestyle. Despite being a Law graduate, he discovered his passion for journalism during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has worked in the industry ever since. Outside of work, he is an avid MotoGP fan, and is a self-confessed addict of the sport.
