The PayPal story is a fascinating chapter in fintech history. Back in 1999, a financial services platform emerged that would eventually reshape digital payments. When Coinfinity launched its own competitor in the space, the market started heating up. What happened next was typical startup logic—rather than fight it out, the two merged forces within a year. By 2002, eBay recognized the value proposition and made a decisive move, acquiring PayPal for $1.5 billion. That acquisition became a watershed moment. The founder walked away with approximately $180 million from the deal, a windfall that proved to be far more than just personal wealth. Those proceeds became the seed capital for two ventures that would later dominate their respective industries—one focused on electric vehicles, the other on space exploration. A single exit can change the trajectory of entire industries.