Nikola Tesla Death Cause

Nikola Tesla Death Reason: How Did He Die? Family And Net Worth

Almost eighty years ago, one of the greatest inventors of all time, Nikola Tesla, passed away. 

The Serbian-American inventor, scientist, and engineer is best known for his contributions to the modern alternating current (A.C.) electricity supply system.

Although known as one of the most brilliant creators of all time, Tesla’s end was unlikely. He left the earth secluded and broke.

Nikola Tesla Death Reason: He Died Of A Heart Attack

Nikola Tesla died in a hotel on January 7, 1943. He took his last breath alone in Room 3327 at The New Yorker Hotel in New York, U.S. He was 86 at the time.

Maid Alice Monaghan found his body when she entered Tesla’s room. Assistant medical examiner H.W. Wembley inspected his body and determined the death cause to be coronary thrombosis (a form of heart attack).

Nikola Tesla Death
Nikola Tesla pictured during his later days. (Source: History)

Five days later, on January 12, over 2,000 people attended the funeral in Manhattan. After the funeral, his body was taken to and cremated in the Ferncliff Cemetery in Ardsley.

Five years before his death, after midnight, when Tesla left his hotel to make a regular commute, he met an accident. He could not dodge a moving cab crossing the street and was thrown to the ground. It severely wrenched his back and broke three of his ribs. As usual, Tesla refused to consult a doctor and never fully recovered.

Nikola Tesla Came From A Family Of Serbian Origin

Nikola Tesla was born an ethnic Serb to his parents, Milutin Tesla (1819–1879) and Đuka Mandić (1822–1892). His Father, Milutin, was an Eastern Orthodox Church priest, while his mother, Đuka, had a talent for making mechanical appliances and home craft tools.

She had never received a formal education, but Tesla credited his eidetic memory and creative capabilities to his mother’s genetics and influence.

Tesla was born in the Smiljan village in the Austrian Empire (present-day Croatia) on July 10, 1856. His maternal grandfather, like his Father, was an Eastern Orthodox Church priest. Tesla’s ancestors were from western Serbia, near Montenegro.

The inventor was the fourth of five children in his family. He had three sisters, Marica, Angelina, and Milka, while his older brother, Dane, died in a horse-riding accident when Tesla was five.

nikola-tesla-and-his-family
Nikola Tesla’s parents, Milutin and Duka, with their children. (Source: Science Me)

Tesla was known to be a lifelong bachelor; he never married, nor was he in any known relationship. He used to believe that his innocence was helpful to his scientific abilities.

Nikola Tesla Net Worth: Was He Rich?

As strange as it may sound, Nikola Tesla had a minuscule net worth of $100 at his death. The brilliant inventor whose work changed the course of human history died broke and destitute, all alone in a New York hotel.

The Serbian-American had more than 300 patents to his name, bringing him fame and incredible fortunes. At one point in his life, the royalty payments on his A.C. patent were worth hundreds of millions of dollars in today’s money. The royalties were so valuable that he could easily have become the richest person on the planet. But none of that happened.

Unfortunately, he was not good at handling his finances. He burned his entire personal fortune on failed projects and threw away his most lucrative patent and, subsequently, his chance to become the first-ever billionaire.

When Tesla came to the U.S., he received a job at Edison General Electric, the Company of renowned inventor Thomas Elva Edison. It eventually turned sour, and Tesla quit working there.

Nikola Tesla net worth
Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison were known for their war of currents. (Source: TFI Post)

His next endeavors included the Tesla Electric Light & Manufacturing Company and the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company.

Westinghouse offered Tesla a handsome deal. However, his major fortunes did not come from salary, bonuses, or stock but came from his royalties. Unfortunately, his luck deteriorated; he tore up a lucrative contract, invested in failed projects, and his lab caught Fire.

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