Tireless entrepeneur Elon Musk has long defied his many critics, helping lead major turnarounds at Tesla Motors. Tesla is a stunning example of a business that fought back from the brink. The electric carmaker almost went out of business during the recession, when financing dried up for all kinds of companies. Yet Musk never lost faith in the company, leading a restructuring effort that has helped Tesla thrive over the past few years.The California-based company now employs more than 6,000 people and is logging impressive sales growth figures, as buyers around the world become more comfortable with the idea of owning electric vehicles. Investors are impressed by the automaker's recent performance. Tesla, whose stock is trading at just under $250 a share, currently boasts a market capitalization of $31.3 billion.