
Over the years, Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) CEO Elon Musk has discussed openly how close the electric vehicle company was to bankruptcy. One item that helped the company avoid bankruptcy was a “loan” from the Department of Energy (DOE), but it wasn’t a traditional loan that many believe.
What Happened: In 2009, the Department of Energy gave Tesla a letter of interest for a potential loan. Tesla received a loan of around $500 million.