Silicon Valley billionaire Tom Siebel, founder of CRM vendor Siebel Systems (sold to Oracle for $5.8 billion back in 2005), was reportedly attacked and injured by an elephant in Tanzania about a month ago.
The incident is vaguely reminiscent of TechCrunch editor Sarah Lacy’s recent baboon attack in Rwanda, although in Siebel’s case the consequences were a bit more severe than a psychological trauma.
The 56-year-old tech mogul told Mercury News in an interview that he and his guide was attacked by a charging elephant in the Serengeti, breaking several ribs, goring him in the left leg and crushing the right.
Fortunately, unlike Larry Ellison a couple of years ago when he set his sight on the man’s company, the elephant soon lost interest in Siebel and simply walked away from the scene.
The billionaire (estimated worth: $US 1.9 billion as of 2008) had to wait three hours before the radioed medical assistance team showed up and gave him treatment, but is now recovering from his injuries in his Woodside home and expects to make a full recovery after reconstructive surgery and physical therapy. Siebel told the Mercury News Wednesday that he doesn’t know what became of the elephant that attacked him. He added that authorities in Tanzania searched for it, but as far as he knows it was never found.
Not able to come up with a good joke using the phrasing ‘elephant in the room’, I’m just going to conclude by saying we’re all glad Siebel is ok, and we hope the same is true for the animal.
“The elephant soon lost interest.”
The rest of the world too.
Interesting
sad news to hear
hope he recovers soon..
Glad this dude is alright but what is up with billionaires constantly doing strange and unique things to put themselves in harm’s way. (are you listening Sir Richard?) the goal here is to preserve your awesomely wealthy life, got it? Good. Try having some fun with supermodels instead of pissing off elephants or base jumping off buildings.
+1 Too bad they don’t listen and believe themselves to be Batman or some such nonsense instead.
having fun with supermodels can be way more dangerous than being out in the wild sometimes…
some rich people hunt wild and exotic animals, stuff them and put them on their wall. makes them feel important or something. lets hope this was just a case bird watching or a nature walk.
india
“[H]e and his guide was attacked” – it should be ‘were’.
“Tom Siebel” used to be a big name to me when I just started my career in web industry.
The first company I worked for (”OpenSite Technology”) was accquired by Siebel System at 1999(or 2000). As the first CRM provider, Siebel system was one of finest darling of Wall street at that time. All of us were excited about the stock value we got in this deal. But soon, the web bubble was broken, so was Siebel’s legend. Several years later, Oracle accquired Siebel system (Tom was from Oracle before he co-found Siebel system).
Good luck, Tom!
Maybe no ‘elephant in the room’ joke could be found, but certainly Seibel or his guide should have taken the standard precautions to stop the elephant from charging.
Take away his credit cards!
He’s a lucky man to still be alive.
[...] was attacked [...]
From what I’m reading, you are writing about more than ONE persons. It should be – were attacked!!
little guy Siebel is lucky to get away.
An interesting twist here is that Mr. Siebel has been a lifelong Republican. Perhaps this is a warning to small government types?
lol… sometimes these stories just sort of write themselves
Ouch!
What happened to the guide? Hope he is ok as well.
Wondering if the elephant actually works for the Immigration and found that he didn’t have a Visa… Perhaps he shouldn’t have been to third world countries…
its only the rich who matter…
My understanding is that elephants do not attack unless they are provoked. Also, the rules of the national parks in Tanzania specify that visitors are to remain inside a vehicle for their own protection. I hope that people are not deterred from going on safari because of the lack of judgment and massive publicity for this one incident.
“the consequences were a bit more severe than a psychological trauma.”
wouldn’t you think psychological trauma would be more severe than anything else?
For sure there was a great mistake done by the said guide. May be he/she was not professional in leading the guest to those dangerous wild animal without procaution.
I think is better the necessary investigation action to be taken against the National Park operating and the tour operator as well as the guide if he/she is alive.
This shows the high indication of carelessness and unaccountability to the great value of the guest to the National Parks.
Once again, I urgue Tanzania National Parks to make a follow up of this case and give the necessary explanation to the cause so that to clear the doughts of guests to visit Serengeti.
Regards
Msemakweli ni mpenzi wa Mungu
This is the result of using unprofessional guides.
Seems there were unprofessionalism spirit playing around. And may be the guide was struggling for the good number of $ as a tip while ignoring the rules and regulations.
Necessary disciplinary actions is necessary.
I wonder if the poor guide got his tip given that rich daddy Tom had to be air lifted out of Africa before the safari is over. Tom can afford medical care in multiple hospitals spanning multiple countries, what about that poor guide? How will he pay? Tom if I were you I would send the guide a big check to cover your sense of adventure that was a poor judgement. Who told you to get out of the car and not respect the park rule???
You Billionear could you please tell what exactly part of serengeti National Park this incidence occur?
You might be lying?
Might be is because of your negligence.
Have you claimed for compensation? Or is because your billionear
Hey Tom,
my prayers are with you for a speedy recovery and take your time with your rehab, the world is a better place with you in it so I am very happy to hear that you are recovering at home and I hope to see you this winter.
Happy Thoughts,
your friend,
Mike