The Tesla - Edison relationship

The following paragraph is Tesla's own words from his autobiography, “My Inventions.”

“For nearly a year my regular hours were from 10.30 A.M. until 5 o'clock the next morning without a day's exception. Edison said to me: “I have had many hard-working assistants but you take the cake.” During this period I designed twenty-four different types of standard machines with short cores and of uniform pattern which replaced the old ones. The Manager had promised me fifty thousand dollars on the completion of this task but it turned out to be a practical joke. This gave me a painful shock and I resigned my position.”

Again, I remind the OP, these are Tesla's words from his autobiogrphy: “IV. The Discovery of the Tesla Coil and Transformer.”

“The meeting with Edison was a memorable event in my life. I was amazed at this wonderful man who, without early advantages and scientific training, had accomplished so much.”

Regarding the mythical misunderstanding over the fifty thousand dollar promise, Tesla blames “The Manager” not Edison.

“The Manager had promised me fifty thousand dollars on the completion of this task but it turned out to be a practical joke.”

Of course, the argument is made that “The Manager” was simply a agent for Edison. But seriously, if Tesla was the genius that every one says he is, would he seriously expect a $50,000 bonus for completing a project, when he was making an $18 per week salary. It was a matter of pride for Tesla, not money.

Tesla came to America, in search of his hero, Thomas Edison, and was in awe of him. When Tesla realized he was wasting his time selling his ideas to a stubborn man who did not want to hear them, Tesla felt rejected moved on. Edison did not “ditch” Tesla.

The most obvious reason is the actual reason that Tesla and Edison parted ways, Tesla was selling AC (Alternating Current) ideas, and Edison was set of developing DC (Direct Current) systems. Their ideas were not compatible. Tesla was trying to prove a point, one that Edison did not care to hear about. No mystery or conspiracy theories needed to understand it.