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AirTalk

Who should be LA's businessperson of the year?

By AirTalk Staff
Published Dec 5, 2012
Co-Founder and Head of Product Design at Tesla Motors Elon Musk speaks onstage during Tesla Worldwide Debut of Model X on February 9, 2012 in Los Angeles, California.
Co-Founder and Head of Product Design at Tesla Motors Elon Musk speaks onstage during Tesla Worldwide Debut of Model X on February 9, 2012 in Los Angeles, California.
(
Jordan Strauss/Getty Images for Tesla
)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 14: Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt speaks at a news conference at Dodger Stadium prior to a game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers on April 14, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. Large numbers of LAPD officers are being deployed as part of a zero tolerance policy toward misbehaving fans in response to the opening day attack on Stow two weeks ago. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Frank McCourt
Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt speaks at a news conference at Dodger Stadium prior to a game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers on April 14, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.
(
Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
)
Listen 17:27
Who should be LA's businessperson of the year?
So, who is the savvier businessman, Musk, or McCourt? Is there someone else in L.A. business who should be considered for the top spot?

Who is the best of the best in L.A. business?

Los Angeles plays host to 14 Fortune 500 companies and an incredibly successful collection of small businesses, but KPCC reporter Matt DeBord has narrowed the field down to two worthy contestants: much maligned former Dodgers owner and parking lot savant Frank McCourt, and “businessman of the future” Elon Musk, who made his fortune investing in innovative technologies from Tesla, SpaceX, and SolarCity. In many ways, the two men embody some of L.A.’s most distinguishing qualities – where would the city be without its electric cars and plenty of space to park them.

So, who is the savvier businessman, Musk, or McCourt? Is there someone else in L.A. business who should be considered for the top spot?

Guest:

Matt DeBord, KPCC Reporter; writes the DeBord Report KPCC.org

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