Conflict with Edison
During his days of working for Edison, the two famous inventors came to a major disagreement. One day, Tesla mentioned that he could improve the motors and generators to make them more efficient. Edison agreed and offered Tesla $50,000 if he could do it. After working on a new design for several months, Tesla went to Edison, with a completed blueprint and asked about the payment. Edison claimed that he was only joking about the money, and replied, saying "Tesla, you don't understand our American humor". Instead of the payment, he proposed only a $10 raise on Tesla's wages. Also, during the "War of Currents" between Edison, with direct current electricity, and Tesla, with alternating current electricity, Edison launched a campaign to convince people not to use AC electricity. His idea was to show the public just how dangerous AC was, by killing stray animals with it. Additionally, Edison hired Harold Brown to build the first ever electric chair, powered by an alternating current, again to display just how dangerous Tesla's patent really was.
Picture thanks to: http://rashellhomework.blogspot.ca/2012/08/thomas-alva-edison-vs-nicolas-tesla.html