In a forthcoming biography penned by acclaimed journalist Walter Isaacson, Elon Musk emerges as a multifaceted figure, hailed for his brilliance yet marred by his difficulty connecting with those around him, be it family, associates, or even his children. The billionaire’s tumultuous journey from a challenging upbringing in South Africa to stormy romantic relationships and his ascent as the visionary behind SpaceX and Tesla unfolds in vivid detail, courtesy of numerous interviews with family members, friends, and the enigmatic Musk himself.
Isaacson, known for his biographies of luminaries like Steve Jobs, Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, and Benjamin Franklin, draws readers into Musk’s world with an opening quote from Steve Jobs: “The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.
Twitter, Now Known as X
Musk’s audacious $44 billion purchase of Twitter in October 2022 sent shockwaves through the tech world. Despite his initial reluctance to seal the deal, Musk later humorously remarked to his four teenage sons that he acquired the social media giant to influence the upcoming U.S. presidential election, quipping, “How else are we going to get Trump elected in 2024?” Although Isaacson clarifies this as a jest, Musk’s motivations remained puzzling to his sons, who scarcely used the app.
Post-acquisition, Musk and his loyalists, known as the “musketeers” within Twitter, scrutinized internal communications and social media posts for signs of disloyalty, leading to the dismissal of numerous employees who had disparaged Musk. A surprising and regrettable incident transpired when Musk took it upon himself to move Twitter’s servers during the winter, causing service disruptions.
Personal Life
Musk’s sprawling family has been a source of solace amid the tumult of his vast business interests, yet his relationship with his father, Errol, has left lasting scars. Described as emotionally and physically abusive, Errol Musk’s derogatory remarks about Black people haunted Elon Musk. Meeting his estranged father in 2016 left Musk visibly shaken, as recounted by a friend.
In a bizarre episode, during the birth of his son X in May 2020 with musician Grimes (Claire Boucher), Musk shared a picture of the delivery with friends and family, including Grimes’ relatives, triggering shock and dismay.
Politics and Trump
Musk’s political stance defies easy classification. Despite his critiques of liberal critics and “woke” Democrats, along with the occasional promotion of far-right conspiracy theories, he is depicted as more disillusioned with the leftward shift of the Democratic Party than a fan of Republicans. Musk openly expresses his lack of admiration for former President Donald J. Trump, considering him a “con man” and “kind of nuts.”
However, he is neither a staunch Biden supporter, as he admits he would have voted for Mr. Biden in 2020 had he cast a ballot. Musk’s encounter with Mr. Biden years ago left him unimpressed, describing it as a dull affair.
Artificial Intelligence
Musk’s persistent concerns about artificial intelligence as a potential existential threat prompted his co-founding of OpenAI, although he later severed ties with the organization in 2018. He recently announced the establishment of X.AI, a rival AI company.
In a confrontational meeting with Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, Musk demanded justification for transforming a nonprofit into a for-profit venture. Musk’s fears about underpopulation, as he is the father of ten children, propelled his decision to start X.AI, as he believed digital brainpower would surpass biological intelligence. He tasked X.AI with developing AI chatbots capable of coding, political neutrality, and advanced reasoning capabilities.
Elon and the Media
Musk’s already strained relationship with the media escalated following his acquisition of Twitter. At a wedding in 2022, he faced probing questions from Larry David, co-creator of “Seinfeld,” about his support for Republican candidates in the wake of a school shooting. Musk’s response, denying support for child violence, echoed the contentious atmosphere of Twitter.
As Musk’s erratic tweets disrupted Twitter’s relationship with advertisers, he sought counsel from influential figures in the media industry, such as David Zaslav, the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, to mend the divide. Zaslav recommended focusing on product improvement and enhancing ad effectiveness.
Tesla
Tesla has long been the flagship of Musk’s corporate empire, a source of both pride and immense stress. The company’s early challenges took a toll on Musk, physically and mentally, as he admits in a 2021 interview. Musk acknowledged that the constant battle for survival was arduous, yet it provided him with purpose.
Critics, including short-sellers who bet against Tesla’s stock, added to Musk’s stress. In 2018, during Tesla’s production struggles, he vehemently criticized short-sellers as “leeches on the neck of business.” Despite this, Musk conceded that some of these traders possessed remarkably accurate insights into the company.
Tesla’s journey, marked by production sprints and challenges, solidified Musk’s philosophy known as “the algorithm.” This five-step approach, involving questioning, deletion, simplification, optimization, acceleration, and automation, became his mantra.
SpaceX
SpaceX, Musk’s brainchild, aspires to make humanity a multi-planetary species. Its success hinges on Musk’s readiness to embrace risks, occasionally yielding triumphs and at other times, setbacks.
In a pivotal moment during a 2015 rocket launch countdown, Musk made a crucial decision in the face of an unidentified liquid dripping from the Falcon 9 rocket. His choice to proceed, later revealed to be based on intuition rather than complex risk assessment, resulted in a successful launch.
To support future interplanetary travel, SpaceX introduced Starlink in 2015, aiming to provide internet access via a constellation of low-orbit satellites. Starlink has served as a lifeline in conflict zones like Ukraine but drew criticism for not allowing its services to be used in offensive military operations.
In 2021, SpaceX achieved a milestone by sending a crew into orbit without professional astronauts. Reflecting on his role in advancing space exploration, Musk emphasized the non-inevitability of becoming a space-faring civilization and the necessity of human agency for progress.
