The billionaire entrepreneur, Elon Musk, is the subject of a new biography that depicts him as a complex and tormented individual. Despite his remarkable achievements in creating SpaceX and Tesla, his brilliance is often overshadowed by his inability to connect with those around him, including his wives, children, and colleagues who were essential in building his space exploration and electric car businesses. The book, written by Walter Isaacson, delves into Musk’s difficult childhood in South Africa, his tumultuous relationships, his visionary success, and his impulsive decision to purchase Twitter. It features numerous interviews with family members, friends, business associates, and Musk himself. The biography opens with a quote from Steve Jobs, recognizing the drive and determination of individuals who believe they can change the world. The New York Times obtained early copies of the book from a retail store.
In the book, it is revealed that Musk acquired Twitter in October 2022 for $44 billion, though he initially seemed hesitant to follow through with the purchase. He jokingly told his teenage sons that he bought Twitter to influence the next U.S. presidential election, an explanation they struggled to understand as they rarely used the app. After the acquisition, Musk and his loyalists within Twitter scrutinized the internal communications and social media posts of employees, firing dozens who made negative comments about him. Musk even orchestrated a surprise raid on a Twitter data facility to move servers himself, leading to service outages and regretting the decision later.
The biography explores Musk’s personal life and the impact his upbringing has had on him. His relationship with his father, described as emotionally and physically abusive, has left lasting trauma. The book also mentions an incident when Musk shared a photo of his son’s birth with family and friends without consulting his partner, Grimes, causing distress and confusion.
Musk’s political views are portrayed as complex and independent. While he expresses criticism towards liberal critics and occasionally promotes far-right conspiracy theories, he does not align himself strictly with Republicans and shows a deep disdain for former President Donald J. Trump. Musk had an unimpressive encounter with President Joe Biden in the past, describing him as boring and repetitive. The biography also delves into Musk’s concerns about artificial intelligence and his decision to start his own AI company, X.AI, motivated by his belief that human intelligence is stagnating while computer intelligence is rapidly advancing.
The book touches on Musk’s strained relationship with the media, which worsened after his acquisition of Twitter. It recounts an uncomfortable confrontation between Musk and Larry David, where Musk was questioned about his support for Republican candidates following a school shooting. Musk sought advice from media industry figures, such as David Zaslav, on how to repair the damage caused by his erratic tweets.
Lastly, the biography delves into Musk’s experiences with Tesla, his pride and stress. The early struggles of the company took a toll on Musk, both physically and mentally. He acknowledged the difficulty of being in a constant battle for survival but also found purpose in the high-pressure environment. Despite Tesla’s success, it faced criticism from various sources.