Inside Musk Documentary: Former Insiders Reveal Unflattering Truths About Tesla and SpaceX
The new documentary "Musk" features candid admissions from current and former Tesla and SpaceX aides, exposing misleading hype and personal controversies.
Alex Gibney’s documentary “Musk,” premiering in Los Angeles and New York, presents a near-four-hour chronicle of Elon Musk’s ascent, interweaving archival material with fresh testimonies from his own inner circle. Notable moments include a deposition by Tesla engineer Ashok Elluswamy acknowledging that a 2016 promotional video overstated the company’s autonomous-driving abilities, and a recorded phone call in which Jared Birchall, Musk’s personal aide, discusses child-support terms with influencer Ashley St. Clair after she gave birth to a child fathered by Musk.
The film also traces Musk’s political engagements—from early contacts with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Dianne Feinstein to his 2024 support for Donald Trump—and highlights controversies such as a 2019 Tesla Autopilot crash that resulted in a $243 million jury award. Critics in the film warn of potential deaths linked to Musk-driven cuts to USAID programs, while also noting unverified claims about Starlink’s role in the 2024 election. Musk, who did not appear, dismissed the documentary as a “hit piece” lacking integrity.
Why it matters
Insider revelations about Musk’s misleading practices and political influence could intensify scrutiny of his companies and power.
How this story developed
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