Elon Musk Biographer on How the Tesla CEO Acts Behind Closed Doors | WSJ

Elon Musk, leader of companies like Tesla, SpaceX and X, is one of the most influential and unpredictable CEOs in the world. Musk’s biographer, Walter Isaacson, spent two years at the billionaire’s side learning about his life and leadership qualities.

In this full, extended interview with the Wall Street Journal, he shares an inside look at the Tesla CEO’s psychological struggles, his business strategies and what it’s like to experience his ‘demon mode.’

0:00 Musk’s multiple personalities
1:15 Access to Musk
4:26 Musk’s childhood and father
7:36 Musk losing his temper
9:58 Musk’s ‘demon mode’
15:17 Musk compared to Steve Jobs
17:32 Negative feedback and the algorithm
20:10 Musk’s geopolitical power with Starlink
23:33 Why Musk wanted to own Twitter
27:03 Will Musk turn into his father?

#ElonMusk #Tesla #WSJ

[Dubitz]

This interviewer keeps asking negative questions of Musk, and yet Isaacson keeps answering as neutral as possible while also complimenting Musk (and Jobs too) and giving credit where credit is due to them. Makes me appreciate Isaacson much more now, I definitely support his positive judgement of Musk after spending so much time so close to him.

[DREAMSANDSOUL]

Not "demon" but deeply traumatized as a child. This is so sad. I've been working many years in the IT industry and I can tell you, I would never ever work for such people again

[sylviaowega]

I read Walter Isaacson’s biography on Einstein and Ben Franklin, and found him to be one of the greatest biographers.

[LisaAerts]

Mr. Isaacson is describing a mental health problem, not a demon mode, and I believe the most important thing about his personality, he's really creepy.

[treehugger]

Scary to think that this dude has so much power

[GregMoylan-pnsr]

Isaacson thinks and speaks so clearly. A delight to listen to this man, either as a host or a guest.

[mfax]

Brutality honest. Enjoyed this book review.

[rollingthunderinho]

Walter Isaacson is an incredible author and speaker. Amazing interview I’m buying this book asap

[Kauffy]

Mistaking confidence for competence is how you wind up with people like Musk.

[Jane-zvpu]

Walter is an outstanding interviewer and biographer. He is intelligent, honest and empathetic. Well done, Walter!😊

[glorialush]

Walter Isaacson wrote a great book. I enjoyed it immensely!

[LVCMS]

The key line, don't try to be like Elon Musk. Be yourself!! Their is a huge sacrifice people on this level make... We all make sacrifices you just need to own what you do and how you do it. Everyone thinks you are crazy until you are right. Mistakes are done by people doing stuff, make no mistakes, likely your are not doing anything. I love the algorithm method...
First principals... Question requirements. Love it

[stene]

I read most of previous Walter Isaacson books (Franklin, Jobs, DaVinci, Einstein and Innovators) and they are brilliant. Now 1/3 read from this one and so far excellent book again. This guy has a skill to make topics like the history of computer science a interesting story you just can't stop reading.

[vickilawrence]

Traumatized kids will often be addicted to drama. Some have it so bad that they’re constantly looking for anything to blow up about and they can be hellish to be around

[antetesija]

What a nice and wellspoken man sir Isaac is

[Truthseeker]

It's interesting to note the biographer insinuates the childhood experience lasts as long as we live. I cannot agree enough with his comment. Whether genius, villan, or ordinary persons, we all have some negative childhood memories, the dark side. How we deal with it changes our life in the adulthood. In the same token, the importance of upbringing is undeniable and affects not only the individual but also the society.

[martinsmith]

what a wonderful and fantastic interview! thanks!

[waterwomaninFL]

I love this biographer but clarification, Steve Jobs did not invent the Macintosh, Steve Wozniak did. Steve Jobs was a brilliant man, salesman, inventor and motivator. Waz was the brilliant innovator..

[edward_lee]

Good interview! Well prepared with good questions

[ShaneShepherd]

Wow, what a fantastic interview. I was on the fence about buying this book prior to seeing this interview. Now, is a musk-buy!