What is it really like to work for Elon Musk? New book Power Play delves into Tesla’s history and offers an insider look into the billionaire CEO’s temperamental leadership

Aug 9 , 2021

A new book about Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Power Play, reveals that the billionaire has quite the short fuse. Photo: MCT

A new book by Wall Street Journal reporter Tim Higgins sheds light on the SpaceX boss’ habit of unloading on everyone, from lobbyists to top executives

One Model S engineer faced ire upon asking whether the car should be more like a BMW or a Lexus, but Musk called the book ‘false and boring’ on Twitter

“I don’t have time for this,” Elon Musk yelled as he stormed out of a meeting about Tesla’s upcoming public offering around 2010. “I’ve got to launch the f***ing rocket!”

Elon Musk speaks during a South by Southwest 2018 session in Austin. Photo: TNS

This is one of the many heated episodes detailed in a new book out Tuesday, August 10, that documents Tesla’s 18-year rise from a puny upstart to the most valuable carmaker on the planet.

Power Play: Tesla, Elon Musk, and the Bet of the Century by The Wall Street Journal’s Tim Higgins sheds new light on the impulsive SpaceX and Tesla CEO’s short fuse and habit to unload on anyone – from hourly workers to strangers to top executives – who he saw as a threat to Tesla’s growth.

Sometimes employees drew Musk’s ire for seemingly no reason at all.

A member of the media test drives a Tesla Motors Inc. Model S car equipped with Autopilot in Palo Alto, California, US, in October 2015. Photo: Bloomberg

Circa 2010, as Tesla was developing its first mass-market car, the Model S sedan, engineers on the project would occasionally hitch rides from Los Angeles to Silicon Valley on Musk’s private jet. On one such trip, an engineer recalled asking Musk his opinion on the sedan’s suspension – should it be sporty like a BMW, or more cushy like a Lexus?

“I’m going to sell a f*** load of cars, so whatever suspension you need so I can sell a f*** load of cars – that’s the suspension I want,” Musk replied according to the engineer.

Musk gained a reputation for exploding at top executives too. Ahead of each weekly executive committee meeting, members would joke about Musk’s lunch plans. “Who would he be devouring this week?” they wondered, according to the book.

Elon Musk in April 2015 during an event at Tesla’s plant in Hawthorne, California. Photo: TNS

Musk became increasingly frustrated with Peter Rawlinson, who was leading the development of the Model S. During one spat, Musk towered over the chief engineer screaming, “I don’t believe you!” as he jabbed a finger toward Rawlinson’s chest. Rawlinson eventually quit and later started an electric car company of his own, Lucid Motors.

Musk’s fuse grew shorter throughout 2016 and beyond, as the company struggled to develop and manufacture the Model 3 sedan, a more affordable car that threatened to make or break the carmaker.