SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk shares unique insights in an extensive conversation with CNBC.
In a comprehensive interview with CNBC’s David Faber following Tesla’s 2023 annual shareholder meeting, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk shared his thoughts on an array of topics, from his management of Twitter to his views on work, productivity, and global economics.
Musk opened up about his takeover of Twitter, revealing that Twitter’s Community Notes feature had resulted in a $40 million loss for the platform when two major clients pulled back on their ad spending. He likened his experience with the social media giant to being “teleported into a plane that’s in a nosedive headed to the ground with the engines on fire and the controls don’t work.” He also defended his controversial tweets and his freedom to express his views, stating, “I’ll say what I want, and if the consequence of that is losing money, so be it.”
On the topic of work and productivity, Musk revealed his rigorous schedule, which includes working seven days a week and taking only two to three days off per year. He believes advocating for remote work is morally wrong when service workers still need to report in person.
Addressing Tesla’s economic standing, Musk predicted a challenging year ahead due to increasing interest rates. However, he expressed confidence in Tesla’s real-time information on demand and pricing adjustment capabilities. He also expressed concern about the Federal Reserve’s potential slow response in lowering interest rates when the economy slows.
Discussing the global economy, Musk warned of the significant impact if China attempts to control Taiwan, likening the Chinese and global economies to “conjoined twins.” Musk noted that this move would have repercussions for various companies, potentially even affecting iPhone availability.
Musk also touched on his early involvement with OpenAI, expressing disappointment that the company has moved away from its non-profit origins. He also revealed a falling out with Google co-founder Larry Page over differing views on human and machine consciousness.
Finally, Musk shared his political views, affirming his belief in the legitimacy of Joe Biden’s 2020 election win, albeit with suspicions of some voting fraud. He admitted voting for Biden but expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of political leadership.
