Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney’s new documentary, “Musk,” offers an extensive exploration of Elon Musk’s rise to becoming the world’s first trillionaire, tracing his life from his childhood in South Africa to the initial public offering of SpaceX in June 2024. The film, nearly four hours long with a built-in intermission, seeks to address how Musk amassed unprecedented power and influence across business and politics.
Gibney, known for works examining corporate misconduct and political issues, was initially hesitant to undertake another project on Musk given existing biographies and coverage. However, discussions with investors and developments in Musk’s political involvement, including his vocal support for Donald J. Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, prompted Gibney to extend the film’s scope and duration. HBO executives noted that allowing the project to evolve ensured the film reflects ongoing developments related to Musk.
“Musk” incorporates interviews with Musk’s ex-wives, former colleagues, and close associates, as well as archival footage spanning more than 30 years. Notably, the film features an artificial intelligence-generated avatar that "speaks" using Musk’s own audio clips. This creative choice was made after Musk declined requests to participate directly, responding to outreach efforts with dismissive remarks on social media and preventing others close to him from speaking on the record.
The documentary presents a multifaceted portrait of Musk’s personal and professional life. It depicts a turbulent childhood marked by alleged family violence and bullying during apartheid-era South Africa. Musk’s father, Errol Musk, described incidents involving deadly encounters with intruders, while Musk’s mother, Maye Musk, separated from Errol amid allegations of abuse, which he denies.
On the business front, the film examines Musk’s pattern of “failing upward,” highlighting episodes such as his removal from the startup Zip2 and later PayPal, each exit accompanied by substantial financial settlements. Musk’s acquisition of Twitter (now X) and its significant loss of market value are also discussed, with varied estimates on the extent of the decline. The documentary scrutinizes Musk’s role in Tesla, emphasizing that although he is widely credited as a founder, the company was originally established by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning. It further examines Tesla’s promotion of technologies such as battery swapping and Autopilot, noting controversies including misleading advertising and safety concerns linked to vehicle crashes.
“Musk” also delves into Musk’s personal life, including extensive interviews with Justine Musk, his first wife, and Ashley St. Clair, a former partner. The film portrays Musk’s intense focus on increasing his family’s birthrate, featuring claims from St. Clair about Musk’s communications with multiple women regarding fatherhood. Both women suggest Musk maintains a distant relationship with his children and their mothers, with St. Clair describing favoritism toward one child fathered with musician Claire Boucher, known as Grimes.
The documentary addresses Musk’s political and global reach, particularly through SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet system. Gibney argues that Musk’s control over Starlink has given him leverage in international conflicts, such as Ukraine’s war with Russia, by supplying or withholding technology. The film also covers Musk’s brief tenure leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) during the Trump administration, suggesting that Musk and his associates gained unprecedented access to data and government infrastructure. Gibney raises questions about Musk’s early knowledge of the 2024 election results and the potential implications of data access, though he stops short of alleging direct manipulation.
The film’s release has encountered challenges. Its extended runtime raised concerns about audience engagement, though early festival responses were largely positive. Universal Pictures, responsible for the international distribution, initially showed hesitation in release planning, possibly due to the film’s political content, while the U.S. distributor, Bleecker Street, faced issues promoting the documentary’s trailer on social media platforms amid automated classification as political advertising. These restrictions were later reversed.
Gibney situates “Musk” within a broader cultural moment characterized by increasing scrutiny of influential technology leaders, alongside upcoming films about figures like Mark Zuckerberg and Sam Altman. He suggests that these works reflect a growing awareness of the concentration of power among a small cadre of tech entrepreneurs, questioning narratives that portray their innovations as purely altruistic.
Representatives for Elon Musk did not respond to requests for comment on the film or its content. Gibney’s documentary is slated for wider release early next year, offering a comprehensive and critical look at one of the most impactful and controversial figures shaping the modern technological and political landscape.