Elon Muskis admitting that the stress of his multibillion-dollar companies is taking a toll on his well-being.
“This past year has been the most difficult and painful year of my career,” Musk — the co-founder and CEO of SpaceX, Tesla and Neuralink — told theNew York Timeson Thursday. “It was excruciating.”
Musk — who reportedly alternated between laughing and crying during his interview—detailed a life filled with 120-hour work weeks, which has often prevented him from seeing family and almost kept him from making it to his brother’s wedding in Catalonia.
This intense schedule has been the case for the better part of the last two decades, which has spanned Musk’s three marriages, the births of his twins and triplets andthe loss of his infant sonin 2002 due to SIDS.
“There were times when I didn’t leave the factory for three or four days — days when I didn’t go outside,” he said. “This has really come at the expense of seeing my kids. And seeing friends.”
When Musk turned 47 in June, there wasn’t much of a celebration, he “struggled” to tell the newspaper. He spent the entire 24 hours of the day at work.
“All night — no friends, nothing,” Musk said.
Because he has trouble resting, the Tesla CEO — who dated actressAmber Heardon and off for years — also admitted he sometimes uses Ambien, apowerful sleep medication.
“It is often a choice of no sleep or Ambien,” he said. TheTimesreported that members of Tesla’s board have expressed concern about his use of the medication, which can sometimes prove addictive.
TheTimesinterview comes during a tumultuous time for Musk, which has seen him become the focus of controversy, largely due to his social media usage.
Musk sent out a series of now-deleted tweets referring to Unsworth as a “pedo guy.” Muskapologized for his remarks, but Tesla shares took a hit the following day, and Unsworth saidhe is considering legal action.
Musk found Twitter controversy once again in early August, when he published a tweet announcing he was taking Tesla private for $420 a share, and already had “funding secured.” The message sent Tesla’s stock soaring, but it became the focus of an SEC investigation and reportedly infuriated Tesla shareholders. It also became ameme.
The tweet — which got more than 22,000 replies — led many to believe Elon was using marijuana when he sent it because it referenced “420.” Musk said that was not the case.
“I was not on weed, to be clear,” he told theTimes. “Weed is not helpful for productivity.”
While Tesla’s products are largely praised for their technological advancements and has enjoyed success, Musk said he has paid a price for it.
“I thought the worst of it was over — I thought it was,” he said. “The worst is over from a Tesla operational standpoint… But from a personal pain standpoint, the worst is yet to come.”
Elon Musk and Grimes.Neilson Barnard/Getty
Last week, Musk — who is dating the singer Grimes — was the target of a series of tweets from Azealia Banks, who alleged she spent a weekend at Musk’s home with hisgirlfriend Grimes. In the tweets, Banks claimed Musk posted his “funding secured” tweet while using acid, and that she was only invited to participate in a threesome that didn’t take place.
A spokesperson for Musk told PEOPLE the claims are “absolute nonsense.”
TheTimesreported that Tesla’s brass may be looking to hire a No. 2 executive to help relieve Musk of some of his day-to-day duties. When asked if he would consider leaving his role with the company, Musk responded in the negative, but said if there was someone who could do it better than him, he would reconsider.
“They can have the job,” he said. “Is there someone who can do the job better? They can have the reins right now.”
source: people.com
