In 2018, Musk appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast and discussed various

topics for over two hours. During the interview, Musk sampled a puff from a cigar
consisting, the host claimed, of tobacco laced with cannabis. Tesla stock dropped
after the incident, which coincided with the confirmation of the departure of
Tesla's vice president of worldwide finance earlier that day.[279] Fortune wondered
if the cannabis use could have ramifications for SpaceX contracts with the United
States Air Force, though an Air Force spokesperson told The Verge that there was no
investigation and that the Air Force was still determining the facts.[280] In a 60
Minutes interview, Musk said of the incident: "I do not smoke pot. As anybody who
watched that podcast could tell, I have no idea how to smoke pot."[281]
In 2018, Musk appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast and discussed various
topics for over two hours. During the interview, Musk sampled a puff from a cigar
consisting, the host claimed, of tobacco laced with cannabis. Tesla stock dropped
after the incident, which coincided with the confirmation of the departure of
Tesla's vice president of worldwide finance earlier that day.[279] Fortune wondered
if the cannabis use could have ramifications for SpaceX contracts with the United
States Air Force, though an Air Force spokesperson told The Verge that there was no
investigation and that the Air Force was still determining the facts.[280] In a 60
Minutes interview, Musk said of the incident: "I do not smoke pot. As anybody who
watched that podcast could tell, I have no idea how to smoke pot."[281]
Music
In 2019, Musk, through Emo G Records, released a rap track, "RIP Harambe", on
SoundCloud. The track, which refers to the killing of Harambe the gorilla and the
subsequent Internet sensationalism surrounding the event, was performed by Yung
Jake, written by Yung Jake and Caroline Polachek, and produced by BloodPop.[282]
[283] The following year, Musk released an EDM track, "Don't Doubt Ur Vibe",
featuring his own lyrics and vocals.[284] While Guardian critic Alexi Petridis
described it as "indistinguishable... from umpteen competent but unthrilling bits
of bedroom electronica posted elsewhere on Soundcloud",[285] TechCrunch said it was
"not a bad representation of the genre".[284]
In 2019, Musk, through Emo G Records, released a rap track, "RIP Harambe", on
SoundCloud. The track, which refers to the killing of Harambe the gorilla and the
subsequent Internet sensationalism surrounding the event, was performed by Yung
Jake, written by Yung Jake and Caroline Polachek, and produced by BloodPop.[282]
[283] The following year, Musk released an EDM track, "Don't Doubt Ur Vibe",
featuring his own lyrics and vocals.[284] While Guardian critic Alexi Petridis
described it as "indistinguishable... from umpteen competent but unthrilling bits
of bedroom electronica posted elsewhere on Soundcloud",[285] TechCrunch said it was
"not a bad representation of the genre".[284]
Wealth
A graph of Musk's net worth from 2012 to 2021, displaying a roughly exponential
trend
Musk's net worth from 2013 to 2022 as estimated by Forbes magazine
Musk made $175.8 million when PayPal was sold to eBay in 2002.[286] He was first
listed on the Forbes Billionaires List in 2012, with a net worth of $2 billion.
[287]
Musk made $175.8 million when PayPal was sold to eBay in 2002.[286] He was first
listed on the Forbes Billionaires List in 2012, with a net worth of $2 billion.
[287]
At the start of 2020, Musk had a net worth of $27 billion.[288] By the year's end
his net worth had increased by $150 billion, mostly driven by his ownership of
around 20% of Tesla stock.[289] During this period, Musk's net worth was often
volatile. For example, it dropped $16.3 billion in September, the largest single-
day plunge in Bloomberg Billionaires Index's history.[290] In November of that
year, Musk passed Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg to become the third-richest
person in the world; a week later he passed Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates to
become the second-richest.[291] In January 2021, Musk, with a net worth of $185
billion, surpassed Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to become the richest person in the
world.[292] Bezos reclaimed the top spot the following month.[293] On September 27,
2021, after Tesla stock surged, Forbes announced that Musk had a net worth of over
$200 billion, and was the richest person in the world.[294] In November 2021, Musk
became the first person worth over $300 billion.[29
5]
5]
Around three-quarters of Musk's wealth derives from Tesla.[291] Musk does not
receive a salary from Tesla; he agreed with the board in 2018 to a compensation
plan that ties his personal earnings to Tesla's valuation and revenue.[289] The
deal stipulated that Musk only receives the compensation if Tesla reaches certain
market values.[296] It was the largest such deal ever done between a CEO and a
company board.[297] In the first award, given in May 2020, he was eligible to
purchase 1.69 million Tesla shares (about 1% of the company) at below-market
prices, which was worth about $800 million.[297][296]
Around three-quarters of Musk's wealth derives from Tesla.[291] Musk does not
receive a salary from Tesla; he agreed with the board in 2018 to a compensation
plan that ties his personal earnings to Tesla's valuation and revenue.[289] The
deal stipulated that Musk only receives the compensation if Tesla reaches certain
market values.[296] It was the largest such deal ever done between a CEO and a
company board.[297] In the first award, given in May 2020, he was eligible to
purchase 1.69 million Tesla shares (about 1% of the company) at below-market
prices, which was worth about $800 million.[297][296]
Musk paid $455 million in taxes on $1.52 billion of income between 2014 and 2018.
[298] According to ProPublica, Musk paid no federal income taxes in 2018.[299] He
claimed his 2021 tax bill was estimated at $12 billion based on his sale of $14
billion worth of Tesla stock.[298]
Musk paid $455 million in taxes on $1.52 billion of income between 2014 and 2018.
[298] According to ProPublica, Musk paid no federal income taxes in 2018.[299] He
claimed his 2021 tax bill was estimated at $12 billion based on his sale of $14
billion worth of Tesla stock.[298]
In 2003, Musk said his favorite plane he owned was an L-39 Albatros.[300] He uses a
private jet owned by Falcon Landing LLC, a SpaceX-linked company, and acquired a
second jet in August 2020.[301][302] The jet's heavy use of fossil fuels—it flew
over 150,000 miles in 2018—has received criticism.[301][303]
In 2003, Musk said his favorite plane he owned was an L-39 Albatros.[300] He uses a
private jet owned by Falcon Landing LLC, a SpaceX-linked company, and acquired a
second jet in August 2020.[301][302] The jet's heavy use of fossil fuels—it flew
over 150,000 miles in 2018—has received criticism.[301][303]
Musk has repeatedly described himself as "cash poor",[304][305] and has "professed
to have little interest in the material trappings of wealth".[304] In May 2020, he
pledged to sell almost all physical possessions.[305] Musk defended his wealth by
saying he is accumulating resources for humanity's outward expansion to space.[306]
Musk has repeatedly described himself as "cash poor",[304][305] and has "professed
to have little interest in the material trappings of wealth".[304] In May 2020, he
pledged to sell almost all physical possessions.[305] Musk defended his wealth by
saying he is accumulating resources for humanity's outward expansion to space.[306]
Personal views and Twitter usage
Personal views and Twitter usage
Main article: Views of Elon Musk
Since joining Twitter in 2009,[307] Musk has been an active user and has over 100
million followers as of June 2022.[308] He posts memes, promotes business
interests, and comments on contemporary political and cultural issues.[309] Musk's
statements have often provoked controversy, such as for mocking preferred gender
pronouns,[310][311] and comparing Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau to Adolf
Hitler in support of the 2022 Canada convoy protest.[312] The New York Times
describes his contributions to international relations as "chaotic". Critics of
Musk have argued that there is a lack of separation between his opinions and his
business interests.[313]
Since joining Twitter in 2009,[307] Musk has been an active user and has over 100
million followers as of June 2022.[308] He posts memes, promotes business
interests, and comments on contemporary political and cultural issues.[309] Musk's
statements have often provoked controversy, such as for mocking preferred gender
pronouns,[310][311] and comparing Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau to Adolf
Hitler in support of the 2022 Canada convoy protest.[312] The New York Times
describes his contributions to international relations as "chaotic". Critics of
Musk have argued that there is a lack of separation between his opinions and his
business interests.[313]
Existential threats
Musk standing at a wooden podium talking at the 2006 Mars Society Conference
Musk giving details about Falcon 9 and Dragon spacecraft at the 2006 Mars Society
Conference
Musk has stated that artificial intelligence poses the greatest existential threat
to humanity.[314][315] He has warned of a "Terminator-like" AI apocalypse and
suggested that the government should regulate its safe development.[316][317] In
2015, Musk was a cosignatory, along with Stephen Hawking and hundreds of others, of
the Open Letter on Artificial Intelligence, which called for the ban of autonomous
weapons.[318] Musk's AI stances have been called alarmist and sensationalist by
critics such as computer scientist Yann LeCun and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg,[319]
[320] and led the think tank Information Technology and Innovation Foundation to
award Musk its Annual Luddite Award in 2016.[321]