Alex Gibney’s ‘Musk’ Has a Unique Perspective on Daddy Issues
Director Alex Gibney’s new documentary, 'Musk,' offers a critical look at Elon Musk’s life and business practices, utilizing a simulated version of the CEO created from his public statements. The film explores Musk's complex relationships and his ability to influence public perception and stock prices.
Why it matters
The documentary provides a high-profile, critical examination of one of the world's most influential and controversial business figures.
Eventually, the director would speak with scores of Musk’s associates for his film. His first wife, Justine Musk, appears, as does his ex-girlfriend Ashley St. Claire. Journalist Kara Swisher, LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman, myself, and WIRED global editorial director Katie Drummond also spoke to Gibney for Musk, which hits theaters nationwide on Friday. But landing Errol Musk, with whom the Tesla and SpaceX CEO has a complicated relationship, was a watershed.
“Everybody else took a lot of persuasion,” Gibney says. “It was very difficult to get people to appear because the risk profile for talking about Musk in a way that was honest was high.”
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