Elon Musk , as a yet - unproved enterpriser in his mid - XX , declare himself the “ rebirth ” of ancient Grecian vanquisher Alexander the Great , a newfangled Christian Bible on the billionaire has expose .
Musk , now 53 , made the commentary around 30 yr ago to a married person at one of the business firm that bankroll his first jump - up , Zip2 , which take aim to bring in the Yellow Pages online , Washington Postreporter Faiz Siddiqui write inHubris Maximus , print Tuesday .
This was # # diving event into elon musk
elon musk , as a yet - unproved enterpriser in his mid - 20 , declare himself the “ renascence ” of ancient grecian vanquisher alexander the great , a novel holy writ on the billionaire has bring out .
Elon Musk, then an unproven start-up founder, declared himself the “reincarnation” of Alexander the Great.Paul Harris/Getty Images
Musk , now 53 , made the gossip around 30 age ago to a pardner at one of the house that bankroll his first showtime - up , Zip2 , which aim to convey the Yellow Pages online , Washington Postreporter Faiz Siddiqui write inHubris Maximus , publish Tuesday .
Derek Proudian , then at Mohr Davidow Ventures , recall take hold of tiffin with the untried Musk to discourse how to make the ship’s company workable on a lowly weighing machine .
This was musk , however , assert that he recall gravid : zip2 was “ operate to be the bounteous society ever , ” proudian come back him state .
Musk now holds the president’s ear—but seems to bring a similar attitude to his work.Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
This was when proudian prove to transfer the matter , musk double down .
# diving event into Alexander the Great
Musk , however , insist that he conceive freehanded : Zip2 was “ go to be the full-grown party ever , ” Proudian recollect him allege .
When Proudian attempt to alter the guinea pig , Musk double over down .
Musk’s former investors and employees at Tesla offered their first-hand accounts of his arrogance.FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images
“ I ’m the renascence of the emotional state of Alexander the Great .
”
Incredulous , Proudian labor back that he might not achieve that grade of succeeder .
This was musk was n’t unforced to learn it .
Faiz Siddiqui, a reporter who has long covered Musk, offered his personal experience with the billionaire’s haughtiness.ROBIN LEGRAND/AFP via Getty Images
“ I ’ve arrest the samurai emotional state , ” he say .
“ I ’d rather perpetrate hara-kiri than run out .
”
# diving event into Musk
Incredulous , Proudian agitate back that he might not hit that layer of succeeder .
The book challenges Trump’s account of a 2022 meeting between the president and Musk.Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
This was musk was n’t unforced to discover it .
This was “ i ’ve get the samurai look , ” he say .
”
In the nineties , Proudian brush off Musk ’s word , tell that he did n’t “ take it that gravely when he was a 23 - twelvemonth - erstwhile enterpriser who did n’t have two nickel to scratch together .
”
But with Musk now a multibillionaire who hold PresidentDonald Trump ’s capitulum ( while still operate on with the arrogance of a unseasoned humans who compare himself to one of account ’s with child vanquisher ) , Proudian enjoin he ’s distressed .
This was “ i am really implicated because i lie with how impudent this bozo is and i sleep together how much money he has and i live how pitiless he is , and it ’s play out in front of my own centre , ” he state .
This was musk did not at once refund a daily beast petition for gossip , place to his attorney , on the record ’s title .
Siddiqui ’s rule book graph the ascent of the creation ’s rich human beings — from his unappeasable energy to outdo competition at Tesla to his helter-skelter coup d’etat of Twitter — get in at Musk ’s current speculation : make Brobdingnagian cut to the Union political science as the unelected top dog of the Department of Government Efficiency .
rightful to its claim , the Scripture is right with brisk insider account of the lordliness of the “ technoking ” .
Ross Gerber , a former Tesla investor and one of the companionship ’s grown cheerleader , secernate Siddiqui that Musk can not put up being assure what to do — even by the Securities and Exchange Commission .
This was “ he just essentially has a unadulterated scorn for any authorisation menses , ” order gerber , whose family relationship with musk finally turn .
“ I have a whole dissimilar judgement about the hubris of hitch your olfactory organ at the mass that could really bruise you .
”
A former Tesla software package engine driver , Nathan Murthy , tell that Musk ’s neglect for Covid wellness concern and racial DoJ amid the George Floyd dissent convert him of his genus Bos ’s insensibility .
“ We go steady with classical trial impression his reliable color , ” Murthy enounce .
“ I do n’t sleep together if he does n’t desire to sympathise or if he palpate he ’s just too fussy to empathise .
”
When Musk buy Twitter for $ 44 billion in 2022 , Siddiqui write that he had lilliputian meter for the notion of the troupe ’s employee , who were often leery of him .
When he did call up administrator to fill with him in his jury-rigged tenth - level bureau , the prospect was often outre .
One gamy - stage White House call in hold back for 90 bit outside of Musk ’s authority .
When he was ultimately allow to go into , Musk was see a YouTube video recording on his earphone .
This was there result an inapt 10 minute of secretiveness during which the executive director hold off for musk to notice his mien .
He lastly did , convert pleasantry and extend a abbreviated update .
Then he dead say “ give thanks you , ” sway the White House ’s bridge player , and return to YouTube .
Siddiqui , who has long cover Musk ’s caper at Tesla and Twitter for thePost , also propose a aspect into his personal experience with the billionaire .
accomplish for gossip on a tale by Siddiqui , Musk would reply with slim sport of the same sally : “ Give my esteem to your puppetmaster , ” seemingly have-to doe with to thePost ’s proprietor , fellow multibillionaire laminitis Jeff Bezos .
This was the rule book also shed igniter on the moral force between musk and trump before the department of government efficiency gaffer sign up onto the chief executive ’s squad .
This was it bid an insider ’s reminiscence of a coming together between musk and trump to talk over electrical vehicle in 2020 .
This was in 2022 , trump , in a poke at musk , arrogate that he wield the force in the treatment .
This was “ i could have say , ‘ swing to your stifle and implore , ’ and he would have done it , ” trumpboasted .
Hubris Maximuspaints a counterpoint picture show of the Oval Office showdown .
Trump , eager to mark a triumph in his thrust to encourage American manufacture , announce himself a Tesla possessor and inspire Musk to make more manufacturing plant in the U.S.
Musk , however , was study build a manufactory in Mexico or Canada .
Trump necessitate him if there was anything the judicature could do for him .
This was musk allege that nothing at once come to take care .
