Elon Musk’s biographer, Walter Isaacson, has shed light on the billionaire’s traumatic past, especially his difficult relationship with his father, Errol Musk. The disclosures made during Isaacson’s podcast interview for The Diary of a CEO shed light on Musk’s early years, which were characterised by bullying and a tense relationship with his father.
‘Elon Musk’, the best-selling book by Isaacson, explores the painful recollections and presents Errol as a “abusive and manipulative” character in Musk’s life. One moving story that Isaacson brought to light was when Musk was a student and experienced bullying. Due to his lack of social skills and loneliness, Musk, a South African-born man characterised as a “scrawny kid on the spectrum of autism,” was frequently targeted by bullies.
The biographer described what happened after Musk was beaten up and spent four days in the hospital. Errol Musk unexpectedly sided with the bullies after returning home, calling his kid a “loser” for allowing himself to be attacked.
Isaacson also discussed the contentious connection between Elon Musk and his stepdaughter, which has had a long-lasting effect on Musk’s mental health. Errol was notably the father of two children by a lady he had raised as his stepdaughter. The Tesla CEO’s complicated past, as revealed by Isaacson, provides insight into the nuanced aspects of his personality.
