According to a new biography of the Tesla CEO, Elon Musk became strongly “anti-woke” as a result of his daughter’s gender transition.
The billionaire’s right-wing political leanings “were partly triggered” when his then-16-year-old child, Vivian Jenna Wilson, came out to her aunt. The claim was made by Mr Musk’s biographer, Walter Isaacson, in an excerpt from his book – entitled Elon Musk – published in The Wall Street Journal on Thursday.
“Reportedly, she texted her aunt with the message, ‘Hey, I’m transgender, and my name is now Jenna. Please don’t inform my dad.’ Ms. Wilson legally changed her name and gender last June and has since distanced herself from her well-known father.
Last June, Ms. Wilson received legal permission to alter her name and gender, and she has cut all relations with her well-known father.
In the book, Mr. Musk calls his daughter a “Communist” and accuses her of ending their connection because her $50,000-per-year California school indoctrinated her into “thinking that anyone rich is evil.”
Mr. Musk said that the Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences is “partly” to blame for his daughter’s attitude change towards him.
“She went beyond socialism to being a full communist and thinking that anyone rich is evil,” said Mr Musk, who has a personal worth of $257.5bn.
Although Mr. Musk has previously attributed his daughter’s transformation to “woke” schools, this is the first time he has specifically mentioned Crossroads.
Mr Musk said that the rift with his daughter is the most painful thing he has experienced since the death of his first child at 10 weeks old from sudden infant death syndrome.
Her mother is the Canadian writer Justine Wilson, who was married to Mr Musk from 2000 to 2008.
