Elon Musk’s Mom Says It’s ‘So Weird’ Tesla And Her Son Had 20 Years Of Negative Press, But ‘Everyone I Meet Thanks Me For His Companies’
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has had no shortage of headlines over the past two decades. His mother, Maye Musk, thinks the coverage has been tilted heavily in one direction.
"It’s so weird that Elon and Tesla have received mainly negative press for the past 20 years, yet everyone I meet thanks me for his companies," Maye wrote on X.
The mother of the billionaire was responding to a post about The Hollywood Reporter’s coverage of filmmaker Alex Gibney’s upcoming documentary about her son. The story included a particularly unflattering description from someone who had worked closely with Musk, who told Gibney, "He’s the most miserable man I’ve ever met."
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Maye wasn’t having it.
"This is weird @THR," she wrote. "I haven’t seen him miserable, but that’s just me. His mom."
Actor James Woods joined the exchange in support of Maye and her son. Maye then used the conversation to make a much broader point about how Musk and Tesla have been portrayed.
Maye Musk Points To The Disconnect
After saying that people regularly thank her for Musk’s companies, she asked, "Do people not believe the media?"
The 20-year characterization is Maye’s view, rather than a formal measurement of media coverage. Still, Tesla and Musk have been the subjects of plenty of negative headlines over the years.
Tesla has faced scrutiny over vehicle safety, Autopilot and Full Self-Driving, production problems and Musk’s leadership. Musk has also generated controversy over his activity on X, his political involvement and his frequent public clashes.
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That isn’t the whole picture. Tesla’s transformation of the electric vehicle market and SpaceX’s achievements in space have also produced substantial positive coverage.
For Maye, the issue appears to be the gap between those public narratives and what she says she hears in person.
Tesla’s Headlines Have Covered Plenty Of Ground
The criticism surrounding Tesla hasn’t centered on one issue.
Safety investigations have produced headlines. So have recalls, software concerns, financial results and changes in the company’s vehicle lineup. Musk’s own actions have often added another layer, particularly as his profile outside the auto industry has grown.
The result is a company that can dominate the news cycle for reasons that have little to do with how its vehicles perform on the road.
Maye’s argument is that the public’s reaction doesn’t always match the coverage.
A Different Kind Of Investment Conversation
Maye also pointed followers toward her upcoming book, "Timeless," where she says she discusses the subject.
For investors, there’s a lesson buried in the media back-and-forth. Headlines can shape sentiment, and sentiment can move markets. A CEO’s comment, a viral post or a wave of negative coverage can send a stock swinging even when the underlying business hasn’t changed overnight.
That’s why investment decisions shouldn’t hinge on the latest headline alone. Understanding a company’s financials, valuation, risks and long-term prospects can matter far more than the mood of the news cycle.
Having a financial professional in the corner can help put those swings into perspective. AdviserMatch can connect investors with financial advisers who can help evaluate investments and build a strategy based on individual goals rather than whatever story is dominating the market that day.
In Musk’s case, the headlines have been anything but quiet. Maye clearly doesn’t expect that to change anytime soon.
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