Elon Musk’s biographer has shed some light on the billionaire’s complicated relationship with his father Errol Musk. In his bestselling biography ‘Elon Musk’, published in September, Walter Isaacson described the turbulent tycoon as a man driven by childhood demons, obsessed with bringing human life to Mars and who demands that staff be "hardcore."
The billionaire's early life was already well known, but Isaacson focused attention on Musk's abusive and manipulative father Errol.
Walter Isaacson recently appeared on The Diary of a CEO podcast where he spoke to host Steven Bartlett about Elon Musk’s childhood. He revealed one incident which left a lasting impression on young Elon’s mind and permanently affected his relationship with his father.
According to Isaacson, South Africa-born Elon Musk was a “scrawny kid on the autism spectrum,” who was often picked on by bullies.
“He had no social input-output skills. He had no friends and he was beaten up quite often,” said Isaacson. “But the scars from that were minor compared to what happened when he went back home after being beaten up once. He was in the hospital for four days.”
When Musk returned home after being hospitalised, his father Errol Musk berated him for getting beaten up by bullies. Errol Musk called his son a “loser” and took the side of the bully who beat him up.
“His father made him stand in front of him for two hours, while the father tells him he’s a loser, that it was his fault,” revealed Isaacson.
Elon Musk no longer speaks to his father, the billionaire’s biographer revealed later during the podcast. He also said that Errol’s relationship with his stepdaughter “really messed up Elon’s mind.” Errol Musk has two children with a woman he raised as his stepdaughter.
(With inputs from AFP)
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