As the US Congress prepares for a potential shift toward a Democratic majority, director Alex Gibney is questioning whether the political system can withstand the power of money to conduct rigorous investigations into Elon Musk. Speaking with WIRED contributing editor Zoë Schiffer after a screening of his documentary 'Musk' at the WIRED World Fair, Gibney asked if Democrats could ignore financial influence to hold tough inquiries once they secure control of the House and Senate.
The documentary details multiple investigations by US government agencies into Musk's business practices, suggesting these probes partially motivated his recent support for Donald Trump and other Republican candidates. Gibney highlighted that Musk has donated over $474 million to Republican political groups during this election cycle. He noted that just prior to the screening, results in Texas were not favoring Musk, a state where he has long maintained close relationships with political leaders.
Shortly after Gibney's remarks, James Talrico was declared the winner of his Senate race and Gina Hinojosa was elected governor, marking some of the first Democratic statewide victories in Texas in over three decades. This outcome occurred despite Musk donating at least $158 million to super PACs supporting Talrico's opponent, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Gibney observed that while dropping $500 million on an election means little to Musk given his extraordinary wealth, much of that capital is tied up in company stock, raising the question of what happens if those valuations begin to fall.
The film features interviews with tech entrepreneurs, former employees, and two of Musk's ex-partners, Justine Wilson and Ashley St. Clair, alongside commentary from Schiffer and WIRED global editorial director Katie Drummond. Musk declined to be interviewed for the project; instead, Gibney's team utilized past public comments to create a simulated avatar of the billionaire wearing a leather jacket.
Musk has criticized the documentary on X as a "hit piece," and his attorney Alex Spiro sent a letter in September threatening a defamation lawsuit against Jigsaw Productions. The film's release faced hurdles, with YouTube, TikTok, and Meta initially declining to advertise the trailer, while X did not advertise it at all. Following strong festival reviews, distributor Bleecker Street moved the domestic theatrical release date up by a week in early October. The documentary will be available for rent or purchase starting November 6, concluding its theatrical run.
Sources: WIRED.