Elon Musk’s Twitter Acquisition Deemed ‘Unconventional’ by Biographer Citing Lack of Empathy

Elon Musk’s biographer, Walter Isaacson, described the acquisition of Twitter, now X, as “unwise.” He attributed this to Musk’s perceived lack of empathy and his misconception of Twitter as a tech company, despite its primary focus on the advertising business driven by human emotions, according to the Financial Times.

According to the Financial Times, Elon Musk’s biographer considers his acquisition of Twitter, now known as X, as “unwise” due to his perceived difficulty in understanding others’ emotions.

In an interview discussing his book “Elon Musk,” released on a Tuesday, author Walter Isaacson shared his perspective. He suggested that Elon Musk spent $44 billion on Twitter due to boredom with his success at companies like SpaceX and Tesla, stating, “Everything was going so well that [Musk] became uncomfortable. He doesn’t like things when they are going well. He is addicted to drama.”

Isaacson’s biography delves into Musk’s considerations of shifting focus from X to larger goals like space colonization and concerns about AI advancements. Musk told Isaacson, “It’s not like I need to be richer.”

Isaacson expressed his initial disbelief when hearing about Musk’s Twitter acquisition, anticipating a turbulent journey as his biographer. He described Musk as lacking empathy and suggested that Twitter wasn’t a good fit for him.

The biography elaborates on Musk’s perception of Twitter as a technology company, contrasting its nature as an advertising medium centered on human emotions and relationships. Advertisers have departed X since Musk’s takeover, attributed to “activist groups,” although concerns about his erratic behavior have also played a role.

Musk’s management style at X includes demanding 80-hour workweeks and dismissing those critical of him or disapproving of his humor, indicating a less diplomatic approach to leadership.

Grimes, the musician and mother of Musk’s three children, noted that Musk’s lack of empathy may be related to his Asperger’s diagnosis, saying, “He’s not good at reading the room. His emotional comprehension is just very different from the average human.”