The growing blowback from years of spreading conspiracy theories, embracing far-right political causes and attempting to dismantle the US government (with calamitous results for millions) might have finally taken its toll on Elon Musk and his companies. Or perhaps not.

Last week’s Tesla earnings call ended on a somber note, with world’s richest man declaring his struggling and divisive electric car company could have  “a few rough quarters” ahead. With revenue down 12% and the political climate for electric vehicles darkening courtesy of his former boss in the White House, who can blame him?

But nothing is ever absolute when it comes to the world’s most famous living native of South Africa. Mere days later, Tesla announced a new $16.5 billion chip deal with Samsung, and over the weekend a now-jolly Musk proclaimed in his usual hyperbolic manner that Tesla might rake in $30 trillion per year from sales of its humanoid robot (yes, with a T). Oh, and on July 21, Tesla opened its first diner in the heart of Hollywood. Alongside a $9 grilled cheese sandwich and a contentious, four-story movie screen, protests immediately followed. 

On this week’s episode Max Chafkin discusses all the latest Tesla news with Bloomberg’s Elon Musk reporter, Dana Hull. The duo also welcome Bloomberg health reporter Ike Swetlitz to hear about the latest from Neuralink, Musk’s brain implant company. In the spirit of Musk’s dreams of robot trillions, that company proclaimed it expects $1 billion in annual revenue by 2031, with chips inserted into 20,000 brains annually. Currently, the number is nine. But maybe a bionic eye will prompt second looks.

Also, Chafkin and Hull take a look at the latest news from Musk’s tunnel company Boring, which just scored a deal to drill a passage in red state Tennessee, from downtown Nashville to the city’s airport. If history is any guide, there might be a hiccup or two.

 

The growing blowback from years of <a href="bbg://news/stories/S4HVCJT1UM0W" data-web-url="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-11-21/musk-sues-media-matters-x-antisemitic-posts-fallout-elon-inc-podcast" data-cke-saved-href="bbg://news/stories/S4HVCJT1UM0W">spreading conspiracy theories</a>, embracing <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/01/27/nx-s1-5276084/elon-musk-german-far-right-afd-holocaust" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.npr.org/2025/01/27/nx-s1-5276084/elon-musk-german-far-right-afd-holocaust">far-right political causes</a> and <a href="bbg://news/stories/SSQ5R0DWX2PS" data-web-url="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-06/how-elon-musk-s-doge-is-reshaping-the-us-government" data-cke-saved-href="bbg://news/stories/SSQ5R0DWX2PS">attempting to dismantle the US government</a>&nbsp;(with calamitous results for <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2025/07/01/nx-s1-5452513/trump-usaid-foreign-aid-deaths" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2025/07/01/nx-s1-5452513/trump-usaid-foreign-aid-deaths">millions</a>)&nbsp;might have finally taken its toll on Elon Musk and his companies. Or perhaps not.
Last week&rsquo;s Tesla earnings call ended on a somber note, with world&rsquo;s richest man declaring his struggling and divisive electric car company could have&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;a few rough quarters&rdquo; ahead. With revenue <a href="bbg://news/stories/SZWOCEGPQQCW" data-web-url="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-23/tesla-second-quarter-earnings-miss-wall-street-expectations" data-cke-saved-href="bbg://news/stories/SZWOCEGPQQCW">down 12%</a> and the political climate for electric vehicles&nbsp;<a href="bbg://news/stories/T05YWPGQ1Z2W" data-web-url="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-29/epa-unveils-plan-to-kill-us-power-to-regulate-greenhouse-gases" data-cke-saved-href="bbg://news/stories/T05YWPGQ1Z2W">darkening courtesy of his former boss in the White House</a>, who can blame him?
But nothing is ever absolute when it comes to the world&rsquo;s most famous living native of South Africa. Mere days later, Tesla announced a new <a href="bbg://news/stories/T03WONGQ7KZO" data-web-url="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-28/samsung-bags-16-5-billion-deal-in-big-win-for-chipmaking-arm" data-cke-saved-href="bbg://news/stories/T03WONGQ7KZO">$16.5 billion chip deal </a>with Samsung, and over the weekend a now-jolly Musk proclaimed in his usual hyperbolic manner that Tesla might&nbsp;rake in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqDehngsBHw" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqDehngsBHw">$30 trillion per year</a> from sales of its humanoid robot (yes, with a T). Oh, and on July 21, Tesla opened its first diner&nbsp;in&nbsp;the heart of Hollywood. Alongside a $9 grilled cheese sandwich and a&nbsp;<a href="https://ktla.com/news/california/giant-tesla-diner-movie-screen-erected-in-front-of-apartment-balconies-in-hollywood/" data-cke-saved-href="https://ktla.com/news/california/giant-tesla-diner-movie-screen-erected-in-front-of-apartment-balconies-in-hollywood/">contentious, four-story movie screen</a>, protests immediately followed.&nbsp;
On this week&rsquo;s episode&nbsp;Max Chafkin discusses all&nbsp;the latest Tesla news with Bloomberg&rsquo;s Elon Musk reporter, Dana Hull. The duo also welcome Bloomberg health&nbsp;reporter Ike Swetlitz to hear about the latest from Neuralink, Musk&rsquo;s brain implant company. In the spirit of Musk&rsquo;s dreams of robot trillions, that&nbsp;company proclaimed it expects&nbsp;$1 billion in annual revenue by 2031, with chips inserted into 20,000 brains annually. Currently, the&nbsp;number is nine. But maybe a <a href="bbg://news/stories/SZYVS8GPL3XO" data-web-url="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-25/elon-musk-s-neuralink-joins-study-working-toward-a-bionic-eye" data-cke-saved-href="bbg://news/stories/SZYVS8GPL3XO">bionic eye</a> will prompt second looks.
Also, Chafkin and Hull take a look at the latest news from Musk&rsquo;s tunnel company Boring, which&nbsp;just scored a deal to drill a passage in red state Tennessee, from downtown Nashville to the city&rsquo;s airport. If history is any guide, <a href="bbg://news/stories/S9I2UPT0G1KW" data-web-url="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2024-02-26/elon-musk-las-vegas-loop-tunnel-has-construction-safety-issues" data-cke-saved-href="bbg://news/stories/S9I2UPT0G1KW">there might be a hiccup or two</a>.
&nbsp;

Elon Musk’s sprawling business empire has granted the billionaire a degree of power and global influence that transcends the industries he’s reshaped. He is the leader of no fewer than six hugely influential companies, spanning electric vehicles to wartime communications, and their innovations could shape the fates of nations. 

Musk is polarizing, confounding and inescapable. And he is the biggest business story of our time. 

Each week, listen in as host David Papadopoulos convenes a panel of Bloomberg Businessweek journalists who are tracking Musk’s companies and the surprising ways they intersect. They break down the business mogul's latest moves and analyze what they could mean for us all.

Elon Musk’s sprawling business empire has granted the billionaire a degree of power and global influence that transcends the industries he’s reshaped. He is the leader of no fewer than six hugely influential companies, spanning electric vehicles to wartime communications, and their innovations could shape the fates of nations. 
Musk is polarizing, confounding and inescapable. And he is the biggest business story of our time. 
Each week, listen in as host David Papadopoulos convenes a panel of Bloomberg Businessweek journalists who are tracking Musk’s companies and the surprising ways they intersect. They break down the business mogul's latest moves and analyze what they could mean for us all.

Elon, Inc.

Elon Opens a Restaurant, Strikes a Chip Deal, Dreams of Robots

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/c39210ad-9c3d-48f6-a0f1-b329014b754d/transcript

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