A wave of senior executives has departed from several companies under Elon Musk’s leadership, including Tesla and X.ai. Reasons cited for these departures include psychological burnout, strategic disagreements, and concerns about the billionaire’s political stances. Executives from Tesla’s sales, battery operations, public affairs, and critical Optimus robot and AI teams have also left, along with the company’s chief information officer. The turnover affects a workforce of over 140,000 employees across SpaceX, Tesla, and other ventures. Former and current employees have shared their experiences, highlighting issues that led to their resignations. At X.ai, the turnover has been particularly rapid, with the CFO and general counsel leaving after short tenures, citing extreme work hours and demanding conditions. Some departing employees expressed exhaustion or disillusionment with Musk’s decision-making. Tesla eliminated 14,000 positions in April 2024, attributed to Musk’s shift towards AI initiatives and strategic pivots, along with employee unease regarding Musk’s political affiliations. Notable departures include Daniel Ho, who left the cancelled $25,000 EV project to join Google’s Waymo, and Omead Ashfar, former head of North American sales, dismissed amid declining sales. Robyn Denhol, Tesla’s chair, has defended the company’s position, asserting its ongoing appeal to talent.
