Burnout and Elon Musk’s politics spark exodus from senior xAI, Tesla staff

Elon Musk’s vast business empire is experiencing significant turnover, with numerous senior executives leaving their positions over the past year. These departures are attributed to the billionaire's intense expectations and his active political engagement, which have contributed to a turbulent environment within his companies. Recent exits include key figures from Tesla's U.S. sales division, battery and powertrain operations, as well as public affairs and the chief information officer. Additionally, essential personnel from the Optimus robot and AI teams, which are critical to Musk's vision for the company's future, have also departed. The situation is even more pronounced at xAI, Musk's artificial intelligence startup, where rapid turnover has been observed since its merger with the social media platform X in March. The CFO and general counsel of xAI both left shortly after one another, following brief tenures. The Financial Times conducted interviews with over a dozen current and former employees to shed light on this exodus. While some individuals left contentedly to pursue new ventures or take breaks, a growing number cited burnout and disillusionment with Musk's abrupt strategic shifts and political activities as reasons for their departures. One of Musk’s advisers noted, "The one constant in Elon’s world is how quickly he burns through deputies," highlighting a work culture that some employees find overwhelming. Robert Keele, who served as xAI’s general counsel, concluded his 16-month role in early August with a notable social media post featuring an AI-generated video that humorously depicted a lawyer in distress. He remarked on his departure, expressing a desire to spend more time with his young children. Meanwhile, Mike Liberatore, who held the position of xAI chief financial officer for just three months, transitioned to a role at OpenAI, noting on LinkedIn the demanding hours he faced during his brief tenure: "102 days—7 days per week in the office; 120+ hours per week; I love working hard."