A New Look at the Musk Empire
A new documentary centered on Elon Musk is set to hit theaters on October 19, 2026. The film, directed by Alex Gibney, covers three years of production and focuses on the public and private life of the world's first trillionaire. Musk previously characterized the project as a hit piece during its early stages. Despite his opposition, the film premiered at the Venice Film Festival on September 8, 2026, where it drew significant attention for its use of technology to recreate Musk's likeness.
The documentary employs CGI avatars and voice-syncing tools powered by artificial intelligence to conduct interviews using responses Musk provided in past public forums. This technical choice serves as a primary narrative thread, allowing the film to confront the subject using his own words. Filmmaker Alex Gibney appears alongside subjects like Wired reporter Zoë Schiffer and Ashley St. Clair, the mother of Musk’s 13th child, who is a featured contributor to the project.
Revelations from Within the Circle
Ashley St. Clair disclosed at the Venice Film Festival that she was offered $40 million to sign a nondisclosure agreement that would have prevented her from participating in the documentary. She questioned the intent behind such an offer, stating that it forced her to evaluate the nature of her own speech and its value. This alleged payment offer represents one of the film's most discussed claims regarding Musk’s attempts to control his public narrative.
During the press event, text messages were displayed on a screen behind the participants. St. Clair recounted a conversation where Musk claimed he would unleash an anomaly in the matrix before the 2024 election. Another message shown during the event referenced Musk’s possession of ten thousand lasers in space. St. Clair noted that Musk displayed a level of certainty about election outcomes that she had not encountered in her previous interactions with him.
Political and Business Controversies
Musk’s influence on global politics remains a central theme of the documentary. The film examines his spending, including a $20 million effort to influence a Wisconsin Supreme Court election that ended in failure. Beyond local contests, the film covers his financial and political involvement in elections across Europe and his public commentary on the 2024 presidential race. Musk has dismissed the film's allegations on social media, describing it as a partisan effort against him.
The documentary also revisits disputes over the founding of Tesla. Gibney presents evidence that Musk took undue credit for the company’s origins from Martin Eberhard. Personal accounts from Musk's ex-wife, Justine, and his father, Errol, are included to paint a picture of his private history. Justine Musk discusses his desire to be perceived as an alpha, while Errol Musk speaks about his lack of pride regarding his son's behavior. The project challenges the foundation of Musk's public persona, suggesting that many of his accomplishments are built upon questionable claims of original innovation.