A Weary Musk Describes an “Excruciating” Year at Tesla

Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk describes the past year to the New York Times as the toughest and most painful of his career.

“It was excruciating,” he says in what the newspaper describes as an emotional, hour-long interview as he spoke of 120-hour work weeks, nearly missing his brother’s wedding and spending his entire 47th birthday holed up in the Tesla factory as the company struggled to reach delayed production targets for its Model 3 electric sedan.

“The worst is over from a Tesla operational standpoint,” Musk adds. “But from a personal pain standpoint, the worst is yet to come.”

Musk faces a number of legal and regulatory crises triggered by his impromptu tweet on Aug. 7, in which he said he was considering taking Tesla private and had “funds secured” to do so.

The Times says Musk dispatched the tweet without alerting Tesla’s board, angering some board members. The newspaper says directors pressed him not to tweet again until he discussed his thinking with the board.

The company has for years been trying unsuccessfully to recruit a chief operating officer to ease Musk’s day-to-day workload, sources tell the Times. Musk tells the newspaper he has no plan to give up his roles as chairman and CEO. But he also says he would welcome a COO.

 “If you have anyone who can do a better job, please let me know,” he tells the newspaper. “They can have the reins right now.”