Elon Musk’s Jokes Reshape Twitter: New Book Reveals CEO’s Comedic Impact on Company Culture
Staff Editor
2 min read
Elon Musk’s Humor Takes Center Stage at Twitter, New Book Reveals
In a revealing look at Elon Musk’s tenure as Twitter’s CEO, a new book titled “Character Limit” by New York Times reporters Ryan Mac and Kate Conger sheds light on the billionaire’s penchant for jokes and the impact on the company’s culture.
The world’s richest man, known for his leadership of SpaceX and Tesla, has brought his unique brand of humor to Twitter. However, unlike his long-standing ventures where employees are accustomed to his antics, Twitter staff have had to quickly adapt to Musk’s comedic style or risk losing their positions.
According to Mac and Conger, Musk “loved to be admired,” leading to an unspoken expectation that employees should appreciate his jokes. This dynamic has reportedly created tension within the organization, particularly among those unfamiliar with Musk’s leadership style.
The book recounts an awkward interaction where Musk attempted to elicit laughter from a room of executives with a joke about Google’s search engine market share. “Sixty-nine percent?” Musk reportedly said, looking around the room expectantly.
In an effort to align with Musk’s sense of humor, his team has made changes to Twitter’s office decor. A “Galerie de Meme” has been installed near Musk’s preferred conference room, showcasing some of his favorite internet jokes. Additionally, the company’s Wall of Fame now features some of Musk’s tweets, including his quip about buying Coca-Cola to reintroduce cocaine to the recipe.
Despite ongoing challenges with advertisers and a significantly reduced workforce, Musk and his team appear to be maintaining their characteristic optimism and humor. As Twitter continues to evolve under Musk’s leadership, the intersection of his management style and comedic preferences remains a focal point of discussion in the tech industry.
