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Elon Musk asking to be Apple CEO allegedly led to profanity-laced tirade from Tim Cook

Elon Musk wanted to take over as CEO if Apple acquired Tesla

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An anecdote found in a new book sheds some new light on the potential Apple acquisition of Tesla — a negotiation that allegedly ended with expletives from Tim Cook.

A book titled "Power Play: Tesla, Elon Musk, and the Bet of the Century" brings up a previously unheard story behind talk of an Apple acquisition of Tesla. While the book itself isn't about Elon Musk, it dives into the various dealings of the company and how many people made Tesla what it is today.

According to the LA Times, the secondhand anecdote is atypical for the author's usual approach. The article provided a snippet of the exchange from the book.

Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook and Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk are talking on the phone. The 2016 unveiling of the make-it-or-break-it Model 3 is coming soon, but Tesla is in serious financial trouble. Cook has an idea: Apple buys Tesla.

Musk is interested, but one condition: "I'm CEO."

Sure, says Cook. When Apple bought Beats in 2014, it kept on the founders, Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre.

No, Musk says. Apple. Apple CEO.

"F— you" Cook says, and hangs up.

The conversation shows a different side of Apple's usually unflappable CEO. However, this secondhand anecdote contradicts previous reports about the acquisition talks and Cook's assertion he had never spoken with Elon Musk on the matter. Musk too says he has never spoken with Cook.

Musk had reached out to Apple during the Model 3 program, and he has confirmed this previously. However, Musk said that Tim Cook refused to take a meeting.

Thanks to Elon Musk's heavy social media presence, it didn't take long for him to deny that this exchange occurred.

It isn't clear which account of events is accurate.

35 Comments

sflocal 17 Years · 6152 comments

I don't even remotely imply to know anything about Tim Cook's candor between powerful tech titans, but I can't imagine Tim Cook telling anyone off like that.  I could easily imagine him laughing at Elon at the request, and politely saying "no" which is imho more direct than an emotional outburst.  It doesn't seem to be his style.  I could easily be wrong.

That being said, as much as I admire Musk's leadership abilities, I don't think he would ever be a good fit for Apple as CEO.  Maybe some kind of "Chief Visionary Officer" maybe, but that's it.

15 Likes · 0 Dislikes
Hagen 9 Years · 12 comments

sflocal said:
I don't even remotely imply to know anything about Tim Cook's candor between powerful tech titans, but I can't imagine Tim Cook telling anyone off like that. 
Now Steve Jobs saying that....oh that seems like it would have been instantaneous. :)

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bloggerblog 17 Years · 2544 comments

Tim: What changes would you make at Apple?
Elon: I would introduce ground breaking tech, promise to ship it by then end of the year, BUT actually ship it four years later... Muahahahaaa
Tim: F*** you!

7 Likes · 0 Dislikes
libertyandfree 12 Years · 206 comments

Hagen said:
sflocal said:
I don't even remotely imply to know anything about Tim Cook's candor between powerful tech titans, but I can't imagine Tim Cook telling anyone off like that. 
Now Steve Jobs saying that....oh that seems like it would have been instantaneous. :)

Agreed, this seems completely out of character for Tim Cook.  However Tim might of told him off after that request but it’s not even remotely believable to have occurred as described. 

2 Likes · 0 Dislikes
OutdoorAppDeveloper 16 Years · 1292 comments

Truthfully, almost anyone would have responded the same way.

3 Likes · 0 Dislikes