A new documentary about Elon Musk airs tonight on Channel 4, offering a ‘look beyond the hype and headlines’ of the Tesla and SpaceX billionaire. Watch a clip here:
Elon Musk: Superhero or Supervillain is an hour-long programme featuring interviews with former employees and business associates, also charting his rise to the top after a difficult childhood in South Africa.
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A synopsis from Channel 4 reads: “This documentary goes behind the headlines to delve into the life of flamboyant, on/off richest man in the world, Tesla billionaire and space pioneer Elon Musk.
“He’s part of a tiny group of powerful, uber-rich men with global reach exceeding governments, an entrepreneur who champions green tech, is launching SpaceX rockets that one day might reach Mars and paying $44bn for Twitter. Is he the greatest inventor and businessman the world has ever seen or a man who’s more noise than substance?
“We interview those who know him and who’ve worked with him, have made millions investing in his businesses and hear from those who’ve gone to war with his companies.
“He recently revealed that he has Asperger’s, his tweets can move stock markets and spark buying and selling frenzies. Elon Musk is permanently in the headlines alongside his multiple controversial and eye-catching businesses, PR stunts and personal life. Beneath all the razzamatazz we ask – is all the noise and hype for real?"
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We also meet Maria Pointer, the 'first neighbour' at Musk's 'Star Base' city, who works as a videographer chronicling the development of the SpaceX South Texas launch site at Boca Chica.
"I think living next door to the rocket has been the most advantageous thing in my whole entire life, besides having my children," she admits.
Pointer, who refers to herself as a 'SpaceX influencer', continues: "It it the most extraordinary thing. This is going interstellar, this is going deep space. This is going beyond my wildest dreams.
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"It's just a wonderful, quiet place."
Explaining what Musk is like to have as a neighbour, Pointer continues: "Elon lives in a simple, normal, everyday house right here behind me. It's quiet back here, and there's no lights glaring.
"You can actually get a full night's sleep here, but Elon doesn't sleep at night, he sleeps in the day. So, you know, you can always tell when he's here because the workers are gone. It's quieter.
"He comes and goes, he loves it here."
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Watch Elon Musk: Superhero or Supervillain tonight at 9:00pm on Channel 4.
Topics: TV and Film, Elon Musk, Documentaries
Jess Hardiman