In November 2024, TIME magazine featured Elon Musk on its cover under the headline “Citizen Musk: What’s next on his to-do list?” The cover showcased a checklist attributed to Musk, highlighting accomplishments such as “Electric Vehicles,” “Become richest man,” “Buy Twitter,” “Launch rocket,” “Bring rocket back,” and “Implant human brain chip.” Notably, it also included items like “Get Trump elected” and “Work from Mar-a-Lago,” with future goals such as “Slash $2 trillion” and “Fly to Mars” remaining unchecked.
Following the publication, Musk addressed the portrayal on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). He clarified that he had not participated in any media interviews and that the checklist did not represent his personal priorities. Emphasizing his overarching ambition, Musk stated, “I am trying to make life multiplanetary to maximize the probable lifespan of consciousness. Some of the items below are needed for that.”
The TIME magazine cover and Musk’s subsequent response garnered significant attention across various media outlets. Discussions emerged regarding the accuracy of the portrayal and Musk’s actual objectives.
This incident underscores the challenges public figures face in media representations and the importance of direct communication channels in clarifying personal goals and addressing public perceptions.
