Musk appeared on the Joe Rogan Show in 2018. The host, Rogan, offered Musk a joint filled with marijuana and tobacco and Musk took a puff. This led to an investigation by NASA and Musk said afterward that he was subjected to random drug tests over the following years.

Musk and Kimbal experienced a rupture in their relationship. Kimbal, who had gone on to become a professional chef and fund his own restaurant, was having financial problems and needed funding for his restaurant group. Elon initially agreed to give him funds but changed his mind and said that the restaurants “should die” because they were struggling (300).

Musk started dating the singer Grimes in 2018. Isaacson claims that Grimes was “not a calming influence” (307), but “[d]espite such dramas, Grimes was a good partner for Musk” (309). According to Isaacson, Grimes realized that Musk’s Asperger’s made him difficult and made other people perceive him as an “asshole,” but she was able to navigate all his different personalities, including his “demon mode” (310).

Musk wanted to expand Tesla to sell cars in China as part of his vision to make Tesla a global company. He hired his friend from college, Robin Ren, to take charge of manufacturing in China.