Gibney documentary explores how Musk expanded influence over U.S. policy

Alex Gibney’s nearly four-hour documentary “Musk,” premiering at the Venice Film Festival and scheduled for U.S. theaters in October, examines Elon Musk as a powerful political and technological figure rather than merely an eccentric billionaire. Gibney argues that Musk’s influence stems largely from his ability to persuade investors and policymakers with ambitious visions, while the film traces his reach across Tesla, SpaceX, Starlink, Neuralink and his brief leadership of the federal DOGE unit. The documentary also raises questions about Musk’s influence over U.S. policy, including Starlink’s role in Ukraine, NASA’s dependence on SpaceX and reported access to federal information systems; Musk did not participate, with Gibney instead relying on whistleblowers, former associates and other sources.