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Musk expects his employees to work long hours, often 80 to 100 hours per week, in what he calls a "hardcore" environment. Former Tesla and SpaceX employees describe Musk as tireless, with stories of him sleeping on factory floors and couches to lead by example. This intense work culture has led some to feel "exhausted and mercurial" after working for Musk.
Cutting Costs and Headcount
Musk is known for quickly making his companies leaner, cutting around 20% of Tesla's workforce when he became CEO and laying off roughly 50% of Twitter's staff shortly after taking over. This cutthroat approach instills in employees a sense that they are the "best of the best" working for Musk.