Elon Musk denies claims of heated exchange with Apple CEO Tim Cook, calling new Tim Higgins book false
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has dismissed claims of a heated exchange with Apple CEO Tim Cook in 2016, in which it was claimed Cook said “F— you” to Musk before hanging up their call after Musk was said to have asked to become the new CEO of Apple as part of the conditions of the iPhone maker acquiring Tesla.
The claim comes from Wall Street Journal reporter Tim Higgins, who is publishing a new book titled “Power Play: Tesla, Elon Musk and the Bet of the Century“ next month, which is described as telling the inside story of Elon Musk and Tesla’s bid to build “the world’s greatest car.”
Following the claims emerging on Friday, Musk Tweeted that the new book is both “false and boring,” claiming to have never spoken with Tim Cook and dismissing that claims that Cook was interested in acquiring the company when it was cash strapped before the launch of the Tesla Model 3.
Higgins managed to make his book both false *and* boring 🤣🤣
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 30, 2021
Musk reiterated his previous claim that he considered selling Tesla to Apple during its “darkest days”, but Tim Cook allegedly refused to take the meeting.
Indeed. Both Cook & I have been clear publicly that we have never spoken or otherwise communicated. I tried to speak to him & he declined.
Nor have I ever expressed any interest in running Apple to anyone. Cook is, all things considered, obviously doing an incredible job.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 30, 2021
Defending the contents of his book, author Tim Higgins claimed he had given Musk “plenty of opportunities to comment” and that the anecdote “comes from Musk’s own account of the conversation, according to people who heard the retelling at the time.”
Musk was given plenty of opportunities to comment on this. He didn’t. This anecdote comes from Musk’s own account of the conversation, according to people who heard the retelling at the time. https://t.co/GRKZRBsaeR
— Tim Higgins (@timkhiggins) July 30, 2021
Image: BBC