In an explosive interview, Vivian Jenna Wilson, the estranged transgender daughter of the billionaire Elon Musk, made shocking revelations about his father’s behavior towards employees, destroying Musk’s carefully built image as a visionary and benevolent leader. The twenty year old, who now lives in Tokyo where he studies languages, has always expressed himself openly on the difficult relationship with his father, but his latest statements dig more deeply in his professional behavior, painting a very different picture of the Tesla and Spacex CEO.

Vivian, who in 2022 legally changed his name to distance himself from Musk, has not talked to him since 2020. In a recent interview with Teen Vogue, he called him a “pathetic man-child” and criticized some of his political gestures, including what he called a “Nazi greeting” during an inauguration event of Trump in January 2025. However, his more recent accusations concern which Musk behaves in the workplace, claiming that his public image of “good boss” is just a facade. “He built this image of genius who worries about his employees, but it is not the reality I heard growing up,” said Vivian in a live on Twitch with the streamer Hasan Piker on March 30, 2025. “The stories I felt from those who worked for him – some very close to our family – deceive a man who governs through fear, not respect.”

According to Vivian, Musk’s leadership style often leaves employees to feel underestimated and work overloads. “He pushed people to their limit and then expected they were grateful for the opportunity to work with him,” he added. Although not providing specific names or episodes, his words reflect broader criticisms that have emerged against Musk’s managerial practices over the years. Former Tesla employees had already reported exhausting times and a high pressure working environment, accusations that Musk has often rejected, calling it the price necessary for innovation.

The timing of Vivian’s revelations is particularly significant, given that Musk recently ended up under accusation for other controversial behavior. In April 2025, reports emerged according to which Musk would have offered to impregnate the influencer of cryptocurrencies Tiffany Fong, presumably in response to the fact that she would have seen her earnings decrease on platform X after refusing her proposal. This episode, combined with Vivian’s accusations, feeds an growing narrative that Musk’s public image as a charismatic leader is more built than genuine. In addition, his controversial political positions, including transfobic statements and unfounded statements that connect transgender people to vandalisms against Tesla, have further damaged his reputation among critics.

Vivian also spoke of Musk’s personal impact on his life, reiterating his financial independence since he came out as a transgender in 2020. “I do not take a penny from him, and I don’t want to take him,” he said, underlining the determination to follow a way. Now that he studied French, Spanish and Japanese in Tokyo, with the dream of becoming a translator, Vivian has clarified that he does not want to have anything to do with the empire or with the legacy of his father.

The public reaction to Vivian’s accusations was mixed. On X, some users have expressed support for his courage to speak openly, with comments such as: “Vivian is showing the real Elon Musk, not what the media love to glorify.” Others, however, have questioned his motivations, suggesting that his removal from his father can influence his perspective. “He hasn’t talked to him for years – as could know what happens in his companies now?” He commented on another user.

Musk has not yet responded directly to Vivian’s latest accusations, but his history of denial of criticisms suggests that he does not take his words lightly. In the past, Musk has publicly denied his daughter’s transgender identity, stating that “he was killed by the Woke mentality virus,” a declaration that Vivian contradicts with a viral video on Tiktok in which he said: “I’m fine for a dead man *a.”

While Musk continues to exercise influence both in the world of technology and in politics – having recently left the role in the Department for Government efficiency of Donald Trump (Doge) – Vivian’s revelations recall that behind the newspapers there are personal stories that question the narratives around even the most powerful figures. If his accusations lead to a more in -depth examination of Musk’s leadership remains to be seen, but for now Vivian Jenna Wilson is making his voice and truth heard in a strong and clear way.