Elon Musk Said You'll Need To Work At Least 80 Hours A Week To Make An Impact — 'Nobody Ever Changed The World on 40 Hours a Week'

If you're clocking out at 5 p.m. and wondering why you haven't changed the world yet, Elon Musk has an answer: you're not working enough hours.

"There are way easier places to work, but nobody ever changed the world on 40 hours a week," Musk wrote on X in 2018.

There are way easier places to work, but nobody ever changed the world on 40 hours a week

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 26, 2018

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When asked what the magic number is, he didn't hesitate. "Varies per person, but about 80 sustained, peaking above 100 at times. Pain level increases exponentially above 80."

For Musk, grueling work hours aren't just a recommendation—they're a way of life. Known for pulling all-nighters on Tesla's factory floor and reportedly sleeping in his office at X's headquarters, Musk has long preached the idea that innovation requires sacrifice.

The 40-Hour Workweek? That's Old News

The 40-hour workweek became standard in the U.S. in 1940, thanks to labor unions and policy changes. Companies like Ford were early adopters, recognizing that overworked employees weren't necessarily productive employees. Fast forward to today, and some lawmakers, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), are pushing for an even shorter workweek—32 hours with no pay cut.

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Sanders argues that technological advancements have made workers 400% more productive than they were in 1940, but wages haven't kept up. Sanders' proposed Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act would reduce the standard workweek over four years and require overtime pay beyond that. Countries like France and Norway already have shorter workweeks, and companies testing the concept in the U.S. and U.K. report happier employees and increased revenue.

But Musk? He's not buying it.

Reality Check: Some People Just Want to Get By

While Musk talks about 80-hour weeks to change the world, the reality for many Americans is they're not even working 40 hours—not by choice, but because they can't find full-time jobs or are forced into gig work. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the average workweek in the country at just 34.6 hours, which includes both part-time and full-time workers. That's already closer to the 32-hour workweek Sanders is pushing for than Musk's 80-hour vision.

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For some, working more isn't about chasing innovation—it's about survival. Many Americans take on side hustles, gig work, or multiple jobs just to pay rent and cover basic expenses. The debate over workweeks isn't just about productivity or world-changing ambitions—it's about the economic reality of millions who aren't concerned with "impact" as much as they are with making ends meet.

Musk's 120-Hour Workweek Experiment

Musk's 80-to-100-hour workweek stance is extreme by any standard, but it's a core part of his philosophy—one that's driven Tesla, SpaceX, and now, government efficiency. Lately, he's taken things even further, pushing a 120-hour workweek for the Department of Government Efficiency team. "DOGE is working 120 hours a week," Musk wrote on X last month. "Our bureaucratic opponents optimistically work 40 hours a week. That is why they are losing so fast."

Whether or not that level of dedication is necessary to "change the world" depends on who you ask. Some see his commitment as the price of innovation; others call it out of touch with the struggles of everyday workers.

Either way, Musk has made one thing clear: if you're aiming for world-changing impact, you might want to cancel your weekend plans. Meanwhile, plenty of Americans are just trying to afford theirs.

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