Elon Musk Says He Spent His Birthday Working 24-Hours Straight And Almost Missed Brother's Wedding – Described The Pressure As 'Excruciating'

Elon Musk is known for his intense work ethic, but few stories highlight the extremes of his dedication like the time he spent his birthday working 24 hours straight. In an interview with The New York Times, Musk opened up about his relentless work schedule and the toll it's taken over the years.

In 2018, Musk spent his 47th birthday at Tesla's office, managing the delayed production of the Model 3 sedan. “All night – no friends, nothing,” he recalled. Instead of cake or a celebration, Musk was consumed by the pressures of keeping Tesla on track and he didn't shy away from admitting how tough it was.

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Two days later, he was supposed to be the best man at his brother Kimbal's wedding in Catalonia. He flew straight from Tesla's factory, landing only two hours before the ceremony. After the wedding, there was no time to celebrate – Musk hopped back on a plane and returned to Tesla headquarters to dive back into the ongoing production efforts.

Although draining, this was nothing new for Musk, who mentioned it had been nearly two decades since he'd taken a proper vacation. The last time? Back in 2001, when he caught malaria during a rare break. Since then, his workweeks have often stretched up to 120 hours – nearly three times the average workweek for most Americans.

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In the interview, Musk reflected on what he described as the most difficult and painful year of his career. 2018 wasn't just about long hours – it was about the intense pressure of trying to take Tesla private and hitting key production goals. "It was excruciating," Musk said, admitting that the weight of it all caused him to breakdown multiple times during the conversation.

When asked about the toll his nonstop work was taking on his health, Musk didn't sugarcoat it: "It's not been great, actually." Friends had even stopped by to check on him, worried about the toll it was taking. Yet, Musk has always downplayed such concerns, stressing that getting results is his main focus.

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For most people, birthdays are a time to take a break, reflect and celebrate. But for Musk, they've often been just another day to keep pushing the boundaries. While others might see candles and cake, Musk sees production targets and deadlines.

As the richest man in the world, Musk's work ethic has always intrigued people. He's been candid about his sacrifices to reach his goals, even recalling in his biography that he once said, "I will spend my last dollar on these companies. If we have to move into Justine's parents' basement, we'll do it." For Musk, the grueling hours and personal sacrifices seem to be part of the package. He famously stated, "Nobody ever changed the world on 40 hours a week." For him, the relentless pursuit of innovation makes it all worthwhile.

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