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Elon Musk and Asperger’s: The Complex Relationship Between Neurodiversity and Public Image
Musk revealed Asperger’s on SNL — a strategic move. His portrayal both raises awareness and reinforces harmful “genius” stereotypes.
In 2021, Elon Musk, the man who transformed Tesla, SpaceX, and Twitter (now X), revealed on Saturday Night Live that he has Asperger’s syndrome. This was not merely a personal confession but a carefully chosen moment that aligned with his broader public image construction.
In the book “Elon Musk: Le Bonimenteur,” author Boris Manenti examines how Musk weaves his diagnosis into his image and the consequences for societal understanding of autism. Boris Manenti is a French journalist, writer, and technology expert, primarily known for his work at Le Nouvel Observateur (L’Obs), one of France’s most prominent news and opinion magazines. He focuses mainly on topics such as technology, digital culture, social media, and the influence of these developments on society.
In his book about Musk, Manenti calls him a “bonimenteur,” a French term that can be translated as “conjurer” or “smooth talker.” He describes Musk as someone who masterfully creates narratives to achieve his goals while often distorting reality. Manenti goes beyond…
