--- title: "The Guy Really Running Tesla Isn’t Elon Musk, Report Claims" description: "According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, Tesla CFO Zach Kirkhorn is the one secretly running the show, not Elon Musk." date: "2023-05-12" modified: "2023-05-12" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/guy-running-tesla-not-elon-musk" categories: - "Advanced Transport" - "Elon Musk" - "Future Society" - "Tesla" - "The Industrialists" tags: - "electric vehicle" - "elon musk" - "tesla" - "the digest" --- # The Guy Really Running Tesla Isn’t Elon Musk, Report Claims ![According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, Tesla CFO Zach Kirkhorn is the one secretly running the show, not Elon Musk.]() *\Image: Tesla / Futurism\* ## CFO in Chief Tesla CEO Elon Musk might still be the public face of Tesla — but according to a [new report from ]()*[The Wall Street Journa]()l*, Musk isn't actually the person who's really running the show. Per the report, the person who's really in charge is Zach Kirkhorn, who was named chief financial officer of the EV maker roughly four years ago. When Kirkhorn became CFO, Tesla was valued at about $50 billion. Today, it's worth over $500 billion. Tesla's successes are privately being credited to Kirkhorn, according to the report, who has learned to connect with Musk without stealing his thunder — a winning strategy that could explain the carmaker's rise, despite Musk's [chaotic management style](). ## Ego Management Though he's kept a very low profile since his appointment — Kirkhorn only has 63 followers on Twitter and keeps his account private — the elusive CFO has apparently been instrumental in implementing a number of manufacturing efficiencies, which have, as the *WSJ* put it, "helped the company deliver 15 consecutive profitable quarters and amass a $22 billion war chest." That's no small accomplishment and it's even more impressive when you consider Kirkhorn has had to deal with Musk all this time — which, presumably, has been a [particularly difficult job]() as of late. Musk is currently in charge of a number of companies, which means he has to split his time among them all. Last year, following his disastrous acquisition of Twitter in particular, Tesla investors [accused]() him of abandoning his duties at Tesla. Per the report, Kirkhorn has become exceptionally good at serving as a mediator between Musk and other staffers. "He doesn't take the limelight from Elon," Kurt Kelty, a vice president at battery-materials company Sila and former senior director of battery technology at Tesla, told the *WSJ*. Perhaps most importantly, Kirkhornh is reportedly good at balancing Musk's more [absurd and grandiose requests]() and can break down any "seemingly unattainable demand," as the *WSJ* put it, into smaller and achievable steps. ## Steering the Wheel Despite Kirkhorn's considerable contributions, Musk is still very much the CEO of Tesla, and any of Tesla's successes are still widely attributed to him. And considering [how things are going over at Twitter](), we're not exactly shocked to learn that someone else has had their hand on the proverbial wheel — or [steering yoke](), if you will. For one, we're sure the stockholders are grateful. **More on Tesla:** *[Tesla Hit with Lawsuit over Reports about Employees Watching Car Cameras]()* ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()