Good Karma Socials

Elon Musk’s journey from ambitious entrepreneur to global icon is the stuff of tech legend. He co-founded Zip2, cashed out of PayPal and launched SpaceX against all odds. But it was Tesla that cemented his image as a visionary. A man set on electrifying the future, quite literally. With sleek designs, record-breaking EV performance and cult-like fandom, Tesla became the car of the future. But somewhere between Twitter tantrums and political posturing, Musk’s personal brand began torching the one he built for Tesla.

Musk’s downfall has little to do with his intelligence. It’s about ego and recklessness. What was once eccentric genius has veered into hostile, alienating territory. From mocking pronouns to openly endorsing conspiracy theories on X (formerly Twitter), Musk’s erratic behaviour has become a PR nightmare for Tesla. Many long-time supporters have had enough with reports of Tesla’s quarterly sales slumping by 13%.

The downfall started in 2021, when a viral video showed a Tesla owner torching his car with 30 pounds of dynamite in protest of battery replacement costs of over $22,000 USD. Others followed suit, taking to YouTube and TikTok to publicly destroy or sell their vehicles out of sheer disillusionment. Not only that, but Tesla’s resale value has dropped significantly, and some major insurers have started to distance themselves from covering the cars altogether due to high repair costs and Musk’s ongoing controversies. In London, an event to smash up a Tesla is scheduled to take place in the coming weeks, with funds being raised for local food banks.

According to Insurance Thought Leadership, Tesla’s high repair costs and delayed parts availability have caused insurers in the U.S. and Europe to raise premiums or flat-out refuse coverage in some cases. Couple that with Musk’s controversial acquisition of Twitter and the platform’s steady decline into a chaos zone of misinformation, and it’s easy to see why consumers are jumping ship.

Musk’s personal brand was once synonymous with innovation. Now, it’s a cautionary tale. When your name becomes more polarising than your product, the fallout can be explosive. Sometimes literally. The Tesla brand no longer speaks for itself; it screams Elon. And right now, Elon is yelling into the void.

In the end, it’s not technology that ruined Tesla. It’s the man behind the machine. And as more fans turn critics, Musk may have to learn the hard way that even visionaries can burn bridges… and billion-dollar brands. At Good Karma Socials, we believe your personal brand should uplift, not alienate. Elon Musk’s recent controversies show just how quickly a powerful personal brand can damage even the most innovative businesses. We champion a culture of respect towards individuals, communities, and the planet because we know that social media can (and should) be a force for good. Want to work with a team that prioritises integrity, connection, and long-term impact? We’d love to hear from you.