Senior exits rise across Elon Musk’s Tesla, X and xAI businesses

Elon Musk’s companies are experiencing a series of senior departures across Tesla, xAI and social media platform X, according to reports from multiple outlets.

Reuters reported that Tesla lost several high-ranking executives in 2024, including its head of US sales, leaders in the energy and powertrain divisions, and its chief information officer. The exits followed a round of layoffs in April 2024 that cut about 14,000 jobs.

According to Bloomberg, Tesla also cancelled a planned low-cost $25,000 electric vehicle, redirecting investment toward robotics, artificial intelligence and self-driving taxis. Daniel Ho, who led the cancelled project, left Tesla to join Google’s Waymo.

The Wall Street Journal noted that Drew Baglino, a senior vice-president who oversaw powertrain and energy, resigned in April. Rebecca Tinucci, who led the company’s EV charging business, and David Zhang, a senior supply chain executive, also departed.

At Musk’s artificial intelligence venture xAI, turnover has been faster. The Financial Times reported that the company’s chief financial officer, Mike Liberatore, resigned after just 102 days in the role. In a post at the time, Liberatore said he had worked “seven days per week in the office; 120+ hours per week.”

Robert Keele, xAI’s general counsel, left in August, marking his exit with an AI-generated video. The Financial Times said his departure came days after Liberatore’s.

The newspaper also reported that xAI has been shaped by Musk’s rivalry with OpenAI and its chief executive Sam Altman. Last week, xAI filed a case accusing OpenAI of poaching employees and misusing trade secrets. OpenAI dismissed the claims as “the latest chapter in Musk’s ongoing harassment.”

Musk’s social media platform X has also seen leadership changes. Media reports suggest that Linda Yaccarino resigned as chief executive in July 2025 after less than a year in the role. The outlet said her departure followed disagreements with Musk’s decision-making.

Soon after, xAI co-founder Igor Babuschkin left to launch an AI safety venture, according to WION.

Public relations executives Dave Heinzinger and John Stoll also departed after short stints, returning to their former employers. Several engineers close to Musk have left the company, Reuters reported.

Former executives have pointed to Musk’s management approach as a reason for the turnover. The Financial Times quoted a former Tesla executive as saying: “He’s the boss, the alpha and anyone who doesn’t treat him that way, he finds a way to delete.”

While some senior staff departed to start their own ventures or take breaks after long tenures, insiders told the Financial Times that others left due to burnout, layoffs and shifting priorities across Musk’s businesses.