REUTERS/Mike Blake
- Walter Isaacson is in early talks to write a biography of Elon Musk, Fox Business reported.
- Sources said Isaacson and Musk had discussed the book but hadn't decided if it would go ahead.
- Isaacson wrote Steve Jobs' biography, which topped 3 million US sales in less than four years.
- See more stories on Insider's business page.
Walter Isaacson, the author of "Steve Jobs: The Exclusive Biography," is considering writing a biography on Tesla CEO Elon Musk, according to a report.
Fox Business reported that Isaacson had spoken to Musk about a potential biography, but hadn't made a final decision about the project. It cited two people with direct knowledge of the matter.
Musk was interested in an author of Isaacson's standing writing his biography but hadn't decided whether he'd fully cooperate, the report said, citing the sources.
The people said that Isaacson spoke to Musk on the phone in recent weeks, and planned further calls with Musk in the summer. Isaacson would decide on the project after, they said.
Biographies don't require the subject's approval, but Isaacson wrote Jobs' biography at the former Apple CEO's request. Jobs died in 2011.
Sources close to Isaacson told the publication he hadn't written a formal proposal for the book yet.
"[He] hasn't decided what to do and might change" his mind, one person close to Issacson told the outlet.
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In a tweet to author Ben Mezrich in January, Musk said that his work on expanding sustainable energy and space exploration "doesn't leave time to write books." Less than a month later, however, he said on Twitter that he was writing a book about Tesla, SpaceX, and the lessons he'd learned in his career.
Isaacson published "Steve Jobs: The Exclusive Biography" in 2011 after two years of writing and more than 40 interviews with Jobs. Three and a half years after its release, the book had sold 3 million copies in the US alone, Isaacson said.
Sources told Fox Business that Isaacson was exploring writing a book about Musk because of the Tesla CEO's rollercoaster career.
Throughout 2021, Musk has flip-flopped with Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos as the richest person in the world. Musk is the CEO of electric-car maker Tesla and aerospace giant SpaceX, founder of neurotech company Neuralink, and cofounder of transport-tunnel maker the Boring Company. He also set up the online bank X.com in 1999, which later became PayPal.
Musk has repeatedly said he plans to sell most of his possessions, including all his houses, to fund a colony on Mars. He wants to send 1 million people to the planet by 2050, he has said.
Musk, who was born in Pretoria, South Africa, also has a turbulent life away from business. He's been divorced three times and has six children, including a one-year-old baby named "X Æ A-Xii Musk" with musician Grimes.