Elon Musk Denies Ever Intending To Replace Apple CEO Tim Cook

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has reportedly intended to remove Tim Cook from his position as CEO of Apple. (photo: instagram @elonrmsuk)

JAKARTA - Tesla CEO Elon Musk has reportedly intended to replace Tim Cook from his position as CEO of Apple. This was revealed when the two had a conversation in 2016.

Musk is said to have contacted Cook with the intention of getting Apple to acquire Tesla because at that time the Tesla company was experiencing a slump in its business, and Musk needed more capital to launch the Tesla Model 3.

According to news circulating as quoted from 9to5Mac, Sunday, August 1, at the same time Cook suggested that Apple buy Tesla, but on one condition, Musk asked that he be its CEO.

It took a long time to understand Musk's point. And finally, that conversation is brought up to the work of Tim Higgins in his book Power Play: Tesla, Elon Musk and the Best of the Century. The book says Musk told Cook 'I'm CEO', Cook thought Musk would remain Tesla CEO.

So @tim_cook said he never spoke to @elonmusk, Musk said Cook refused to take the meeting, yet the book says they spoke and had this interaction.

— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) July 30, 2021

Cook told Musk he was not against the idea, which Musk later clarified he wanted to be CEO of Apple. However, knowing this Musk immediately denied he had never contacted Cook at all.

"Cook and I never spoke or wrote to each other," Musk said. Likewise, with Cook who also confirmed the same thing, "You know, I never spoke with Elon, although I really admire and respect the company he built," explained Cook in an interview with Kara Swisher of The New York Times.

On the other hand, Musk also stated that all the contents in the book are absurd and factual, "Higgins managed to make his book fake and boring," Musk said.

While author Higgins responded to Musk's tweet by saying he had plenty of opportunity to comment on the book, "This anecdote comes from Musk's own account of conversations, according to those who heard the retelling at the time," Higgins tweeted.

However, Musk did admit that he once considered selling Tesla to Apple, sadly that never happened. He also admitted trying to meet with Cook to discuss the Tesla acquisition. However, the meeting was rejected by Cook, "He refused to attend the meeting," Musk said.