Tesla finds itself in hot water more than its board members and stockholders would like, and it’s almost always because of the eccentric, mad-scientist CEO, Elon Musk. He has some interesting views and opinions, and he isn’t afraid to make them public. People have tried to push him out of his role as CEO, but it has never stuck.
That being said, he’s obviously doing something right to have the fastest-growing car company on the planet. More and more people are buying Teslas every year, and it seems like the company is always on an upward trajectory. For instance, Tesla has a recent net worth between $160 billion, which is a market value more than Ford, GM, and Fiat Chrysler combined, according to Chicago Tribune. It’s more than Coke is worth.
Elon has some weird rules he makes his employees follow and he rules with an iron fist. His weirdest rule of all has to do with his sense of smell… We’ll touch on that more below.
Natural Odors Only
Elon Musk isn’t superhuman, but he is said to have a heightened sense of smell, and it can land Tesla employees in serious trouble. Job candidates are told to never wear perfume or cologne when they meet him and to only have a natural smell about them. Sounds like an interesting job requirement, to say the least.
One instance of his smell leading to some outlandish behavior happened when he reportedly lost it when he smelled a vat of liquid silicon at his factory, which put out a rancid odor that smelled like burning plastic vapors. He commented that the fumes were going to kill him or someone else, despite the vapors being non-toxic and pretty much harmless
While this might sound funny, it’s a serious concern of his, and Tesla employees need to watch out. He’s been known to lash out at people who simply walk in front of his desk when he’s feeling angry, and fire them on the spot.
Despite Elon’s touchy nose—or maybe because of it—this whole thing reaches new heights of ridiculousness when you learn that a fragrance brand called “Elon Musk Co.” has been designed and created by a couple of Elon fans. The brand is a parody, but it’s a real product, though it has no connection to the real Elon Musk.
Ironic Considering Tesla’s Unsafe Reputation
All this might be ironic considering the strange working conditions that Elon reportedly forces employees to work under. Working at Tesla is a dangerous place, and studies show their 8.4 injuries per 100 people is more dangerous than working at any other car factory.
For instance, safety markings are banned at Tesla plants, because Elon hates the color yellow, and forced a company-wide policy of painting safety guides in gray, the same color as the floor. He also doesn’t like having too many signs around, because he fears it will mess with production output. He’s also hired his own in-house physicians in case of injuries, so that news of injury doesn’t get leaked outside of the factory.
Sources: motoringresearch.com, chicagotribune.com, businessinsider.com, nymag.com