Elon Musk, once hailed as the visionary behind Tesla’s meteoric rise, is now facing a reckoning—and it’s one of his own making. Tesla’s stock is tumbling, investor confidence is shaken, and critics are calling out what appears to be a self-inflicted collapse, triggered by Musk’s increasingly erratic behavior and controversial leadership.

The Collapse: What Happened to Tesla?

Tesla, long seen as the crown jewel of the electric vehicle (EV) revolution, is facing a brutal downturn. The company’s stock has plunged in recent weeks, wiping out billions in market value. Slowing demand, fierce competition, and missed delivery targets are all contributing factors—but what’s grabbing the headlines is something far more volatile: Elon Musk himself.

From bizarre social media rants to polarizing political commentary and a growing list of public meltdowns, Musk’s behavior is turning off not just critics, but also investors, consumers, and even longtime Tesla fans.

Musk’s Meltdown: A CEO in Crisis

It’s no secret Musk thrives on attention. But lately, his actions seem less like strategy and more like self-sabotage. His focus has drifted from product innovation to polarizing culture wars and unfiltered tirades on X (formerly Twitter), the very platform he controversially purchased.

Industry experts are raising alarms:

“Elon Musk used to be Tesla’s biggest asset. Now he’s its biggest liability,” one analyst stated bluntly on CNBC.

Investors Are Pulling Back

Major shareholders are growing restless. Some are publicly demanding new leadership at Tesla or at least a CEO who is fully focused on the core business. With Tesla’s EV market share being chipped away by rivals like BYD, Rivian, and even legacy automakers like Ford and GM, the margin for error is slim—and Musk’s distractions are costing the company dearly.

Tesla’s market cap, once comfortably above $1 trillion, has taken a serious hit, and Wall Street is losing patience.

Public Sentiment Turns Sour

It’s not just the markets. Public sentiment around Tesla is shifting too. Many former fans have become disillusioned with Musk’s antics, calling out the company for quality control issues, price instability, and a lack of clear direction in the face of growing competition.

Meanwhile, Musk’s increasingly politicized image is alienating once-loyal consumer bases.

Is Tesla Headed for a Cliff?

The road ahead for Tesla is now more uncertain than ever. While the company still boasts technological edge and infrastructure advantage, none of it will matter if the brand continues to suffer under the weight of its CEO’s missteps.

Elon Musk built Tesla. But if this spiral continues unchecked, he may also be the one to bring it crashing down.