Rudy Giuliani ‘mob scene’ turned Elon Musk off seeking advice, new book says (msn.com)
In 2001, Elon Musk considered recruiting Rudy Giuliani as a political fixer to help turn PayPal into a bank but quickly abandoned the idea. This decision came after Musk and an associate found the former New York mayor “surrounded by goonish confidantes” in an office that felt “like a mob scene.”
Elon Musk Turned Off by Rudy Giuliani’s ‘Mob Scene’
Giuliani, at the peak of his fame, left office at the end of 2001 after leading New York through the 9/11 attacks and later ran for the Republican nomination for president in 2008, a campaign that soon collapsed.
He became an attorney and ally to Donald Trump but missed out on a cabinet appointment when Trump won the presidency in 2016. Giuliani’s involvement in Trump’s first impeachment, related to his work in Ukraine seeking political dirt on opponents, fueled controversy. At the age of 79, Giuliani has pleaded not guilty to 13 criminal charges of racketeering and conspiracy regarding his efforts to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia, which has raised significant irony as he was known for prosecuting mafia kingpins as a US attorney.
Elon Musk Turned Off by Rudy Giuliani’s ‘Mob Scene’
This portrayal of Giuliani as a gangster is featured in a new biography of Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson, which details a brief meeting between Musk and Giuliani as they explored the possibility of Giuliani helping Musk’s vision of turning PayPal into a social network disrupting the banking industry.
Elon Musk Turned Off by Rudy Giuliani’s ‘Mob Scene’
Isaacson’s book, widely excerpted in the US media before publication, mentions Musk’s unwavering vision and ambition, which led to discussions with Giuliani, who, along with his associates, sought a 10% stake in the company, leading to the termination of the meeting.
Despite Giuliani’s past successes as a lawyer and consultant, he is currently facing financial difficulties due to escalating legal costs from his work for Trump and other cases, including a $10 million lawsuit alleging sexual assault by a former associate, forcing him to sell his luxury apartment in New York.