Apple’s push to build an electric car once put Tesla squarely in its sights. According to Elon Musk, Apple recruiters repeatedly tried to lure Tesla engineers during the height of that effort. He described the approach as aggressive and constant, with compensation offers that were hard to ignore.
Elon Musk shared these details during a long-form interview where he discussed hiring, scaling teams, and the mistakes leaders make when growing fast. While the conversation covered many topics, Apple came up when Musk explained how successful companies often become prime targets for talent raids.
Apple’s Recruiting Push During the Car Project
Musk said Tesla faced heavy pressure during its strongest periods, especially when Apple was actively working on its electric car initiative. He recalled how Apple’s recruiting teams focused directly on Tesla engineers, often reaching out without pause.
“When Apple had their electric car program, they were carpet bombing Tesla with recruiting calls,” Musk said.
He added that some engineers reached a breaking point and stopped answering altogether.
“Engineers just unplugged their phones,” he said.
According to Musk, Apple recruiters often opened with compensation offers that doubled what Tesla paid, sometimes without even conducting interviews. The strategy reflected a belief that hiring from Tesla would automatically bring success.
The “Pixie Dust” Hiring Myth
Musk described this thinking as the “pixie dust” problem. The idea assumes that hiring people from a high-performing company guarantees the same results elsewhere. He pushed back on that logic and said it does not hold up in real work environments.
“People are people. There’s no magical pixie dust,” Musk said.
He also admitted that he has made similar mistakes when recruiting talent from companies like Apple and Google, expecting instant results that never materialized.
Project Titan and the Bigger Picture
Apple’s electric car effort, widely known as Project Titan, never reached production. Still, Musk said it made sense that Apple looked to Tesla, given its lead in electric vehicles and engineering talent.
Apple has never confirmed details about its recruiting tactics during that period. Tesla, however, clearly felt the impact, especially during its rapid growth years.
The comments offer a rare look at how fierce competition for talent became during the electric car race. They also underline a broader lesson Musk emphasized throughout the interview. Hiring alone does not create success. Execution, culture, and leadership still matter most.
