San Francisco, California — David Sacks, a prominent figure in the tech industry and a close associate of Elon Musk, recently discussed Musk’s evolving role in the White House and his management approach during a podcast. Sacks, who has collaborated with Musk on various ventures, including the acquisition of Twitter, shared insights into Musk’s strategy for balancing multiple high-profile responsibilities.
During the latest episode of the All-In podcast, Sacks noted that Musk’s decision to reduce his time at the White House Office of Digital Coin Engagement (DOGE) aligns with his established management style across his enterprises. Reflecting on their shared experiences, Sacks described how Musk typically immerses himself in a new venture before delegating responsibility.
Sacks recounted the early days of the Twitter transition, highlighting Musk’s intensive involvement: “For the first few months, he was essentially at Twitter headquarters full-time, absorbing every detail of the business.” According to Sacks, once Musk built a reliable team and understood the inner workings of the company, he shifted toward a more supervisory role.
In a recent earnings call for Tesla, Musk affirmed his intention to allocate less time to DOGE, stating he would dedicate one or two days weekly to his government responsibilities, contingent on their effectiveness. This shift responds to increasing concerns from investors and analysts who have urged him to prioritize Tesla amid reports of declining sales and customer dissatisfaction.
Sacks emphasized that Musk’s management technique involves intense focus periods, where he establishes a solid foundation before stepping back. “He knows when he can delegate,” Sacks explained. “With DOGE, he feels equipped to manage it efficiently with reduced frequency.”
Musk’s arrangement as a special government employee permits him to participate in official activities for only 130 days each year. While Sacks clarified that Musk is not completely withdrawing from his government duties, he is adapting how he allocates his time.
Despite his limited official role with DOGE, Sacks possesses a deep-rooted personal and professional association with Musk that dates back to their time at PayPal. This connection places him among the influential group known as the PayPal Mafia, which includes other tech luminaries like Peter Thiel and Reid Hoffman.
While Musk and Sacks did not provide comments for this article, industry watchers await the potential impact of Musk’s refocused priorities on both Tesla and DOGE as he seeks to deepen his involvement where it is deemed most useful.