On September 10, 2025, Netflix sent shockwaves through the entertainment and tech worlds with the release of the official trailer for its highly anticipated documentary, Elon Musk: Empire of Ambition. Billed as an unflinching exploration of the enigmatic billionaire behind Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI, the trailer promises an unprecedented look into the risks, triumphs, and hidden truths that have shaped Musk’s sprawling empire. The two-minute teaser, packed with dramatic footage and cryptic narration, has ignited a frenzy of speculation about what secrets the film will reveal about one of the most polarizing figures of our time. As fans and critics alike dissect every frame, the documentary is poised to be Netflix’s most explosive release of the year, offering a rare glimpse into the mind and machinations of a man who has redefined industries and courted controversy at every turn.

The trailer opens with a sweeping shot of a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket piercing the night sky, followed by the roar of a Tesla Cybertruck speeding through a desert. A deep, ominous voiceover sets the tone: “He’s a visionary who dares to dream beyond the stars—but at what cost?” The montage cuts to grainy archival footage of a young Elon Musk in South Africa, coding late into the night, juxtaposed with clips of him pacing nervously in SpaceX’s mission control during a high-stakes launch. The imagery is striking, blending Musk’s meteoric rise with moments of vulnerability, hinting at a narrative that will delve into both his genius and his flaws. The trailer’s tagline, “The man who built an empire, but lost his way in the spotlight,” suggests a story that won’t shy away from the controversies that have dogged Musk in recent years.

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Alex Gibney, known for hard-hitting documentaries like Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room and The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley, Empire of Ambition is positioned as a “definitive and unvarnished examination” of Musk’s life and legacy. The trailer showcases exclusive interviews with former colleagues, family members, and industry insiders, including glimpses of Musk’s mother, Maye Musk, and his ex-wife, Talulah Riley. It also features never-before-seen footage from inside Tesla’s Gigafactory, SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Texas, and xAI’s secretive AI labs. The documentary appears to cover Musk’s journey from a bullied, sci-fi-obsessed kid in Pretoria to the world’s second-richest man, with an estimated net worth of $250 billion as of 2025, while probing the personal and professional toll of his relentless ambition.

The trailer highlights several pivotal moments in Musk’s career, from the near-collapse of Tesla in 2008 to the triumphant SpaceX Crew Dragon Demo-2 mission in 2020, which marked the first U.S.-launched crewed spaceflight since the Space Shuttle program ended in 2011. Clips of Musk celebrating rocket landings and unveiling the Tesla Roadster are interspersed with darker moments, such as news headlines about labor disputes at Tesla, his controversial X posts, and his public feud with the SEC over a 2018 tweet claiming he would take Tesla private. The trailer teases “hidden truths” about Musk’s business dealings, including allegations of cutting corners to meet production deadlines and his contentious acquisition of Twitter (now X) in 2022, which sparked debates about free speech and platform governance.

One of the trailer’s most gripping sequences shows Musk in a rare moment of introspection, sitting alone in a dimly lit room, saying, “I don’t want to be remembered as a villain, but I’ll do what it takes to move humanity forward.” The line, delivered with a mix of defiance and exhaustion, hints at the documentary’s exploration of Musk’s complex persona—a man driven by a mission to colonize Mars and combat climate change, yet often criticized for his erratic behavior and polarizing political stances. Social media erupted with reactions to this clip, with one X user writing, “Is this Musk admitting he’s made mistakes, or doubling down on his chaos? Can’t wait to find out!” Another commented, “Netflix is about to peel back the curtain on Elon’s empire—brace for impact.”

The trailer also touches on Musk’s personal life, showing fleeting images of his childhood in South Africa, where he was ostracized for his intense intellect, and his strained relationships with his father, Errol Musk, and his siblings. It hints at the emotional cost of his relentless work ethic, with a voiceover asking, “What does it mean to sacrifice everything for a dream?” The inclusion of footage from Musk’s early days at Zip2 and PayPal, alongside his current ventures like Neuralink and The Boring Company, paints a picture of a man who has consistently pushed boundaries, often at great personal and financial risk. The trailer’s dramatic score and rapid-fire editing amplify the stakes, framing Musk as both a hero and a cautionary tale.

The timing of the documentary’s trailer release is particularly noteworthy, coinciding with a period of intense scrutiny for Musk. In 2025, he faced backlash for his vocal support of controversial political figures and his decision to step away from a White House advisory role after a public falling-out with President Donald Trump. His recent claim that Tesla’s Optimus robots will account for 80% of the company’s future value has also raised eyebrows, with critics questioning his tendency to overpromise. The trailer capitalizes on this moment, positioning Empire of Ambition as a timely exposé that will cut through the noise and reveal the man behind the headlines. As one X post put it, “Netflix is dropping this at the perfect time—Elon’s never been more loved or hated.”

The documentary’s promise to uncover “hidden truths” has sparked rampant speculation about what secrets it might reveal. Some fans believe it will delve into Musk’s alleged involvement in shaping X’s algorithm to amplify certain voices, a topic that has fueled conspiracy theories since his acquisition of the platform. Others speculate it will explore the inner workings of Neuralink, which has faced ethical questions over its brain-computer interface experiments. There’s also buzz about potential revelations regarding Musk’s personal finances, including how he has leveraged his wealth to fund ambitious projects like Starship, which aims to make humanity multiplanetary. “If Gibney’s got dirt on Elon, this could be bigger than The Social Network,” one user posted on X, capturing the anticipation surrounding the film.

The trailer has also reignited debates about Musk’s public image. Supporters view him as a once-in-a-generation innovator, pointing to SpaceX’s 150 launches and 112 landings, as well as Tesla’s dominance in the electric vehicle market. “Elon’s the only one crazy enough to bet everything on Mars and actually pull it off,” one fan tweeted. Critics, however, see the documentary as a chance to hold Musk accountable for what they call reckless leadership and self-aggrandizement. “Hoping this exposes how he’s more showman than scientist,” another user wrote. The polarized reactions underscore Musk’s status as a cultural lightning rod, with Empire of Ambition poised to fuel both admiration and outrage.

Gibney’s involvement adds credibility to the project, given his track record of tackling powerful figures with unflinching honesty. Unlike previous Musk-focused documentaries, such as Return to Space (2022), which was criticized as a “fawning portrait” of SpaceX’s achievements, Empire of Ambition appears to take a more balanced approach. The trailer includes a brief clip of Musk responding to Gibney’s project, calling it “probably a hit piece” in a 2023 X post, to which Gibney retorted, “How would you know?” This exchange, highlighted in the trailer, sets up a narrative of tension between filmmaker and subject, suggesting that the documentary won’t pull punches.

As the trailer spreads across social media, it has already amassed millions of views, with hashtags like #MuskDocumentary and #EmpireOfAmbition trending on X. The film’s release date remains under wraps, but the trailer’s closing shot—a slow zoom on Musk’s face as he gazes at a starry sky, with the words “What will you discover?” flashing across the screen—has left audiences hungry for more. Whether it reveals groundbreaking secrets or simply rehashes known controversies, Empire of Ambition is set to be a cultural juggernaut, offering a deep dive into the life of a man who has shaped the 21st century like few others. As one X user summed it up, “Love him or hate him, you can’t look away from Elon Musk—and Netflix knows it.”