The SNL Elon Musk impression debuted Nov. 7, with Jeremy Culhane portraying the Tesla and SpaceX CEO during Weekend Update. The sketch mocked Musk’s political spending, business setbacks and attempts to win over the segment’s hosts.
Culhane depicted Musk as socially awkward and eager for approval. He repeatedly tried to befriend co-hosts, Colin Jost and Michael Che. The performance differed from Mike Myers’ earlier portrayal, which featured exaggerated technical glitches and a chainsaw.
Musk previously hosted Saturday Night Live in 2021 and has remained a recurring subject of the show’s comedy.
SNL Elon Musk Impression Targets Political and Business Setbacks
During Weekend Update, Jost questioned Musk about his political spending on unsuccessful midterm candidates. The segment also referenced Tesla’s reported plans to end Cybertruck production in 2027.
Jost joked about Musk relocating his companies from California to Texas partly because of taxes and politics. The sketch then imagined Musk confronting Democratic control in Texas. Culhane responded with a brief, uncomfortable acknowledgment.
The character also celebrated Tesla’s Roadster demonstration, attempting to shift attention away from questions about his recent setbacks.
Grok Delivers a Harsh Roast of Musk
Culhane’s Musk later asked Grok, his AI chatbot, to deliver an insulting assessment of its creator. The fictional chatbot called him “the worst thing South Africa has ever done.”
The scripted response also mocked Musk’s family relationships, referencing his estranged daughter, Vivian Wilson. The exchange reinforced the sketch’s portrayal of Musk struggling to respond to criticism.
SNL Continues Satirizing Technology Executives
The episode also featured a parody of the Elizabeth Holmes documentary You Can See Everything. Jane Wickline portrayed the Theranos founder, while many jokes centered on guest host Druski.
Earlier this season, Wickline impersonated Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei. James Austin Johnson also portrayed investor Kevin O’Leary in a sketch about opposition to AI data centers.
These performances have made technology executives, artificial intelligence and corporate decisions recurring subjects of Saturday Night Live’s satire.
