Running multiple companies worth billions of dollars doesn't leave much time for small talk, but when Elon Musk sat down with podcaster Katie Miller in December 2025, he opened up about the quirky, personal details that rarely make headlines. We're talking cheeseburger philosophy, Disney World critique, and what age kids are actually fun to be around.
Sure, we know plenty about Musk from his leadership at Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI, plus his endless stream of social media posts. Walter Isaacson's biography gave us the deep dive into his childhood and behind-the-scenes drama. But this interview? This was different. Miller asked questions nobody thinks to ask the world's most prominent billionaire.
American Food Is Peak Food, Apparently
Let's start with breakfast, because Musk does: steak and eggs, followed by coffee. Lunch is either nonexistent or minimal. Dinner depends on whether he's got social plans. But when Miller pressed him on his absolute favorite food, Musk didn't hesitate.
"American food is my favorite food," he said, nodding enthusiastically when Miller clarified this meant pizza or cheeseburgers.
"If there's one thing you could ever have for the rest of time…it would probably be a cheeseburger. Because cheeseburgers are amazing. It's a genius invention."
Hard to argue with that logic, honestly.
Disney World Needs To Upgrade Space Mountain
Here's something unexpected: Musk has been to Disney World about 10 times. Yes, the same Musk who's feuded publicly with The Walt Disney Company (DIS) over advertising on X and even helped bankroll a lawsuit against them by an actress. Turns out when your kids are little and you're frequently at Cape Canaveral, the Florida theme park becomes a convenient stop.
His favorite ride? Space Mountain, though he's got notes.
"Sorta tempted to say Space Mountain," Musk explained. "I do think Space Mountain needs an upgrade. It's the day before yesterday's tomorrow, which is still yesterday."
That's a very Musk way of saying the ride feels dated.
Marvel Superhero Beats Bond Villain (Barely)
In a rapid-fire "would you rather" segment, Miller asked whether Musk would choose being a Marvel superhero or a Bond villain. Given Musk's documented love of James Bond films and the fact he owns an actual car from one of the movies, this felt like a tough call. He hedged initially, saying it depends on which superhero or which villain, but ultimately landed on Marvel superhero.
Then came the flex: "They did model Iron Man in the movies after me."
Musk shared that actor Robert Downey Jr. and director Jon Favreau visited him and toured SpaceX before filming. The space company appears in the background of one film, and Musk himself makes a cameo in "Iron Man 2." So yeah, not exactly a humble brag when it's factually true.
A Day In The Life: Information Triage
Managing Tesla, SpaceX, xAI, and whatever else Musk is working on sounds exhausting. His approach? Segment the days to minimize context switching between companies.
"It's information triage," Musk said, explaining that the challenge isn't just jumping between companies but also navigating multiple projects within SpaceX and Tesla simultaneously.
Short-Form Video Is Rotting Our Brains
When asked about the worst invention in recent memory, Musk didn't hold back. Short-form video, he said, has made people worse rather than better.
"It seems to be rotting people's brains."
Coming from someone who runs a social media platform, that's a spicy take.
The Rapid-Fire Round
Best age to parent: Between 5 and 10, according to the father of many. "Generally kids are the most fun between 5 and 10," Musk said.
Current TV show: With limited free time and kids in the house, Musk is watching "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" because that's what his kids want to watch.
Instant mood booster song: "The Final Countdown" by Europe. You know, the one with that iconic synth intro that's impossible not to hear in your head right now.
Alternative career: If he weren't running multiple companies, Musk said he might return to his early days creating video games. "I like building things," he explained, which tracks for someone who builds rockets and electric cars.
The interview offered a rare glimpse into the personal preferences of someone whose every business move gets dissected by analysts and fans alike. Turns out even billionaires who want to colonize Mars have strong opinions about cheeseburgers and think theme park rides need updates.
