Robert Downey Jr. and Elon Musk have shared more than just a cameo moment in 2010’s “Iron Man 2.” For years, Musk has been pegged as a real-life Tony Stark, thanks to his ambitious visions and controversial persona. But what does the original Iron Man himself think about Musk’s “cosplaying” as his character? Turns out, Downey has some thoughts—and they’re not all glowing.
Speaking on the “On with Kara Swisher” podcast via Business Insider, Downey didn’t hold back when asked about Musk stepping into the Stark persona. “I’ve only met him a few times,” Downey admitted, before adding with a touch of self-awareness, “As an almost 60-year-old recovering white American male, I just wish that he would control his behavior a little more, but that’s not on me.” He continued, questioning Musk’s relentless “Mars or bust” mentality: “I know that this idea of ‘It’s all okay ‘cause we’ve gotta get to Mars’ doesn’t really hold water with me. But again, you have to look at all that he’s done that demonstrates why he’s valuable.”
Downey’s comments seem to echo a sentiment of admiration wrapped in a bit of weary resignation—respect for Musk’s accomplishments, paired with a wish that he’d dial it back a notch. After all, Downey knows firsthand the allure of the Stark swagger. According to “Iron Man” screenwriter Mark Fergus, the movie version of Tony Stark was heavily inspired by a cocktail of Musk, Steve Jobs, and, yes, even Donald Trump. Fergus described the character as if “Musk took the brilliance of Jobs with the showmanship of Trump,” nailing that unique mix of tech genius, showmanship, and, let’s say, unpredictable behavior.
Musk, of course, has made quite a name for himself beyond the screen. As the head of Tesla, SpaceX, and now X (formerly known as Twitter), he remains one of the most polarizing figures in business. His ownership of Twitter, or as it’s now called, X, has drawn widespread criticism for turning the platform into a chaotic landscape where hateful rhetoric has been given a louder voice. Many have compared Musk’s approach to running X as akin to running a “Nazi bar,” allowing far-right and extremist rhetoric to fester unchecked, all in the name of so-called free speech. Musk’s cavalier attitude towards moderation has left many questioning whether his vision of the platform is really about freedom or just unchecked chaos.
Not surprisingly, Hollywood has not been shy in calling out his antics. Michael Keaton, another iconic figure in his own right, recently roasted Musk and Donald Trump, telling their supporters: “They don’t really respect you, they laugh at you behind your back, they think you’re stupid… They’re not your bros.”
The Musk-Stark comparison goes beyond just Downey’s observations. A24 is currently working on a Musk biopic, with Darren Aronofsky directing, based on Walter Isaacson’s authorized biography. Variety even floated Downey as a potential actor to play Musk, given his history embodying the tech-savvy billionaire. It’s an ironic suggestion, given Downey’s wish for Musk to embrace just a bit more restraint—a quality Tony Stark, too, often lacked before his on-screen redemption.
One thing is clear: while Elon Musk might have been part of the inspiration behind Tony Stark, Robert Downey Jr. knows better than most that being the man behind the mask comes with its own set of responsibilities—a lesson that, maybe, Musk could stand to revisit.
