Robert Downey Jr., best known for his portrayal of Tony Stark in the Iron Man films, recently shared his perspective on Elon Musk, a tech mogul often compared to his Marvel character.
In an interview on New York Magazine’s On With Kara Swisher, Downey Jr. acknowledged Musk’s real-world impact in fields like space exploration, electric vehicles, and artificial intelligence. While Stark is a fictional genius fueled by creativity and science, Musk is a tangible force in technological advancement.
The actor recalled meeting Musk a few times and noted that, despite public perception, their lives are vastly different. Director Jon Favreau even credited Musk with influencing Stark’s characterization, allowing Iron Man 2 to film at SpaceX.
However, Downey Jr. expressed skepticism about Musk’s recent actions, particularly his involvement in political controversies and the spread of misinformation on X (formerly Twitter).
While he admires Musk’s ambitious vision—especially his plans for Mars—he questioned whether such goals justify his behavior. “The idea that ‘it’s OK because we’ve got to get to Mars’ doesn’t really hold water with me,” he remarked.
Ultimately, Downey Jr. recognized Musk’s achievements but urged him to be more mindful of his conduct, highlighting the difficulty of separating innovation from personal responsibility in today’s polarized world.
