History repeats itself: Elon Musk and John DeLorean | Two visionaries, two cars, two dramatic failures

Often, innovation comes with a cost, and failure is a common step on the path to greatness. The life of automotive engineer John DeLorean shows us that epic falls from success are also possible, a parallel that’s been drawn to another automotive innovator, Elon Musk, in recent weeks.

These parallels have become especially pronounced since Musk’s departure from the White House and his subsequent estrangement from President Donald Trump, following a very public and personal feud. Musk’s popularity—once global and near-universal—has taken a sharp downturn as his alignment with far-right ideology became more visible, alienating much of his liberal customer base.

Like DeLorean, Musk was once hailed as a genius inventor and a disruptor of the automotive industry. But over the past year, his public image has suffered significantly, prompting many to revisit the cautionary tale of John DeLorean.

Who is John DeLorean?

Before his dramatic fall from grace, John DeLorean was a rising star at General Motors. Trained as an engineer, he became the youngest division head in GM’s history. After serving in World War II, he returned to Detroit and entered the auto industry. Over nearly two decades at GM, DeLorean grew increasingly disillusioned with the company’s bureaucracy and eventually left to pursue his own vision: a car that was futuristic, ethically produced (he championed “ethical capitalism”), and unlike anything else on the road.

DeLorean passed away in 2005, his legacy at GM overshadowed by legal troubles—including a high-profile drug trafficking case—after his departure from the Detroit auto giant.

The DeLorean Motor Company only ever produced one model: the DMC-12. You might recognize it as the time machine from the Back to the Future movie franchise. The DMC-12 was a two-seater sports car with distinctive gull-wing doors and a brushed stainless steel body. When it launched in the early 1980s, it carried a sticker price of around $26,000—equivalent to roughly $84,000 in today’s dollars.

The lukewarm reviews of the car were only a small part of DeLorean’s troubles. He faced accusations of embezzling public funds from the British government, which had subsidized a portion of his production in exchange for his commitment to build a factory in Northern Ireland. Additionally, in 1982, he was arrested on drug trafficking charges; however, he was found not guilty when his legal team revealed that federal agents had framed him, relying on the unreliable testimony of an old neighbor seeking leniency in his own case. Despite being exonerated, DeLorean’s reputation suffered greatly, leading him to declare bankruptcy in 1999. In 2000, he sold his 434-acre estate in Bedminster, which was subsequently purchased by President Donald Trump and transformed into the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster.

What makes the DMC-12 and DeLorean’s story similar to Elon Musk?

While Musk’s Tesla has succeeded in producing a full lineup of electric vehicles, the company has also faced persistent quality control issues. In fact, Tesla vehicles are among the most frequently recalled in the industry. According to Car Pro, in 2024 alone, Tesla recalled approximately 5.1 million vehicles—more than any other automaker. Chrysler and Ford followed with 4.7 million and 4.1 million recalls, respectively.

Tesla’s financial position has shown serious signs of weakening since the beginning of the year. Sales are down globally, and in the company’s most recent quarterly earnings report, it was the sale of carbon credits—not vehicle deliveries—that kept the company in the black. Although Tesla’s stock price remains 77 percent higher than it was a year ago, it has fallen 15 percent since January. As Musk transitions back into the private sector, many investors are eager to see him take the steps necessary to turn the EV manufacturer around.

Both DeLorean and Musk built their reputations on bold visions and charismatic leadership. But both have also faced criticism for overpromising, underdelivering, and allowing personal controversies to overshadow their professional achievements. Whether Musk’s story will ultimately mirror DeLorean’s remains to be seen—but the echoes are hard to ignore.

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