Behavioral scientist and author Gad Saad recently shared an intriguing account of a late-night rendezvous with billionaire Elon Musk, likening the experience to something out of a spy movie. He recounted the various security checks and a rather enigmatic bodyguard that gave him a feeling of being in a “James Bond” scenario.
During his appearance on the “Hangout with Sean Hannity” podcast, Saad revealed he received a message from Musk with an Austin, Texas address, paving the way for what turned out to be a clandestine meeting. “At around 9:30 p.m., I got a brief email from Elon with his home address in Austin,” Saad mentioned. “A driver picked me up, but as we drove into what felt like a secluded valley, I had no idea where I was.”
After being dropped off at a ravine around 10 p.m., he noticed a black van and made his way toward it. “I thought, ‘This is probably my only chance here,’ so I approached the van,” he said. The vehicle, he found, was quite different; its doors and windows rolled down, and he was asked his name. “I replied, ‘Gad Saad.’ Then I was told to keep walking, and the gate would open.” As he moved closer, a man seemingly appeared out of nowhere, reinforcing the secretive atmosphere.
This encounter offered a rare insight into Musk’s private life and security arrangements before they finally met face-to-face. After this strange introduction, Saad was advised to “obey” the mysterious figure before he and Musk embraced. “Ten seconds later, I’m hugging Elon,” he later recounted to his wife, jokingly noting, “I think it’s James Bond.” Her humorous reply? “I think you’re James Bond too.”
Musk, who has often shared Saad’s posts on the platform X, has also discussed concerns regarding suicide and its implications for society. Saad expressed that this excessive empathy around suicide seems to be weakening the survival instinct in Western countries like the U.S.
Earlier this month, Musk shared Saad’s message stating: “Every action I take is driven by two ideals: truth and freedom. It’s disheartening to witness the incessant attacks on both ideals across the West.” Saad further elaborated that it feels as though society has prioritized giving up its core values to placate those who wish to harm it.
In his conversation with Hannity, Saad elaborated on his concept of “suicide empathy,” indicating that years of studies show conservatives tend to report higher levels of happiness compared to their progressive counterparts. He speculated on this idea, suggesting it could be tied to their differing perspectives on society.
“I’m thinking aloud here, but it seems plausible,” he stated. “Conservatives wake up feeling a sense of security. Our society may not be perfect, but we cherish freedom and fundamental values that deserve protection.”
He contrasted this with progressives, who often wake up feeling existential dread about societal issues like transphobia and racism, implicitly leading to lower levels of satisfaction.
Ultimately, Saad argued that this contrast contributes to conservatives enjoying greater life satisfaction, while progressives are more prone to dissatisfaction due to their focus on social justice issues.
