Elon Musk Names Johann Sebastian Bach His Greatest Musician of All Time

Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, has named German composer Johann Sebastian Bach as his favourite musician of all time, describing the legendary composer as the “Shakespeare of music.”

The SpaceX and Tesla chief executive shared his opinion in a post on X, where he praised Bach’s musical legacy and placed him above other musicians in history.

“Johann Sebastian Bach is the Shakespeare of music. Best there ever was,” Musk wrote.

Bach was an 18th-century German composer, keyboardist, violinist and organist whose works have had a lasting influence on classical music. He was also a music director and produced a vast body of compositions across several musical forms.

His best-known works include the Brandenburg Concertos, Goldberg Variations, The Well-Tempered Clavier and Cello Suites. His compositions also include celebrated choral works such as the St. Matthew Passion and the Mass in B minor.

Bach’s music is widely recognised for its complex structures, intricate counterpoint and technical depth. His compositions continue to be performed and studied by musicians around the world, centuries after his death in 1750.

Musk’s comparison of Bach to William Shakespeare highlights his view of the composer’s exceptional place in music history. However, the choice of the greatest musician of all time remains subjective, with musical tastes and preferences differing across generations and genres.