In modern business, where innovation reigns supreme and disruption is the norm, few figures loom as large as Elon Musk. The enigmatic CEO of Tesla Inc. has long been a polarizing figure, drawing both adoration and criticism in equal measure. Yet, as the electric vehicle giant continues defying expectations and pushing the boundaries of technology, Musk’s leadership style and vision for the future are under renewed scrutiny.

Recently, in an episode of the popular All-In podcast, billionaire investor Brad Gerstner, known for his occasional appearances and astute insights, shared his thoughts on Tesla’s trajectory in China and the company’s unique position in the market. Gerstner, who manages close to $20 billion through Altimatic Capital, didn’t mince words when discussing Tesla’s recent challenges, particularly its lagging electric vehicle sales in China. However, his perspective on the company’s future was decidedly bullish, citing Tesla’s innovative approach to self-driving technology as a critical driver of its long-term success.

“It’s certainly the worst of the mega caps if you want to still call it that year to date,” Gerstner remarked candidly. “But you start with probably the best product engineer CEO on the planet. When everybody else is negative about things like negative on Google, negative on Tesla, that’s when we start getting excited.”

Gerstner’s optimism stems from Tesla’s groundbreaking advancements in full self-driving (FSD) technology, particularly with the release of FSD version 12. He highlighted Tesla’s shift to an imitation learning model and its ability to simulate human driving behavior as a game-changer in the autonomous vehicle space. Moreover, Gerstner emphasized the revenue potential of Tesla’s FSD subscription model, likening it to Apple’s successful transition to subscription-based services.

But Gerstner isn’t the only voice singing Tesla’s praises. Antonio Gracias of Equity Partners echoed similar sentiments, praising Musk’s unparalleled engineering prowess and unique management style. Gracias, whose firm manages assets close to $20 billion, lauded Musk’s ability to marshal top engineering talent and drive innovation across multiple disciplines.

“It’s like watching Michael Jordan play basketball times 10,” Gracias remarked, recalling a moment when Musk personally intervened to optimize production efficiency during the early days of Tesla’s Model S ramp-up.

Meanwhile, former Tesla engineer Andrej Karpathy illuminated Musk’s hands-on approach to management, describing Tesla as “the biggest startup.” Karpathy emphasized Musk’s preference for small, highly technical teams and his willingness to swiftly remove underperformers—a stark contrast to the bureaucratic red tape often found in larger corporations.

However, amidst the chorus of praise for Musk and Tesla’s innovative spirit, not all voices sing harmoniously. Some money managers, disillusioned by Tesla’s recent stock performance, have taken a more skeptical stance, questioning Musk’s leadership and the company’s AI ambitions.

Despite the divergence in opinions, one thing remains clear: Tesla’s journey is far from over, and Elon Musk’s vision continues to shape the future of transportation and technology. As Tesla navigates the challenges ahead, one thing is certain: the world will be watching, waiting to see if Musk can defy the odds again and lead Tesla to new heights of success.