In 2018, the Royal Society of London—an institution that once counted Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin among its members—made a choice that still has the scientific community in an absolute tizzy. They elected Elon Musk as a Fellow. Back then, it felt like a bold, modern move. Musk was the "real-life Iron Man," the guy landing rockets on barges and making electric cars cool.
Fast forward to 2026, and the vibe has shifted. Hard.
The relationship between Elon Musk and the Royal Society has turned into a high-stakes drama about what it actually means to be a "scientist" in the 21st century. It’s not just about rockets anymore; it’s about a messy clash of values, code of conduct investigations, and high-profile resignations that have left the world’s oldest scientific academy looking a bit rattled.
Why the Royal Society picked Musk in the first place
Honestly, looking back at 2018, you can see why they did it. The Royal Society (FRS) isn't just for people who spend all day in a lab with a petri dish. They have a category for "contributions to science through leadership and innovation."
Musk was inducted specifically for his work with SpaceX and Tesla. The Society praised his role in pioneering reusable rockets and pushing the world toward sustainable energy. They saw him as an engineer-entrepreneur who was fundamentally changing the "natural knowledge" of the world, which is exactly what the Society was founded to do in 1660.
At the time, the induction was a celebration. Musk attended the formal ceremony, signed the Charter Book—the same book containing the signatures of Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking—and everything seemed fine.
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The 2024-2025 Breaking Point
Things started getting weirdly tense around late 2024. It wasn't just one thing; it was a pile-up.
Critics within the fellowship began pointing at Musk’s behavior on X (formerly Twitter). They weren't just annoyed by his memes. They were specifically worried about his attacks on other scientists, most notably Anthony Fauci, who is also a Fellow of the Royal Society.
By early 2025, the internal pressure became a full-blown rebellion.
- The Resignations: Professor Dorothy Bishop, an absolute powerhouse in developmental neuropsychology from Oxford, publicly resigned her fellowship. She called Musk’s continued membership "grubby" and compared his public persona to a "Bond villain." Shortly after, Professor Andrew Millar from the University of Edinburgh followed suit.
- The Open Letter: A petition started circulating. We're talking over 2,000 scientists—including many existing Fellows—demanding that the Society explain how Musk’s behavior aligned with their strict Code of Conduct.
- The "DOGE" Conflict: When Musk took a role in the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency, the scientific community panicked. They saw it as a direct threat to research funding and evidence-based policy.
The "Secret" Meeting of March 2025
On March 3, 2025, the Royal Society held a massive, somewhat secretive meeting to discuss the "principles of public pronouncements." Basically, it was the "What do we do about Elon?" meeting.
Over 150 Fellows showed up. The tension was thick enough to cut with a scalpel.
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The result? They didn't kick him out.
The Society’s leadership, including President Sir Adrian Smith and later Sir Paul Nurse, took a stand on "neutrality." They argued that the Royal Society shouldn't be in the business of policing political opinions. If they started expelling people for being "unlikeable" or having controversial politics, where would it end?
They basically decided that as long as his technical achievements in space and energy remained valid, his fellowship would remain intact.
Is he actually a "Scientist"?
This is the question that keeps Reddit and faculty lounges on fire. Musk doesn't have a PhD. He hasn't published peer-reviewed papers on orbital mechanics.
But the Royal Society has always been a bit flexible. They value "engineering" and "innovation" as much as pure theory. To the Society's leadership, the fact that SpaceX actually built a working reusable heavy-lift rocket is "proof" of scientific contribution, regardless of whether the guy in charge is posting controversial memes at 3:00 AM.
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However, the "Grok AI" scandal in early 2026 added more fuel to the fire. When reports surfaced that Musk’s AI tool was being used to create non-consensual images, the fellowship's "Code of Conduct" committee was forced to look at the case again.
What the Royal Society/Elon Musk debate tells us
This isn't just about one billionaire and a fancy club in London. It’s about a massive shift in how we define authority.
For centuries, being an "FRS" meant you were part of a quiet, dignified elite. Musk represents a new kind of power—loud, disruptive, and completely indifferent to traditional decorum. The Royal Society is essentially having an identity crisis. Are they a museum of past achievements, or are they a living body that must hold its members to a modern ethical standard?
As of right now, Elon Musk remains a Fellow. But the cost has been high. The Society has lost some of its most respected academic voices, and its reputation for being "above the fray" is pretty much gone.
Actionable Insights for the Curious
If you're following this saga, here's how to look at it objectively:
- Check the Code: If you want to see what the fuss is about, read the Royal Society Code of Conduct. It’s surprisingly short but emphasizes "integrity" and "respect."
- Separate the Art from the Artist: In science, we often separate a discovery from the person who discovered it. The Society is betting that history will remember the rockets and forget the tweets.
- Watch the President: The stance of the Royal Society changes with its leadership. Sir Paul Nurse has been more vocal about defending the "pursuit of truth," which might hint at a more rigid standard for Fellows in the future.
- Follow the Money: Watch how Musk’s role in government (DOGE) affects UK-US scientific collaborations. This is where the theoretical debate becomes a very real financial problem for researchers.
The saga of Elon Musk and the Royal Society is far from over. Every time he hits "post" on X, a few more Fellows probably reach for their resignation letters, while others double down on the idea that science must remain a broad, albeit messy, church.
Stay updated on the official Royal Society "News" page, as they usually dump their most controversial statements on Friday afternoons or during major holiday breaks.