this post was submitted on 20 Jun 2024
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That's pretty much how he kept the public image of "eccentric genius" for so many years. I once read an article (can't remember where, don't care enough to search) that said that SpaceX had/has a team whose entire purpose was to babysit Musk when he had a temper tantrum. The team formed organically, like a cyst around a foreign object, and minimized damage to PR.
When Twitter was infested, it didn't have this immunity and now the world (or those of us who care) knows how much of a shithead he is.
I'm still trying to figure how anyone (including Musk) ever thought he was a genius? Like ok so he has a lot of money that he throws at interesting problems, and those problems attract actual geniuses to solve, but what has Musk himself ever done except be an employer? It reminds me of all the talk about how Edison was supposed to be a genius, when the reality was that he ran a sweatshop to steal other people's hard work.
No one who knew him probably ever did. This is par for the course with billionaires. People see a walking paycheck, they want their ear and their investments. So they flock to him to get their dream projects done, knowing fully that he will steal and claim any success while throwing them under the bus for any setback. Everyone thinks they can control the dragon. But when he is controlling the actual operations usually shit just goes in flames. That's everything he is ever been.
but which would you say came first: The Dragon or elon being perceived by others as The Dragon?
i’m sure, as with any big personality, this relationship evolves concurrently and interdependently. I just wish more had seen through him sooner. it was not difficult to predict that he would ultimately undermine himself faster than he would naturally fall out. we will keep seeing more of his type unless we can get a bit faster on the uptake.
It's been reported he had babysitters since PayPal days. They knew what a shitty manager he was all along. But he had money and was friends with people with even more money.
This happens to anyone rich and/or famous. People flock to them to attempt to ply them with flattery or leach money in some way. Consider how many people say that Trump is a genius.