Elon Musk: The misconception of wealth and genius

By Nco Dube

IN THE contemporary world, where wealth is often conflated with wisdom, Elon Musk stands as a towering figure. As the richest man on earth, Musk is revered by many as a visionary, a genius, and a saviour of humanity. His ventures, from Tesla to SpaceX, are often hailed as revolutionary, and his tweets can move markets and shape public opinion.

Yet, this uncritical adulation of Musk, and by extension, other ultra-wealthy individuals, is deeply problematic. It perpetuates the myth that wealth equates to genius, and that being rich means one is inherently smarter, more innovative, or more capable than the rest of us.

This opinion piece seeks to dismantle this myth, using Musk as a reference point, but also delving more broadly into the societal implications of equating wealth with genius.

The Myth of the Self-Made Genius

Elon Musk is often portrayed as a self-made man, a modern-day Thomas Edison or Nikola Tesla. His narrative is one of relentless hard work, boundless creativity, and an almost superhuman ability to foresee the future. However, this portrayal is not only simplistic but also misleading. Musk’s wealth and success are not solely the products of his genius or hard work; they are also the results of privilege, luck, and the exploitation of systems and people.

Firstly, Musk’s early life was marked by significant privilege. Born into a wealthy family in South Africa, he had access to resources and opportunities that most people do not. His father, Errol Musk, was an electromechanical engineer, pilot, and sailor, who owned a share of an emerald mine in Zambia. This wealth provided Musk with a safety net that allowed him to take risks and pursue ambitious projects. While Musk’s defenders argue that he has since far surpassed his initial advantages, it is important to recognise that his starting point was not one of humble beginnings, but of considerable privilege.

Secondly, Musk’s success is also a product of luck. The tech industry, in which Musk made his initial fortune, is notoriously volatile. Many brilliant entrepreneurs have failed not because they lacked talent or vision, but because they were unlucky. Musk’s early ventures, such as Zip2 and X.com (which later became PayPal), succeeded in part because they were in the right place at the right time. The dot-com boom of the late 1990s and early 2000s created an environment in which tech start ups could flourish, and Musk was able to capitalise on this. While his success is undoubtedly impressive, it is not solely the result of his genius; it is also the result of being in the right industry at the right time.

Finally, Musk’s wealth has been built on the backs of others. Tesla, for example, has been criticised for its treatment of workers, with reports of long hours, low pay, and unsafe working conditions. Similarly, SpaceX has been accused of exploiting its engineers, who are often expected to work gruelling hours for relatively low pay. Both companies have also been built on the back of American taxpayers with their over-reliance on huge tax breaks and concessions (for Tesla) and lucrative government contracts (for SpaceX. Musk’s defenders argue that these sacrifices are necessary for the greater good, but this argument ignores the fact that Musk himself is not making these sacrifices. He is a billionaire, living a life of luxury, while his employees struggle to make ends meet. This is not the mark of a genius; it is the mark of a ruthless businessman.

The Cult of the Wealthy Genius

The reverence for Musk is part of a broader cultural phenomenon: the cult of the wealthy genius. In this cult, the ultra-wealthy are seen not just as successful, but as inherently superior. They are viewed as visionaries, as people who see the world more clearly than the rest of us, and who have the ability to shape the future. This view is not only flattering to the wealthy; it is also comforting to the rest of us. It allows us to believe that the world is fair, that success is a result of merit, and that those who are rich deserve to be rich.

However, this view is deeply flawed. Wealth is not a reliable indicator of genius, and being rich does not mean that one is inherently smarter or more capable than others. Wealth can be acquired in many ways: through hard work, through luck, through inheritance, through exploitation, or through a combination of these factors. While some wealthy individuals are undoubtedly brilliant, others are simply lucky, or ruthless, or unscrupulous. To assume that all wealthy people are geniuses is to ignore the complexity of how wealth is acquired and maintained.

Moreover, the cult of the wealthy genius has dangerous societal implications. It reinforces the idea that wealth is a sign of moral and intellectual superiority, and that those who are not wealthy are somehow inferior. This view can lead to a lack of empathy for the poor and a reluctance to address issues of inequality. If we believe that the wealthy are inherently superior, we are less likely to question the systems that allow them to accumulate vast amounts of wealth while others struggle to get by.

The Limits of Musk’s Genius

While Musk is undoubtedly a talented entrepreneur, his genius is often overstated. His success in certain areas, such as electric vehicles and space exploration, has led some to assume that he is a genius in all areas. However, this is not the case. Musk’s forays into other fields, such as artificial intelligence and neuroscience, have been met with scepticism by experts in those fields.

His company Neuralink, which aims to develop brain-machine interfaces, has been criticised for making grandiose claims that are not supported by current scientific evidence. Similarly, his warnings about the dangers of artificial intelligence have been dismissed by many AI researchers as alarmist and uninformed.

Musk’s tendency to make bold, often unrealistic claims is another sign that his genius is not as all-encompassing as his admirers believe. He has a history of overpromising and underdelivering, from the Tesla Model 3 production delays to the failed promise of fully autonomous Tesla vehicles. While his defenders argue that these failures are the result of his ambitious vision, they also raise questions about his judgment and his ability to follow through on his promises.

Furthermore, Musk’s behaviour on social media has often been erratic and irresponsible. His tweets have led to legal troubles, such as when he falsely claimed to have secured funding to take Tesla private, resulting in a lawsuit from the US Securities and Exchange Commission. He has also used his platform to spread misinformation, such as when he downplayed the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic. This behaviour is not the mark of a genius; it is the mark of someone who is impulsive and reckless.

The Broader Implications of Wealth Worship

The uncritical reverence for Musk and other ultra-wealthy individuals is symptomatic of a broader societal problem: the worship of wealth. In a world where economic inequality is growing, and where the gap between the rich and the poor is widening, the wealthy are increasingly seen as role models, as people to be admired and emulated. This is deeply troubling, as it reinforces the idea that wealth is the ultimate measure of success, and that those who are not wealthy are somehow less valuable.

This worship of wealth is not just a moral issue; it is also a practical one. When we idolise the wealthy, we are less likely to question the systems that allow them to accumulate vast amounts of wealth while others struggle to get by. We are less likely to demand policies that address inequality, such as progressive taxation or increased social spending. And we are less likely to recognise the contributions of those who are not wealthy, but who nevertheless make valuable contributions to society, such as teachers, nurses, and social workers.

Moreover, the worship of wealth can lead to a lack of accountability for the wealthy. When we view the ultra-wealthy as geniuses, we are less likely to hold them accountable for their actions. We are more likely to excuse their unethical behaviour, such as tax avoidance or labour exploitation, as the necessary price of their genius. This lack of accountability is dangerous, as it allows the wealthy to wield disproportionate power and influence, often at the expense of the rest of us.

Conclusion

The influence of ultra-wealthy individuals also extends into the political sphere, where their vast resources allow them to wield a disproportionate amount of power. Figures like Musk can effectively ‘parachute’ into political discourse, using their wealth to amplify their voices, fund campaigns, and lobby for policies that favour their interests. This level of influence can distort the democratic process, drowning out the voices of ordinary citizens and potentially leading to policies that benefit a select few at the expense of the broader public good. It’s crucial to recognise and address this imbalance of power to ensure a more equitable and representative political landscape

Elon Musk is undoubtedly a remarkable individual, with a track record of success in several industries. However, the uncritical reverence for him, and for other ultra-wealthy individuals, is deeply problematic. It perpetuates the myth that wealth equates to genius, and that being rich means one is inherently smarter, more innovative, or more capable than the rest of us. This myth is not only false; it is also dangerous, as it reinforces inequality, undermines empathy, and leads to a lack of accountability for the wealthy.

We must resist the temptation to idolise the wealthy, and instead recognise that wealth is not a reliable indicator of genius or moral worth. We must question the systems that allow a small number of individuals to accumulate vast amounts of wealth, while others struggle to get by. And we must celebrate the contributions of those who are not wealthy, but who nevertheless make valuable contributions to society. Only then can we create a world that is fairer, more just, and more equitable for all.

(Dube is a political economist, businessman, and social commentator on Ukhozi FM. His views don't necessarily reflect those of the Sunday Tribune, IOL or Independent Media)