This seems like an expensive vanity project for Musk, who often seems to lack focus. In the decade-long bull market he has so far thrived in, he hasn't paid much of a price. That may change in a forecasted environment that looks more like inflationary recession.
SpaceX is pretty much recession proof. SpaceX will get government and commercial contracts as long as the technology is there. Tesla might face issues, but a recession might be used to propel the "green/climate change" movement even further which will benefit tesla greatly. Like how the 2008 financial crisis was used to pump billions into the "green" industries. I can see the next recession being used to promote electric cars and other "green" initiatives. But I'd imagine tesla's lofty $1 trillion market cap will certainly take a hit in the next recession.
He didn't buy Twitter to make money. He is buying power, and especially political power.
He is already the richest guy on Earth and will stay among the top 10 whatever happens. He has nothing to prove as an entrepreneur and CEO. Being richer has no meaning at some point. But power is something most can't get enough.
See Putin: he became the king of the oligarchs, e.g. the richest among them. Now he wants to make Russia great again, e.g. be considered as a giant in Russian History like Peter the Great and Stalin. I hope he will fail miserably for Putin's hubris is the only reason for his unjustifiable war on Ukraine.
Musk will soon be God in one of the main social network on Earth. One of the best spot to watch how the global opinion is evolving, detect which country is trying to mess with elections in another, analyze the communication strategy of the big brands, the political parties, activists etc.
We have an idea of how efficient Cambridge Analytica was at monitoring and influencing political opinions. But they had only a partial access to FB data. Musk will have all Twitter data, with access to current but also past interactions.
That's a huge leverage on political parties and even elected governments. By giving back his account to Trump when he runs again in 2024, or not, he can play a major role in the outcome - as it appears clearly to everyone.
Musk will negotiate that decision directly with the top level players in Washington. If there is a GOP primary, he could side with those loyal to the Constitution first or those loyal to Trump first.
Of course, SpaceX will gain plenty of NASA contracts and the new President will secure fund for huge spatial projects.
But that's only a secondary outcome. Power is something you can't have enough of. He doesn't care if he loses billions.
Musk is becoming the new Rupert Murdoch, who had a huge influence through his newspapers and tabloids in so many countries.
Comments
This seems like an expensive vanity project for Musk, who often seems to lack focus. In the decade-long bull market he has so far thrived in, he hasn't paid much of a price. That may change in a forecasted environment that looks more like inflationary recession.
SpaceX is pretty much recession proof. SpaceX will get government and commercial contracts as long as the technology is there. Tesla might face issues, but a recession might be used to propel the "green/climate change" movement even further which will benefit tesla greatly. Like how the 2008 financial crisis was used to pump billions into the "green" industries. I can see the next recession being used to promote electric cars and other "green" initiatives. But I'd imagine tesla's lofty $1 trillion market cap will certainly take a hit in the next recession.
He didn't buy Twitter to make money. He is buying power, and especially political power.
He is already the richest guy on Earth and will stay among the top 10 whatever happens. He has nothing to prove as an entrepreneur and CEO. Being richer has no meaning at some point. But power is something most can't get enough.
See Putin: he became the king of the oligarchs, e.g. the richest among them. Now he wants to make Russia great again, e.g. be considered as a giant in Russian History like Peter the Great and Stalin. I hope he will fail miserably for Putin's hubris is the only reason for his unjustifiable war on Ukraine.
Musk will soon be God in one of the main social network on Earth. One of the best spot to watch how the global opinion is evolving, detect which country is trying to mess with elections in another, analyze the communication strategy of the big brands, the political parties, activists etc.
We have an idea of how efficient Cambridge Analytica was at monitoring and influencing political opinions. But they had only a partial access to FB data. Musk will have all Twitter data, with access to current but also past interactions.
That's a huge leverage on political parties and even elected governments. By giving back his account to Trump when he runs again in 2024, or not, he can play a major role in the outcome - as it appears clearly to everyone.
Musk will negotiate that decision directly with the top level players in Washington. If there is a GOP primary, he could side with those loyal to the Constitution first or those loyal to Trump first.
Of course, SpaceX will gain plenty of NASA contracts and the new President will secure fund for huge spatial projects.
But that's only a secondary outcome. Power is something you can't have enough of. He doesn't care if he loses billions.
Musk is becoming the new Rupert Murdoch, who had a huge influence through his newspapers and tabloids in so many countries.
I don't believe that Twitter offers much political power. If that's what Musk wants, there are much more efficient ways to use $45B to get it.