For his ‘free fall’ Mask He speaks of a Financial Times post after his conflict with the US president and his close ally, Donald Trump.
In fact, Elon Musk who is in “war” with Donald Trump is likened to corresponding cases of billionaires in Russia, China and Saudi Arabia who “dared” to challenge state power.
According to the report, US journalist and writer Tom Wolf once invented the term “lords of the universe – Masters of the Universe”, referring to Wall Street brokers.
Elon Musk literally adopted this phrase. However, according to the analysis of the Financial Times, its decline lately is deafening. After the “war” he opened with Donald Trump, the richest man on the planet discovered that he is not only the lord of Washington, let alone the universe.
The fall of the founder of Tesla is not an isolated incident in political and business times but belongs to a global trend, according to which, nowadays, when economic power is confronted with politics, the latter always comes out victorious. As paradoxical as it sounds in Marxists or over -optimistic capitalists, the state overrides capital.
The limit of ambition
From Russia and China to Saudi Arabia – and now in the United States – the billionaires who “dared” to claim political influence have discovered – in the toughest way – who has the real power in his hands: the one who simply controls the army. Mao had summarized, simple but highly illustrated, in the following sentence: “Power stems from the barrel of the weapon.”
In Russia, Vladimir Putin came to power with the support of tycoons and oligarchs who believed he would preserve their possessions. But as soon as he stabilized his position, he showed, without any doubt, who is the boss. Michael Hondorkovsky, then richer in Russia, was imprisoned for ten years when he began to become an independent political force. Boris Berezovsky, who had also acquired huge fortune during the Yeltsin period, was “forced” to be exiled and died under mysterious conditions.
The omnipotence of the leader
In China, Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba and the most prominent capitalist of the country, saved it relatively cheap, paying his criticism of the regime with his disappearance from the foreground. President Xi Jinping apparently saw his influence and his straight views as a challenge. After a speech in 2020 criticized the financial regulatory authorities, AntGroup, who was about to enter the Stock Exchange, was blocked by the authorities and withdrew from the foreground. Ma has not entered the prison and has begun to appear publicly again. However, Jimmy Lai, a Hong Kong media tycoon who supported the Movement for the Republic in the region, did not have the same fate as he now serves a long prison sentence.
In Saudi Arabia, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who admires Donald Trump and his policies, imprisoned dozens of prominent businessmen-including investor Prince Walid bin Talal-at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. The message was clear: no one is above political power.
Those who entered politics to survive
The only safe way out for the superb to protect themselves from the whims of a country’s leader seems to be the entry into politics … that is, to become the leaders themselves. Silvio Berlusconi in Italy and Bidzina Ivanisville in Georgia followed this path, creating their own parties and gaining power in their countries. Trump did the same, turning his property into political capital.
However, few successfully achieve this transition. And those who move to the limits must go carefully. In order to maintain their wealth and freedom, they must understand the limits.
Most choose discretion. The Abani family in India maintains close relations with Prime Minister Narendra Monti, but does not question his sovereignty. Carlos Slim in Mexico is far from political statements, choosing neutrality and cooperation with each government. He even collaborated with left -wing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on major infrastructure projects.
Do the US enter the same road too?
Many Americans would be shocked by Washington’s comparison with Moscow or Beijing tactics, as the US is considered a model of democracy and rule of law. The idea that the president could use the law to avenge the richest man in the country is still sounding shocking. However, the latest developments with Musk show that even in America politics is prevalent. Trump himself has threatened – in his own way – Musk that he can lose state contracts if he supports the Democrats.
Steve Banon has even proposed SpaceX nationalization, which plays a critical role in federal space programs, while seeking research on Musk’s migration regime, leaving suspicions of deportation.
If all of the above sounds unthinkable in the ears of Americans, there is now a saying nowadays that it gives clear answers: in Trump’s America, never say never.