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Notes -
A lot less. And it’s not entirely a liquidity thing. Google was able to replace CEO’s. I think meta could probably replace Zuckerberg and people wouldn’t assume it changes company trajectory. Tesla/SpaceX value is like 75% Musks is smarter than everyone else and knows how to do innovation. It think based on the quality of Starlink as a platform that SpaceX is probably worth 500b without Musks. Tesla has a similar premium.
If an 80% holder of Pepsi stock decided to sell it would be a liquidity issue. And Pepsi stock isn’t going to crash if they change the CEO. SpaceX stock would crash 75% if he died but all his stock was in trust for all his kids that were banned from selling for 20 years.
All of the richest guys year “X” have similar issues evaluating as Musks. Pompey could just lose in battle and the new Emperor takes his assets etc.
I sometimes wonder how much the valuation of those companies (and hell, the entire stock market) is impacted by the pure actuarial odds of Musk getting into a fatal accident or straight dropping dead.
The valuation of Berkshire Hathaway continuing to rise even as Warren Buffett reaches ancient age is a hint that maybe it is less than we think. But that's a very different industry.
Buffett stepped down
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