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non_radical_centrist  8mo ago (astralcodexten.com)   2073 thread views

Book Review: Elon Musk[Scott Alexander]

astralcodexten.com

Scott Alexander’s review of a 2015 biography of Elon Musk. Elon Musk, to me, is one of the world’s most confusing people. He’s simultaneously both one of the smartest people in the world, creating billions of dollars of value in companies like Tesla and SpaceX, and one of the dumbest, in burning billions on Twitter. Scott’s review I think is a good explanation of what’s up with Musk.

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I don't think Twitter was a mistake. Converting money into influence is very expensive. His timing was awful, and he probably could have gotten a better deal if he'd waited a few months, but I expect (at least when you consider the influence gained) that that purchase will turn out profitable in the end.

Converting money into influence is very expensive.

yup https://greyenlightenment.com/2023/09/11/why-influence-reach-is-better-than-power-wealth-or-social-status/

shameless plug

Billionaires spend so much money and time trying to make their opinions and values heard, whether it's writing books, running for office, writing op-eds, buying newspapers (or Twitter in the case of Musk), making TV appearances, etc. it's not enough to just have money, social status, and power. They need to also be seen as possessing wisdom or insight about society, too.

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