How Elon Musk Became More Powerful Than Ever

Elon Musk became more powerful than ever, according to a long-form Galaxy Brain discussion that examines how his influence expanded across industry, money, and politics. In the episode, host Charlie Warzel speaks with historian Quinn Slobodian and technology writer Ben Tarnoff, authors of Muskism: A Guide for the Perplexed, about the ideas behind Musk’s rise. The conversation frames Musk’s companies as reshaping sectors: Tesla’s role in accelerating the modern electric vehicle market, SpaceX’s aerospace progress, and Starlink’s satellite connectivity. It also describes how Musk’s wealth and campaigning intersected with major political events, including references to Donald Trump’s 2024 win and Musk’s involvement with the DOGE takeover of the federal government, citing actions such as canceling thousands of grants and cutting more than 270,000 federal jobs. The episode further discusses Musk’s financial scale, including an example of Musk losing more money in SpaceX stock than Bill Gates’s net worth in a single month. The discussion raises whether Musk’s dominance appears inevitable or potentially vulnerable.