How Elon Musk Got Rich: The $230 Billion Myth | The Class Room ft. Second Thought

Elon Musk spent decades building something big: himself. Musk managed to sell the world on a persona: the visionary genius billionaire working his hardest to save the the world. And it’s worked: the myth of Elon Musk has made him a lot of money.
But what did it cost to get him there? And what does it mean that the richest man in the world build that wealth purely on an image of himself?
We took a deep look into Musk’s entire career: court documents, SEC filings, and interviews to break down the story Elon tells about himself and how he leveraged it to accumulate wealth and power.
#elonmusk #billionaire #tesla
-----
More Perfect Union is a new nonprofit media org with a mission to empower working people. Learn more here: perfectunion.us/
Follow us on Twitter: / moreperfectus
Instagram: / perfectunion
Facebook: / moreperfunion

[@justinfowler2857]

Elon Musk is just another modern Thomas Edison. He takes credit for all the work other people do.

[@hidesertroamer]

No one gets that rich doing the “right thing”.

[@Toddzmom01]

Something about Musk makes my skin crawl, my gut says "if you ever meet him, don't trust him".. Same feeling I get with Zuckerberg.. Ugh.. Just ugh.

[@sdd6528]

Strange how Elon timed his move out of South Africa with the age of mandatory service in the military. It is almost as if Elon was dodging the draft just like rich people here did during the Vietnam War....

[@maltedmilk6888]

He is DEFINITLY NOT a saint!!!!!!!!!!! Quite the opposite . . .

[@billymorgan4611]

It would be worth mentioning that he went to the most prestigious schools in South Africa, Canada and the US. So 'calling a few investors' is quite easy when you already have the connections.

[@furball8967]

Bernie made a direct jab at Musk saying...” why should rich people get tax credits for their pet projects?” Referring to Musk trying to get government handouts for SpaceX.

[@GleefulNihilism]

I always giggle when he tried to claim that the whole thing about his family owned Emerald Mines in Apartheid-Era South Africa was just something his critics made up - then his own dad popped into the conversation with "not only is it true but your sister is sitting right next to me wearing some of our emeralds right now, lol".

[@biancadavis5878]

The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed. Keep up the good work.

[@scottabc72]

When Elon talks about just 'getting' investors with phone calls it really helps a lot if you are already part of a family worth almost a Billion $ (30 years ago too). His father helped much more than with $20000 loan while Elon was slumming it for a couple years to avoid South African military service.

[@conansglasses2645]

" Tesla's value is based on the myth of Elon " hits even truer seeing how the stock is crashing right now now that public opinion of him took a 180°

[@rickys7883]

Didn't Elon also call for an end to all government subsidies after taking billions in government subsidies? An estimated 4.9 billion back in 2015 per the Los Angeles Times.

[@jedw8753]

This man really is the definition of "failing upwards".

[@God_is_love_believe]

It is outrageous that people get away with this level of deception.

[@zackthomas1031]

This "good billionaire" grift is the oldest trick in the book. He has a very hard working PR team and a lot of people are gullible enough to eat it right up like good little sheeple.

[@TheGingerDivine]

“I only took some of my fathers money; the rest I got from the network I have because of my father”

[@wimeatsworld]

It is refreshing to see other people basing their opinion of Musk on the facts he'd like to hide rather than his everlasting PR campaign. Well done report.

[@minaryeon9259]

What I learnt so far, any billionaire saying they are doing good things and they don't need money is a liar. Their ego is over their head, they want praises and attention.

[@sweatsucks7719]

"when I was in college there were 3 areas I thought would most effect the future of humanity, food, air, and shelter" - Elon

[@erinmac4750]

This is the one "ad" I've clicked on in YT, impressed! The amount of information you presented in this concise, compelling video shows the diligence and true journalistic excellence.