Mr. Musk is fundamentally a creature of Silicon Valley, a scene that initiated an entire revolution in power dressing. The young masters of that universe dressed down to show that they were members of a new elite — one that refused to dress like the grown-ups they were about to topple. It was the defeat of the suit by the T-shirt.

Notes given to President Trump to help him sell Teslas in front of the White House included prices and reminded him to use terms like ‘affordable.’

Tesla is Musk’s biggest source of income — his stake was valued at $195 billion in 2024, per Forbes. Shares for the automotive company surged following the 2024 election, which pushed Musk’s net worth over the $400 billion mark.