Musk, the World's First Trillionaire - Is He Worth It?

[Randy222]

We have to apply a little Einstein here.
If his bonus is 56B and he then inks a deal for 55.8B, that kinda shifts risk and now he's only a 0.2B guy (just example of relativity).

$B companies have known to come and go in blink of an eye.

His worth is simply not relevant to me, there's nothing I or you can do to convince Elon to park just $20k in your bank account.
And soon enough, Elon wont be here, yet the world keeps spinning.

[krish2487]

That might be the US situation. Over here (and I suspect more often in Europe) pension funds are regulated. And they do consult their participants where to invest. A number of these funds did place SPCX on their exclusion list. And IMO rightly so, as these funds are in it for the long haul instead of the quick win.

Bingo!!! The platforms have allowed SpaceX to trade on them, but the funds themselves have excluded SpaceX. As @free_electron said, if you are really really sure about the risk you are taking, your funeral.. but where there are a lot more participants involved and peoples life savings are at stake, not a chance..  Hell, for all the free market economy, even S&P said no to SpaceX.

[Psi]

I've yet to see Elon doing something with his stock value that seems very wasteful.
He looks to always reinvest it in starting new companies. Which means the stock value is doing good work that benefits everyone since the new companies are worthwhile in nature.  Sure, you could argue that he should sell his stock and use it to cause more direct and immediate help, but you don't have the money he does, and he seems to want to make a longer term, high-risk, high-reward type contribution to society. Which is his choice and might actually work.

You could argue Cybertruck was a waste of money given it isn't selling very well, which is fair, but if you were him you might also want to spend a tiny fraction of your wealth to design a car styled in exactly the way you want it vs what marketing says will sell. I wouldn't hold that against him too much. Everyone is allowed a small side project that might be a bit pointless or not very profitable.

[Psi]

A number of these funds did place SPCX on their exclusion list. And IMO rightly so, as these funds are in it for the long haul instead of the quick win.

The platforms have allowed SpaceX to trade on them, but the funds themselves have excluded SpaceX.

Yep, which is correct and the way things should work.

No matter what side of the pro/anti standpoint you're on everyone can agree that SpaceX is extreme-risk / extreme-reward.
Even if people might disagree a bit about how extreme the reward might be everyone agrees about the extreme-risk. So exposure to SpaceX stock should be limited for anyone not wanting that trade off.

[brucehoult]

You could argue Cybertruck was a waste of money given it isn't selling very well

It's peanuts. Industry estimate is that production tooling cost $30m vs over $200m for something like the F150. Flat panels, no paint shop. It's very cheap to build.

They probably spent around a billion in R&D but much of that will also benefit future models and it's still peanuts compared to total Tesla R&D of $1.5B, $2.5B, $3B, $4B, $4.5B, $6.5B in 2020/1/2/3/4/5. Before 2020 was relatively steady at a bit under $1.5B per year for a few years.

Cybertruck was probably 10%-15% of the total for the 2019-2023 years.

[Psi]

Yeah, I don't think it really matters much. But I felt I should acknowledge it when talking about Tesla not wasting money just to head off those comments before they happen.

[tszaboo]

You could argue Cybertruck was a waste of money given it isn't selling very well, which is fair, but if you were him you might also want to spend a tiny fraction of your wealth to design a car styled in exactly the way you want it vs what marketing says will sell. I wouldn't hold that against him too much. Everyone is allowed a small side project that might be a bit pointless or not very profitable.

Yes, I think every 40 years someone should make a stainless steel car, just to see that it's still a bad idea. Though I like the Delorean, looks cool in the museum.

[tom66]

Unlike the DeLorean which got immortalised in fiction via Back to the Future as a "cool car ahead of its time", the Cybertruck will be immortalised as a car driven by insecure morons with no common sense. I found it a particularly good choice for a character's car in the TV show The Boys, where "The Deep" (who is a dickhead, insecure "alpha male" type, I don't think that's a spoiler) drives one with the licence plate "IN2DEEP".

[Psi]

Unlike the DeLorean which got immortalised in fiction via Back to the Future as a "cool car ahead of its time", the Cybertruck will be immortalised as a car driven by insecure morons with no common sense. I found it a particularly good choice for a character's car in the TV show The Boys, where "The Deep" (who is a dickhead, insecure "alpha male" type, I don't think that's a spoiler) drives one with the licence plate "IN2DEEP".

In what way does liking/buying a Cybertruck make a person an insecure morons with no common sense?

[Siwastaja]

Unlike the DeLorean which got immortalised in fiction via Back to the Future as a "cool car ahead of its time", the Cybertruck will be immortalised as a car driven by insecure morons with no common sense. I found it a particularly good choice for a character's car in the TV show The Boys, where "The Deep" (who is a dickhead, insecure "alpha male" type, I don't think that's a spoiler) drives one with the licence plate "IN2DEEP".

In what way does liking/buying a Cybertruck make a person an insecure morons with no common sense?

Factually it doesn't, but what matters is the impression.

Though, tom66's description of the impression only holds in a certain media bubble. Not everyone lives in the same bubble. Only history will tell what will be remembered. It is well possible anti-Musk woke bubbles just slowly die and most people forget they ever existed; new bubbles come and go. Cybertruck will most likely be just forgotten as something "weird and niche".

[PlainName]

In what way does liking/buying a Cybertruck make a person an insecure morons with no common sense?

Factually it doesn't, but what matters is the impression.

Like 'white van man' and 'BMW owner'?

[Siwastaja]

In what way does liking/buying a Cybertruck make a person an insecure morons with no common sense?

Factually it doesn't, but what matters is the impression.

Like 'white van man' and 'BMW owner'?

Exactly, and BMW owner will be remembered as a dickhead (including inability of using blinkers), because that's a really popular impression, and has been for decades. Mostly not true, of course, like most stereotypes aren't. But it's already in the history books. Not so sure about Cybertruck in comparison. Too early to say.

[Cyclotron]

In what way does liking/buying a Cybertruck make a person an insecure morons with no common sense?

Factually it doesn't, but what matters is the impression.

Like 'white van man' and 'BMW owner'?

Exactly, and BMW owner will be remembered as a dickhead (including inability of using blinkers), because that's a really popular impression, and has been for decades. Mostly not true, of course, like most stereotypes aren't. But it's already in the history books. Not so sure about Cybertruck in comparison. Too early to say.

I believe this is true for parts of the population. I don't know what the numbers are. I define the things I own, not the other way around.
This goes to the whole virtue signally culture I guess. People want to be "seen" in a car or with a particular watch or mobile phone... 

All cars are junk for the most part and depreciate. Attaching ones self worth to such a thing would mean the self worth depreciates as the car does; weird.
I guess I can see some status conveyed for highend super cars. I think its more likely to show status if you are being chauffeured like my kids.

I assume the same part of the population that assigns characteristics about themselves with the items they use are likely also the ones judging other by the items they use. None of that makes sense to me. I also don't understand bumper stickers and why people think I or anyone else cares about the broadcasted information. I often wonder if this is a narcissistic trait or something to want to announce to strangers behind you some message you feel is important.

[Cyclotron]

Just saw this article in my news feeds and thought its relative to the value Musk and his companies bring to the US at least.
https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/ford/2026/06/23/the-most-american-made-cars-might-surprise-you-as-new-list-is-released/90596343007/

The Teslas being the most American made certainly would be of value to the US citizen as a means to provide employment and technology advances.
The one thing that I'm not sure is accounted for is the source of the equipment used in the manufacturing process.

[brucehoult]

Like 'white van man' and 'BMW owner'?

Based on the four cars I've owned since 2001, in the USA I'd apparently be considered to be a lesbian. Trapped in a man's body, presumably.

[Sal Ammoniac]

As of this morning, with the falling markets, Musk is no longer a trillionaire.

[brucehoult]

As of this morning, with the falling markets, Musk is no longer a trillionaire.

Call off the hounds!

[Psi]

In what way does liking/buying a Cybertruck make a person an insecure morons with no common sense?

Factually it doesn't, but what matters is the impression.

Like 'white van man' and 'BMW owner'?

Exactly, and BMW owner will be remembered as a dickhead (including inability of using blinkers), because that's a really popular impression, and has been for decades. Mostly not true, of course, like most stereotypes aren't. But it's already in the history books. Not so sure about Cybertruck in comparison. Too early to say.

I understand when it's something the drivers of a specific car are doing on the road that's unsafe or annoying.
And that gives them a reputation. Like BMW drivers not using their indicators.
But what are cybertruck drivers doing?
Just choosing to buy/drive a cybertruck isnt enough as that's just a person style thing and doesn't affect other drivers.

[PlainName]

Just choosing to buy/drive a cybertruck isnt enough as that's just a person style thing and doesn't affect other drivers.

Why are they buying the trucks? Are they businesses buying them because otherwise they'd buy a pickup or something needed for the job, or ordinary people that see them as a step up from a SUV, much like a SUV is a step up from a saloon?

[Psi]

Just choosing to buy/drive a cybertruck isnt enough as that's just a person style thing and doesn't affect other drivers.

Why are they buying the trucks? Are they businesses buying them because otherwise they'd buy a pickup or something needed for the job, or ordinary people that see them as a step up from a SUV, much like a SUV is a step up from a saloon?

All of the above. Just like any other vehicle people buy them for a lot of reasons.

[NE666]

the DeLorean ... a "cool car ahead of its time"

(edit mine)

Whilst in reality, it was largely Renault parts. The flush door handles of the gull wings were from the ridiculed British Leyland Austin Allegro. I *believe* the rear hubs and braking system were taken from the Ford Cortina. (DeLorean raided the leftover parts bins of European car plants to keep production costs down). It was a Frankenstein's monster of a vehicle, save for the truly standout bodyshell for which it became iconic.

Interesting fact: to my knowledge, it was the first (and still possibly only) car to have a recall issued for a recall. Fasteners for the front suspension were too weak and fracturing in use. They were replaced under recall with ones that proved to be weaker.

All that not withstanding, I'd have one tomorrow if circumstances permitted. If Tesla had built this again but as an EV, I think things would have gone very differently.

[PlainName]

Just choosing to buy/drive a cybertruck isnt enough as that's just a person style thing and doesn't affect other drivers.

Why are they buying the trucks? Are they businesses buying them because otherwise they'd buy a pickup or something needed for the job, or ordinary people that see them as a step up from a SUV, much like a SUV is a step up from a saloon?

All of the above. Just like any other vehicle people buy them for a lot of reasons.

Sure, but the point is that sometimes there is predominantly a type that acquires certain things (not exclusively, of course) so those things become associated with that type. The question is if the truck is showing that kind of allocation yet. Other than 'employed or working for SpaceX'.

[tom66]

the DeLorean ... a "cool car ahead of its time"

(edit mine)

Whilst in reality, it was largely Renault parts. The flush door handles of the gull wings were from the ridiculed British Leyland Austin Allegro. I *believe* the rear hubs and braking system were taken from the Ford Cortina. (DeLorean raided the leftover parts bins of European car plants to keep production costs down). It was a Frankenstein's monster of a vehicle, save for the truly standout bodyshell for which it became iconic.

Interesting fact: to my knowledge, it was the first (and still possibly only) car to have a recall issued for a recall. Fasteners for the front suspension were too weak and fracturing in use. They were replaced under recall with ones that proved to be weaker.

All that not withstanding, I'd have one tomorrow if circumstances permitted. If Tesla had built this again but as an EV, I think things would have gone very differently.

Yes, I seem to recall one of the major issues was the heavy PRV engine, which meant that it was really underpowered for a sports car at the time - 130 hp.

[Psi]

If Tesla had built this again but as an EV, I think things would have gone very differently.

Heh, Tesla buying the Delorean Motor Company and producing a Tesla Delorean instead of the Cybertruck would have been sick.
I'd have been down for that.

[tom66]

If Tesla had built this again but as an EV, I think things would have gone very differently.

Heh, Tesla buying the Delorean Motor Company and producing a Tesla Delorean instead of the Cybertruck would have been sick.
I'd have been down for that.

It'd have probably sold a few more than Cybertruck.