Elon Musk: The World’s Richest Man Sleeping on an Office Floor—Why?
Elon Musk, the wealthiest man in the world, has always been known for his relentless work ethic. For years, Musk has stressed the importance of working at least 80 to 100 hours a week, sometimes even exceeding 120. He firmly believes that working weekends is a “superpower” and that it gives him and his team a significant edge over their competitors.
This intense dedication to work isn’t unique to Musk. Other prominent business leaders, like Jeff Bezos and Tim Cook, follow similar schedules. Bezos worked 12-hour days, seven days a week, during Amazon’s early years, and Tim Cook is famous for sending emails at 4:30 a.m. This mindset has become central to Silicon Valley culture, where success often equates to long hours and tireless work. Musk, however, has taken this work ethic to an extreme, seeing it as a mark of superiority. He believes that if he works harder than anyone else, he has the right to impose his vision on the world.
Musk has built his empire through companies like Tesla, SpaceX, and Twitter. He now seeks to extend this approach into government, aiming to replace bureaucrats with automation. He believes this change will bring about progress. But is working 120 hours a week truly effective? When Musk took control of Twitter, he slashed the staff in half, imposed what he called an “extremely hard-core” management style, and saw many employees leave after being offered severance. Despite these challenges, Musk remains confident in his approach, believing it will ultimately deliver results.
However, simply working long hours doesn’t ensure success. Reports suggest that Musk’s team, fueled by pizza and energy drinks, has made significant errors. For example, they launched a cost-savings website full of accounting mistakes. Musk also fired hundreds of workers responsible for nuclear weapons safety and later had to rehire them. These mistakes show that nonstop work can lead to costly oversights.
Musk also envisions a future where artificial intelligence replaces most jobs. He believes that in an automated world, billionaires like him will be among the last humans needed, tasked with managing the future. Many tech leaders share this belief, as seen with companies like Google and Meta using AI advancements to justify recent layoffs. According to a World Economic Forum survey, over 40% of companies worldwide expect to follow suit within the next five years. Musk and other tech leaders see this as an opportunity to consolidate their power.
For Musk, reducing the workforce and increasing automation accelerates this transition. After taking over Twitter, he fired many employees and replaced them with a smaller, more dedicated team. He has also emphasized the use of AI to handle more company functions. Musk and his team envision a world where technocrats replace bureaucrats, with AI handling tasks previously managed by people. Musk has repeatedly said, “Everything that can be machine automated will be.”
Still, Musk faces challenges. His efforts at Twitter show that working long hours does not guarantee success. Despite his relentless drive, his leadership resulted in a less valuable company and a chaotic user experience. His companies, like Tesla, also face product safety issues. Tesla cars have caught fire, even with Musk’s automated manufacturing process. His loyal fan base has kept his companies successful, but this approach may not be sustainable.
As Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal, once observed, “A startup is basically structured as a monarchy.” Musk’s companies follow this model—his work ethic and leadership style give him the authority to impose his will on his organizations. However, his leadership raises an important question: Is this the kind of leadership that society needs?
Musk’s work ethic is part of a larger trend in American culture. As job security and economic stability become more uncertain, more people view constant work as a status symbol. In a time when many Americans struggle to find stable employment, seeing billionaires work tirelessly creates the illusion that they are somehow more special. Musk and other billionaires flaunt their nonstop work schedules, presenting themselves as uniquely capable. But the real question is: Does this culture of constant work benefit society or simply reinforce the power of a wealthy few?
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