Billionaire investors are praising Elon Musk’s growing influence in politics, despite mixed views on his latest role as part of the Trump administration. Musk is set to lead a proposed “Department of Government Efficiency,” aimed at reducing government spending.
Ken Griffin, founder and CEO of Citadel, described Musk as one of the greatest entrepreneurs of all time, citing his business acumen and leadership skills. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, sees Musk as a “mega hero” who has driven ambitious change in the tech industry.
However, not everyone is convinced about Musk’s impact. Griffin expressed reservations about Musk’s ability to cut government spending, acknowledging that such efforts are often unpopular with politicians.
Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, took a more nuanced view, saying it would be premature to dismiss Musk’s efforts. “Let’s go into it hoping that the statements made are correct,” Bezos said.
Altman also defended Musk, stating that using his influence to harm competitors would be un-American and unlikely given Musk’s character. The billionaire had previously sued OpenAI over a falling out with Musk, describing their split as “tremendously sad.”
Musk is now building an AI lab at X (formerly Twitter), which may compete with Altman’s OpenAI. When asked about Musk’s role in the Trump administration, Altman said he views him as a competitor who genuinely cares about being the best.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/04/business/dealbook/elon-musk-trump-jeff-bezos.html