The year 2024 solidified Elon Musk’s transformation from tech mogul to one of the most powerful unelected individuals on the global stage. As the CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and Twitter, Musk’s companies made major strides, breaking records and reshaping industries. But it was his growing political clout, ties to world leaders, and controversial public persona that truly defined Musk’s ascent to a new echelon of influence.
Musk’s Expanding Business Empire
Musk began 2024 by relocating Tesla and SpaceX’s headquarters to Texas, capitalizing on the state’s business-friendly policies. This move, along with Musk’s soaring net worth, gave him immense leverage over lawmakers eager to attract his favor and investment.
Tesla, despite some stumbles with the Cybertruck launch and shrinking margins, hit a $1 trillion valuation in November. New self-driving technology announcements, though met with investor skepticism, kept the company in the spotlight.
Meanwhile, SpaceX celebrated several key milestones in 2024:
- Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built, completed multiple successful test flights
- The first private spacewalk launched with Polaris Dawn
- Starlink internet expanded globally, though not without controversy
Musk’s brain-computer interface company Neuralink also made headlines with its first successful human implant, allowing a patient to control a computer mouse with their mind. However, the device later partially detached, tempering excitement over the technology’s potential.
Entanglement With Politics & World Leaders
As Musk’s companies thrived, his involvement in politics deepened. Following a purported assassination attempt on Donald Trump, Musk publicly pledged his “full support” to the former president. He reportedly considered serving in Trump’s administration and was rumored to be contributing heftily to his campaign (claims Musk denied).
Musk’s proximity to power wasn’t limited to the US. In 2024, he:
- Appeared alongside the Israeli prime minister in a congressional address
- Inserted himself into a call between Trump and Ukraine’s president
- Endorsed Germany’s far-right AfD party as the country’s only hope
These forays into foreign relations often sowed division as Musk freely dispensed his controversial views. “Only the AfD can save Germany,” he declared. When Australia moved to regulate online misinformation, Musk denounced its officials as “fascists.” After race riots in the UK, he speculated that “civil war is inevitable,” prompting backlash from the government.
Battles Over Twitter and Censorship
Much of Musk’s 2024 influence stemmed from his control over Twitter, which he renamed X in a rebranding blitz. Musk repeatedly clashed with global regulators attempting to crack down on misinformation and hate speech on the platform.
When Australia ordered X to hide videos of a church stabbing, Musk fought back in court. Brazil briefly banned the site entirely until Musk reluctantly complied with its content laws. Musk called government efforts to regulate X “an attack on the future of civilization.”
Critics accused Musk of hypocrisy in his selective approach to Twitter’s rules. He colluded with Trump’s campaign to suppress an unfavorable dossier while gleefully spreading phony images of Kamala Harris. As one ACLU director put it, “Elon Musk wields censorship like an ax to shape the world in his image.”
The Cult of Personality
For his fans, Musk’s swashbuckling and norm-shattering ways were a feature, not a bug. Legions of admirers hung on his every tweet and meme, buying into the mythos of Musk as a real-life Tony Stark—a genius billionaire using his superpowers to save the world.
“Elon is the greatest visionary of our time,” effused one Twitter influencer with 2 million followers. “Everything he touches turns to gold. He’s just operating on a higher plane than the rest of us.”
But to his many detractors, Musk’s antics represented the worst of tech-bro arrogance and reckless self-indulgence. His casual musings could trigger market upheaval and diplomatic incidents. No corporate board or governmental body seemed equipped to rein him in.
Looking Ahead: Musk Without Limits
As 2024 drew to a close, one thing was abundantly clear: Elon Musk answered to no one but himself. With a sprawling tech empire, the world’s largest fortune, and a direct line to the Oval Office, Musk appeared truly unbound.
Musk’s stated aim is to use his clout for the betterment of humanity—expanding our presence in the stars, hastening the clean energy transition, connecting the world’s minds. Whether his methods are compatible with democratic ideals is an open question.
In his final tweet of the year, Musk hinted at his intentions for 2025: “The work has just begun. This is the start of something new.” What precisely that “something” is, only the newly minted Master of the Universe himself can say. The world watches with a mixture of hope and trepidation.
