The big story this week is, of course, Elon Musk buying Twitter for $44 billion.
The two big questions the media seem to be asking are:
1. Is $44 billion a good financial investment for Elon?
2. How will Elon’s political views affect what gets moderated on the platform?
Yeah, well, the first one doesn’t really matter to Elon. He’s not buying it at $44 billion in the hope of making $88 billion one day. He’s not Warren Buffet. And he’s not buying it because he wants to censor Group A and un-censor Group B. He’s not playing in the Fox News/CNN/MSNBC sandbox.
It’s far simpler than that. This is about a strategy that ladders up to something far bigger.
By writing the $44 billion check, in a single pen stroke, Elon went from being A. the world’s richest man to B. the world’s richest man AND perhaps the world’s most powerful. Elon understands that the power of Elon is to have the world talking about Elon, which is now pre-ordained, for the foreseeable future.
More to the point of why $44 billion is a small price to pay, it is about strategy, a bigger strategy. Let’s just say, in 2024, if Trump gets reelected (for example), he will have to ask Elon’s permission to get back on Twitter. We’re talking about ‘the leader of the free world’ kissing Elon’s ring. And if the President is kissing the ring, imagine who else is getting in line: Politicians, regulators, captains of industry, foreign dignitaries, Hollywood celebrities. “Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!”
The money is a distraction, this is about influence and a man who understands the inner workings of humanity.
