• @ironhydroxide
    link
    English
    48
    edit-2
    2 months ago

    No, he became a billionaire by grifting and lying, getting government handouts for huge projects that never actually did what he claimed, if they were completed at all.

    “Humans on Mars in 10 years”-2011 “FSD… From Los Angeles to new York city with no human intervention…NOW” etc.

    But he wouldn’t have been able to even get the ears of those grifts and government handouts without already being wealthy.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      62 months ago

      This simply isn’t true. He became a mega millionaire by grifting Compaq. He became a billionaire when Peter Thiel forced him out of control of PayPal to save the company.

      • @ironhydroxide
        link
        English
        72 months ago

        So. He became a billionaire by grifts and government handouts increased it. And likely wouldn’t have had the ears of those he grifted without already having $$.

        • @[email protected]
          link
          fedilink
          82 months ago

          Nah, there’s a key distinction you’re missing. There’s a skill to the grift, but not to failing upwards against your best efforts.