Public image of Elon Musk

Businessman and U.S. political figure Elon Musk is a focal point of extensive press coverage, with public attitudes towards him fluctuating at various points throughout his career.

Although his ventures have been highly influential within their separate industries starting in the 2000s, Musk only became a public figure in the early 2010s. He has been described as an eccentric who makes spontaneous and impactful decisions, while also frequently making controversial statements, contrary to other billionaires who prefer reclusiveness to protect their businesses. Musk's actions and his expressed views have made him a polarizing figure. Biographer Ashlee Vance described people's opinions of Musk as polarized due to his "part philosopher, part troll" persona on Twitter.

Musk has been described as an American oligarch due to his extensive influence over public discourse, social media, industry, politics, and government policy. His influence in the second presidency of Donald Trump led some to call him the "actual president-elect", "shadow president" or "co-president".

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