Musk's path to unprecedented wealth relies heavily on government contracts and subsidies, not pure innovation, with SpaceX receiving nearly $16 billion from NASA and Tesla profiting massively from regulatory credits. His growing fortune translates directly into undemocratic political power, as demonstrated by his $250 million contribution to Trump's campaign and control over critical infrastructure like Starlink. This concentration of wealth and influence in one individual threatens democratic systems by placing him beyond government control.