[rhubarbtree]

Important point here: the discussion is about his character, but you’ve made it about his intellect.

I don’t think anyone can doubt that Musk is super smart. I’ve heard silly things like - he doesn’t do anything, it’s all his employees or board or assistant - but reading the history that’s obviously false.

It does seem some people can’t cope with the idea that someone is often an asshat is also brilliant. And I’m afraid it’s true with Musk.

[magicalhippo]

> I don’t think anyone can doubt that Musk is super smart.

It's also worth keeping in mind that super smart people can say and do lots of really dumb things. Smart != wise.

[dwb]

I don’t think Musk is super smart. I think he has some skills that account for how he got to his position other than privilege and luck, I think he probably works hard (or at least, harder than me), but I can’t get to “super smart”.

[zug_zug]

On the one hand he does some things that seem very smart, on the other he does many that are very stupid (cave divers ordeal). So it’s a bit more nuanced than that.

[ndsipa_pomu]

> I don’t think anyone can doubt that Musk is super smart

I doubt it. He was born into money and was lucky enough to make some excellent purchasing decisions. His various talks and arguments on the internet show him to be fairly stupid in my opinion. I've heard tell that his successful businesses are mainly successful when the staff learn how to manage Musk and prevent his dumbest ideas.

[ethbr1]

What objective evidence do we have that Musk is smart?

Basically: he's extremely rich

Working hard and being very good at negotiating compensation packages and picking the right companies/products to be involved with (and a bit of luck) are all sufficient for exorbitant wealth though.

E.g. there are plenty of people just as smart as Bezos who didn't hitch their wagon to the "sell something easy on the web" idea at the right time

[cmurf]

What is a secular term for prosperity gospel?

[ethbr1]

Plutocracy?

[jijijijij]

Social darwinism.