preložiť Musk's politicking and controversies have a hard edge. More than 110 billion of his fortune is "gone", Tesla is suffering
Elon Musk has long been seen as a visionary who is changing the world of technology. But today his empire faces unexpected challenges - protests, slumping sales and political turmoil threaten his influence and fortune. What's behind the slump, and why does Musk seem to have played the wrong card this time?
DOGE and the political nightmare
Last but not least, politics is behind Musk's decline. But why did a seasoned businessman like him decide to collude with Trump, who is, to a large part of the US and the world, a controversial figure to say the least?
Charlie Warzel, a commentator for The Atlantic, believes that the American billionaire probably thought that being involved in the Trump administration would open the door to greater business opportunities. So far, however, it has rather caused him problems.
His administration's heavy-handed actions, mass firings of civil servants and his controversial statements have made Musk increasingly unpopular in the US and around the world.
And it is not just Tesla that is suffering. The private space company SpaceX has seen Starship and Starlink rockets explode twice this year and is losing key contracts, such as in Canada, where the state pulled out of a contract because of Trump's tariffs.
The situation at Tesla has gone so far that even the US President himself is having to help his ally with a political campaign. On Tuesday (March 11), Trump parked a red Musk-branded sedan in the driveway of the White House and declared that he would buy it for the staff of the presidential mansion. The price tag of the car is 80 thousand US dollars.
At the same time, Trump praised Tesla and in a later statement declared that anyone "who violently protests against Tesla will experience hell".
There is indeed violence from the more radical critics of Musk's actions. In addition to damaging Tesla showrooms or chargers, there have also been cases where the cars of ordinary people have been targeted by vandals. Many of them prefer to sell their Teslas or mask the markings on their cars.
A game that Musk may lose
Musk has staked his image on politics, and at the moment it looks like he is losing. The protests against Tesla are gaining momentum, some of his political allies in the Republican party are starting to distance themselves from him and investors are getting nervous. Even as Trump publicly declares his support for Musk and promises to buy Tesla, the financial market is reacting differently.
Musk has managed to extricate himself from difficult situations in the past, but this time more than just his capital is at stake. It is his reputation, which for years has been his most valuable weapon. And if he also loses the image of his genius, his entire empire could crumble.