The world's richest man, Elon Musk, who have only grown richer after the US Presidential elections, seeing his net worth shot up to $319 billion, is preparing to wield new power in Washington as the promised head of a new Department of Government Efficiency, while maintaining control of his corporate empire including Tesla, X, SpaceX, xAI, and Neuralink.
Elon Musk's influence in Donald Trump's incoming administration deepened as he joined a 25-minute call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after Trump’s win, signalling the billionaire's expanding role in shaping US foreign and domestic policy.
During the call, Musk reassured Zelenskyy about continued Starlink satellite support, which remains crucial for Ukraine's military communications, according to Axios.
Musk aims to slash $2 trillion from the US budget and eliminate regulations he claims stifle innovation. Rather than directly managing government operations, he plans to install longtime deputies, engineering experts, and ideological partners at key agencies, sources familiar with the preparations told the Financial Times.
"America's A team is usually building companies in the private sector," Musk posted on X. "Once in a long time, reforming government is important enough that the A team allocates time to government. This is that time."
Key figures in Musk's inner circle being considered for government roles include Steve Davis, known for executing massive layoffs at X, and Omead Afshar, described as Musk's "firefighter" for handling challenging corporate transitions. The billionaire has also proposed SpaceX executives for Defense Department positions, including former Air Force general Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy and government affairs executive Tim Hughes.
Musk's involvement in high-level diplomacy follows his substantial $119 million campaign contribution to Trump. Beyond the Zelenskiy call, he was also present during Trump's conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The tech mogul's influence extends beyond traditional government roles. His social media platform X became instrumental in disseminating pro-Trump messages during the campaign, while venture capitalists David Sacks and Jason Calacanis, who frequently host Musk on their All-In podcast, are positioning themselves for potential administration roles.