High-stakes risk has been a hallmark of Elon Musk's career: defying industry standards with reusable rockets at his $210 billion interplanetary exploration company SpaceX-or, at $1 trillion Tesla, spending billions on titanic production facilities to manufacture electric-vehicle components in-house.
But it was Musk's recent zero-sum bet to stake his reputation, his newly purchased social media platform, and more than $130 million in political donations to Republicans and Donald Trump's third presidential campaign that has propelled him-and his companies-to an unparalleled level of power and influence in both business and politics.
Musk may even get his own seat at the table -as head of a new government efficiency commission-all of which would heighten his power both locally and abroad.
If you are best friends with the president of the United States, you have access to any world leader you want, says Darrell West, a senior fellow of governance studies at the Brookings Institution.
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