About a year ago, Elon Musk quietly summoned a handful of Republican strategists and confidants to his sparsely decorated apartment overlooking downtown Austin. The Tesla CEO told the group that electing Donald Trump was essential to the country’s future, and he was willing to do anything — and pay any amount — to create a “red wave” around the country.
He did a lot, launching the U.S. DOGE Service to orchestrate sweeping layoffs and budget cuts. He spent a lot, plowing at least $288 million into the 2024 election. And this week, following a period of intense backlash against his political activity and his electric-vehicle company, he seemed to draw a line under all that work: “I think I’ve done enough.”
So what will be the next focus for the world’s richest person?
