Sure, until it fails and then it fails spectacularly. I think Musk may be the exception to the general rule. And some founder type CEOs don't go off the rails until they know they're on the way out and don't have to pretend any more. (Not that I think Musk is on his way out any where. I love Musk. All hail Musk.)

But I say those words with a sense that I might be eating them, if something horrible comes out and we all say "gee - should have seen those red flags".

He'd not be able to do it in say 1985.

It's the unprecendented amount of time that Americans devote to following pop-culture and Musk wants to become pop-culture squared.

China is approaching this thing differently, they make it very clear if you want to become a pop-culture icon you should sing or act. It's not allowing businessmen to become influencers or politicians, nor to put their nose into public health or education.

According to them the roles should be clearly separated, so his style and twitter purchase won't work there (or would work there for different reasons such as China using it as a trojan horse in the AMerican society)