In Musk’s largesse, something of the old ways appear to be returning. “It’s worrying that the super rich are beginning to deploy their super wealth in ways that are challenging to democratic ideals,” says Watson. “Private money has always made a difference. [But] Musk is taking it into entirely new territory. These tech giants are getting more involved in politics because they distrust democracy in all its messiness, and they want to get a government that will deregulate and that enables them to advance their vision of the technocratic future.
“Nobody knows what effect the giveaway will have. There is no proof of correlation, but I think two days after Musk announced it, Trump took a very, very small lead in Pennsylvania, 0.2 per cent, for the first time since Harris became the Democratic nominee.”
Ken Danieli, a Republican political analyst and former brand strategist for Pepsi, disputes any notion that Musk has strayed into illegality.
“What Elon Musk is doing in Pennsylvania is certainly not a crime,” he says. “Elon believes he’s at great risk if Donald Trump doesn’t win because [he thinks] the Democrats will go after him.
“I can’t tell you how many Left-wingers have told me they don’t like Elon Musk because he’s the guy who brought free speech back [on Twitter/X]. For his part, Elon is doing this because he believes Trump will stand up to the deep state and big tech.”
Musk obviously believes it is worth a shot. He has been an outspoken supporter of Trump’s campaign, appearing on stage at events with the Republican nominee. Trump has claimed Musk might even accept a role in his government if he is elected.
With less than a fortnight to go until the election, his giveaway will cost him around $20 million, or 0.008 per cent of his net worth. For all his eccentric political pronouncements, the leader of SpaceX and Tesla has helped bring about revolutions in rocketry and electric vehicles. Earlier this month, SpaceX performed the first catch-landing of a rocket booster, an ingenious feat.
“I hate politics,” Musk said at the launch event in Pittsburgh. “I just like building stuff. And making products that people love.” If he is able to treat the Presidential election as just another engineering problem, it would be risky to bet against him.
The Telegraph approached Musk for comment