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Letters | What Elon Musk could do if he cared about his legacy
Readers discuss the damage done to the brand of the world’s richest man, the global recognition of Chinese University’s nursing school, and Hong Kong’s medical fee reform
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Over the past few months, Elon Musk has made himself a divisive figure in the United States. With his cuts on government employees and departments, his support of far-right organisations internally and abroad and his antics in public settings, he has done irreparable harm to his reputation among many Americans. A poll in February by Pew Research Centre has found that a majority (54 per cent) had an unfavourable view of him.
As the head of multiple companies, most of which he founded, he has made their reputations intertwined with his own. Most recently, responding to the protests and vandalism targeting his electric vehicle brand Tesla, Musk said the company had done nothing to deserve the hate.
He is correct to say it wasn’t Tesla’s fault; it was its CEO who tarnished its image. After all, Musk is synonymous with his brand.
Now Musk has the choice of a lifetime. He is the richest man in the world. He couldn’t lose all his wealth even if he tried, and at times recently it seems like he has really been trying. He can choose to continue with his questionable actions to drag his companies down into the mud with him.
Or he could decide today to leave a legacy. He could divest his stake in these companies. Sell them off and let them rebound under new leadership and be content in watching the companies he founded grow exponentially, free from his reputation.
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