Can democracy survive trillionaires?

[marmar]

Elon Musk and the trillionaire class test democracy’s limits
The one-person, one-vote principle never accounted for billionaires, let alone trillionaires

By Chauncey DeVega
Senior Writer
Published June 20, 2026 6:30AM (EDT)


(Salon) Elon Musk’s company, SpaceX, has made him the world’s first trillionaire. His fortune is now estimated at over $1.3 trillion. This is more than four times the wealth of the world’s second-richest man, Alphabet co-founder Larry Page (estimated at $300 billion).

....(snip)....

Of course, Musk and the other mega-wealthy are important to understand as individuals and personalities because they have immense power to impose their values, beliefs and behavior — both good and bad — on the rest of society. In the case of Musk and his relationship with Trump, MAGA, and the global anti-democracy right-wing and neofascist movement, this is terrifying.

As reported by Open Secrets, Elon Musk donated almost $300 million to Republican candidates, political action committees, and right-wing organizations in the 2024 election cycle. He is also using his fortune to support and finance extreme right-wing organizations and projects in the United States and around the world.

....(snip)....

A democracy rests upon the basic proposition of one person, one vote, and that members of a society should be able to determine their leaders and government. At its heart, democracy is a moral project.

Musk and the rest of this emerging class face no real limits on their behavior beyond what they choose to impose on themselves, to paraphrase billionaire president Donald Trump. .......................(more)

https://www.salon.com/2026/06/20/elon-musk-and-the-trillionaire-class-test-democracys-limits/

[OGBuzz]

1. Is there a right-of-center politician that Musk's, or Page's, or Ellison's pocket change can't buy? Oligarchy is

just around the corner.

[kentuck]

2. No.

There has to be at least a modicum of economic equality in a democracy. Otherwise they have absolute power.

[Midnight Writer]

3. No, democracy will not survive. Political power will become a commodity that is bought and sold.

The common good, the public interest, will take a backseat to the whims of the uber-wealthy.

We will be living under the New Feudalism.

[Hey Joe]

4. I tend to agree with you based on our experience

up to this point.
When a people are taught to value wealth and shiny baubles over truth, values, principles and character such as we have in America, then we are bound to be ruled by those who possess it.
Wish I was wrong but that’s what I’m seeing.

[moondust]

5. Doubt it.

When "trillionaire" becomes the model of "success" I'm sure plenty of amoral wannabes will resort to doing virtually anything to get there. The future could be a hellscape of corruption, oppression, starvation, unaffordable health and dental care, commercial junk, etc., similar to the consequences of Musk mElon canceling USAID, only on a broader scale that includes the "First World." Why would a pay-to-play government of self-serving plutocrats and their servants bother to give a crap about all "The People" they don't need? They'll be too busy sipping fruity liqueurs out on their yachts while the world burns.

[Progressive dog]

6. Billionaires appear to be winning

their fight against democracy. That's why there is now a trillionaire.

[LearnedHand]

7. No, and not billionaires either

It’s a gross distortion of the social contract.