Elon Musk’s trillion‑dollar fortune fuels debate on AI‑driven wealth concentration

Elon Musk has become the world’s first trillion‑dollar individual, with wealth estimated at about 3 % of U.S. GDP – a share larger than that of John Rockefeller at his peak. French economist Gabriel Zucman warns that artificial intelligence could accelerate the already rapid concentration of wealth among a tiny elite, urging a global minimum tax of 2 % on large fortunes to curb the trend. Zucman argues that extreme wealth translates into concrete political power, citing Musk’s 2022 purchase of Twitter for $44 billion and the platform’s use to support political causes.

Brazilian commentary links Musk’s statements on American liberalism to a broader right‑wing critique of democratic institutions, highlighting how the billionaire’s influence intertwines technology, economics and politics.