Key Takeaways
- Elon Musk’s political and business influence has reached new heights, but his consolidation of power has drawn accusations of a “plutocratic coup”.
- Some of Musk’s rivals include AI rival Sam Altman, former Trump strategist Steve Bannon, and ex-presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
- Government officials such as Elizabeth Warren, Lina Khan, and Joe Biden have clashed with Musk over regulations, taxation, and corporate oversight, while figures like Bill Gates and Klaus Schwab have opposed his views on AI, climate policy, and governance.
- As Musk’s accumulation of power and influence continues, keen eyes are watching to understand where his key vulnerabilities lie.
Elon Musk, the visionary CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and X, has risen to unprecedented heights of influence in technology and politics. His recent appointment as the chair of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under President Donald Trump has further solidified his power.
However, his ascent to power has not been without controversy. Musk’s assertive actions, such as dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and gaining access to the Treasury Department’s central payment system, have led to accusations of a “plutocratic coup” and a constitutional crisis. These moves have intensified scrutiny and criticism from various political figures and entities.
Musk’s volatility has even become fodder for speculators, with prediction markets like Polymarket taking bets on when he might depart from his role at DOGE. As Musk continues to reshape industries and government operations, he has encountered significant opposition from various political figures and entities.
In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the biggest enemies Elon Musk has made over the years and whether they may have an impact on his plans.
Elon Musk’s 8 Key Enemies
Elon Musk’s rapid rise to the top has put him at odds with several influential figures across tech, politics, and finance. Whether it’s government officials, business rivals, or ideological opponents, Musk has made some enemies who are eager to challenge his influence.
| Name | Industry/Company | Overview |
|---|---|---|
| Sam Altman | AI industry/Open AI | Musk co-founded Open AI with Altman but left due to ideological differences. |
| Steve Bannon | Politics/Political Strategist | He accused Musk of using his power to push a libertarian pro-business agenda. |
| Vivek Ramaswamy | Politics/Entrepreneur | Initially supported by Musk, Ramaswamy distanced himself after criticizing Musk’s growing influence. |
| Elizabeth Warren | U.S. Senate | Warren has long opposed Musk, calling for higher taxes on billionaires and increased regulation. |
| Lina Khan | Federal Trade Commission | Khan investigated Musk’s Twitter acquisition and questioned Tesla’s market dominance. |
| Bill Gates | Philanthropy/Microsoft | Gates has clashed with Musk over Tesla stock, AI safety, and climate policies. |
| Klaus Schwab | World Economic Forum | Schwab’s vision for a regulated global economy contradicts Musk’s libertarian ideology. |
| Joe Biden | U.S. Government | Biden ignored Musk, favoring legacy automakers over Tesla. |
1. Sam Altman – CEO of OpenAI
Once close allies in the AI space, Sam Altman and Elon Musk have become bitter rivals in the race to dominate artificial intelligence. Musk co-founded non-profit organization OpenAI with Altman in 2015, but later left the company, criticizing its direction under Altman.
Their feud escalated after OpenAI struck a multi-billion-dollar partnership with Microsoft, shifting its focus toward commercial AI development. Musk called this a betrayal of OpenAI’s founding mission to build AI for public benefit. Consequently, Musk launched xAI, aiming to compete with Altman directly.
Altman, on the other hand, has dismissed Musk’s criticisms, stating that he is not afraid of competition and believes OpenAI is on the right path. Their rivalry is shaping up to be one of the biggest power struggles in AI. In 2025, Musk and Altman will be going to court over the conversion of OpenAI to for-profit.
2. Steve Bannon – Former White House Chief Strategist
Steve Bannon, the controversial former strategist for Donald Trump, has become an unlikely adversary of Musk in recent years. While both share an interest in disrupting traditional power structures, their visions for the future of technology and governance have put them at odds.
Bannon has accused Musk of wielding too much influence over the U.S. government and pushing a libertarian, pro-business agenda that only benefits Big Tech elites, rather than the working class. He has also expressed skepticism toward Musk’s role in shaping AI and military technology. Bannon warned that Musk’s control over SpaceX and Starlink could pose a national security risk.
In response, Musk has largely ignored Bannon, choosing to focus on his broader ambitions in government, AI, and defense contracts. However, with Bannon still wielding influence in right-wing circles, their feud could fuel political opposition to Musk’s expanding empire. Most recently, Bannon called Musk “truly evil” and vowed to take him down.
3. Vivek Ramaswamy – Entrepreneur & Former Presidential Candidate
Once seen as a rising star in Republican politics, Vivek Ramaswamy has become a key Elon Musk enemy worth watching. While the two share some ideological overlap, particularly on issues of free speech and Big Tech regulation, Ramaswamy has distanced himself from Musk’s influence over government affairs.
Musk initially supported Ramaswamy’s presidential campaign, but their relationship soured after Ramaswamy openly questioned whether Musk was becoming too powerful in shaping policy decisions. He has since called for more oversight of Musk-controlled companies. Namely, SpaceX’s dominance in defense contracts and the role of Starlink in global communications.
Furthermore, the duo was set to head the newly founded Department of Government Efficiency. In late January, Vivek revealed that he won’t be part of DOGE, possibly due to a clash with Musk, choosing to enter the race for a governor in Ohio instead.
4. Elizabeth Warren – U.S. Senator
Senator Elizabeth Warren has been one of Musk’s fiercest political critics. She has frequently clashed with him over taxation, corporate power, and government oversight. She has accused Musk of avoiding taxes, abusing subsidies, and using his wealth to manipulate markets.
In 2021, Warren called Musk a “freeloader” who doesn’t pay his fair share, to which Musk responded by mocking her on Twitter, calling her “Senator Karen”. Their feud has continued, with Warren pushing for more regulations on billionaires and Big Tech, including stricter oversight of Musk’s ventures like SpaceX, Tesla, and X.
With Warren still leading progressive efforts in Congress, Musk could face even greater regulatory challenges.
5. Lina Khan – FTC Chair
Lina Khan is the head of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and one of Musk’s biggest regulatory threats. A strong advocate for antitrust enforcement, Khan has set her sights on Big Tech’s monopolistic practices. This included Musk’s growing control over multiple industries.
Under Khan’s leadership, the FTC was weaponized to investigate Musk’s Twitter acquisition, questioned Tesla’s autopilot safety practices, and scrutinized SpaceX’s dominance in the space industry. In return, Musk has accused Khan of abusing regulatory power to target him unfairly.
With Khan stepping down from the position in 2025, Musk has one less enemy to worry about.
6. Bill Gates – Microsoft Co-Founder
Despite being tech visionaries, Bill Gates and Elon Musk have become bitter rivals, especially in recent years. Their feud began when Musk accused Gates of shorting Tesla stock, which led to public insults and accusations from Musk.
At the same time, Gates criticized Musk’s views on AI safety, calling some of his warnings about AI overblown. He has also attacked Musk’s stance on climate change policies, arguing that Tesla can’t address global sustainability challenges alone.
While Gates remains influential in global philanthropy and public policy, Musk’s increasing political and economic power could put him in a stronger position than Gates in the long run. Most recently, Gates expressed his support for USAID.
7. Klaus Schwab – World Economic Forum Chairman
Musk and Klaus Schwab, the head of WEF, have opposing views on global governance and technology regulation. Schwab advocates for strict government oversight on AI, digital currencies, and climate policies. Conversely, Musk has championed free markets and limited government intervention, dismissing Schwab’s vision of a globalized, regulated economy as dystopian. He has also criticized WEF meetings, claiming they push policies that undermine individual freedoms.
The WEF’s influence over international economic policy makes Schwab one of Elon Musk’s most powerful enemies, and could make him a significant threat to Musk’s aspirations.
8. Joe Biden – President of the United States
Despite Musk’s growing political influence, President Joe Biden has largely ignored him, often favoring other tech leaders over him. The Biden administration prioritized electric vehicle policies that benefitted competitors like GM and Ford, snubbing Tesla from EV funding and White House meetings.
Meanwhile, Musk has openly criticized Biden, calling him “a damp sock puppet in human form” and accusing his administration of favoring legacy automakers over Tesla. In turn, the Biden administration has been reluctant to engage with Musk, even as SpaceX and Starlink have become essential for national security and military applications.
With Biden losing the recent US election, things will probably get more favorable for Tesla. In addition, Musk was one of Donald Trump’s big supporters. As a result, the president has turned Elon Musk into a “special government employee”.
Honorable Mention: Reddit Bans X Links
Not too long ago, Elon Musk found some strong support within the Reddit community. But it all changed after Donald Trump’s inauguration in January 2025, when Musk made a controversial gesture to the audience, which many interpreted as a Nazi salute. The event set off a media frenzy, and Reddit was quick to follow.
Sports-focused subreddits started asking moderators if they’d be willing to ban links leading to Musk’s X. Soon, many other communities followed, turning the practice into a tidal wave across Reddit. Today, many of the subreddits on the platform have banned links to X and it doesn’t seem like they’ll retract that decision.
Closing Thoughts
A quick scan of Elon Musk’s enemies reveals a career filled with tumultuous relationships. And his entanglements have only intensified as he broaches new heights: the frequency and gravity of his clashes have both increased, as spats with politicians, government officials, and global leaders all make regular headlines.
As he consolidates power within the U.S. government, speculation abounds over how long Musk can maintain this level of influence – and where his vulnerabilities might lie. Betting markets like Polymarket are already tracking his every move, creating a cottage industry around the speculation. And while it’s all fun and games for some, the reality remains the same: Elon Musk’s adversaries, both past and present, may have a key role to play in his future.
