Let’s get one thing straight: Elon Musk is not a genius. He’s not the Einstein of our era, nor is he the next Newton. Yet, somehow, a cult of followers has convinced themselves that the Tesla and SpaceX CEO is the most brilliant mind to have ever walked the earth. Why? Because they need a hero. And in the absence of real intellectual giants, they have settled for a man who buys ideas rather than invents them.
The IQ Fallacy: Why Numbers Don’t Equal Genius
Attorney, journalist, and Elon Musk biographer Seth Abramson did not hold back when addressing Musk’s so-called intellectual superiority. In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), Abramson shredded the fantasy that Musk is some kind of superhuman intellect.
“As an Elon Musk biographer, I would peg his IQ as between 100 and 110,” Abramson stated. “There’s zero evidence in his biography of anything higher.” And just in case anyone thought this was a typo, he repeated it: “There’s zero evidence, from his life history, of Musk having anything higher than a 110 IQ.”
This statement—blasphemy in the eyes of Musk’s most fervent devotees—sent shockwaves through online spaces, particularly in MAGA communities, where the cult of the billionaire is as strong as ever. After all, in their worldview, intelligence is best measured by net worth, and questioning the supposed genius of their chosen idol is akin to heresy.
The Great Man Theory Is Dead—Someone Tell Nate Silver
Abramson’s comments sparked an online firestorm, with political statistician Nate Silver jumping in to defend Musk under the outdated “Great Man Theory.” This 19th-century idea, popularized by historian Thomas Carlyle, suggests that history is shaped by extraordinary individuals rather than broader social forces. It’s a theory that has been widely discredited, yet it still holds an unshakable grip on those who desperately want to believe in the myth of singular genius.
The problem? Musk doesn’t fit the bill. The man did not invent Tesla (he bought his way in). He did not personally develop the reusable rocket technology at SpaceX (he funded the engineers who did). And yet, his followers act as though he personally hand-welds every rocket and codes every Tesla software update.
Worshipping Billionaires: The Strange Religion of the 21st Century
This is where things take a darker turn. Musk’s cult-like following isn’t just about admiration—it’s about desperation. His fans aren’t simply interested in his companies; they need him to be a genius because they have placed their own identities in his hands. If Musk is an ordinary guy who stumbled into obscene wealth through a combination of privilege, ruthless business tactics, and a handful of lucky investments, then what does that say about their belief in the American Dream?
It says that meritocracy is a lie. And that’s an uncomfortable truth they would rather not face.
The Real Measure of Intelligence
So what is intelligence, if not an arbitrary IQ score? It’s the ability to think critically, to innovate, to solve problems in ways that truly push humanity forward. It’s what we saw in Marie Curie, Nikola Tesla, and Alan Turing. Musk? He’s a businessman with a knack for marketing, a talent for hype, and an uncanny ability to take credit for the work of others.
Abramson was right to call out the myth of Musk’s intelligence. The billionaire’s fanbase, however, will continue to rage against the truth, because the truth is inconvenient. And if there’s one thing we’ve learned in the 21st century, it’s that people would rather believe a convenient lie than face an uncomfortable reality.
Musk may be many things—a savvy investor, a ruthless capitalist, a social media chaos agent—but a once-in-a-generation genius? Let’s not kid ourselves. The world is full of real visionaries. Maybe it’s time we start paying attention to them instead.
