Most executives spend years trying not to offend customers, advertisers or investors. Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has taken the opposite approach, arguing that worrying about being liked is a weakness—and one he’s never wanted to have.
“I’ll say what I want to say and if the consequence is losing money, so be it,” Musk told CNBC in May 2023 after being asked whether his outspoken comments and social media posts concerned him because they could cost him customers or advertisers.
Why Musk Doesn’t Chase Approval
The comment wasn’t a one-off.
“I have no problem being hated, by the way,” he said during The New York Times DealBook Summit later that year. “Hate away.”
Don’t Miss:
He then explained why he believes chasing approval can become a liability.
“I think it is a real weakness to want to be liked,” Musk said. “A real weakness. And I do not have that.”
For Musk, speaking candidly matters more than avoiding controversy, even when it brings financial or reputational consequences.
Putting Conviction Ahead of Consensus
That philosophy has become a defining characteristic of Musk’s leadership.
Even so, Musk has continued to argue that changing his views simply to avoid backlash would be the bigger mistake.
The mindset echoes a line from the 1987 film “The Princess Bride,” which Musk referenced to illustrate his thinking.
“Offer me money. Offer me power. I don’t care.”
The message was simple: incentives mean little if they require compromising deeply held beliefs.
A High-Risk, High-Conviction Style
Whether that approach helps or hurts shareholders remains a subject of debate — and few people have put a finer point on the financial stakes than “Shark Tank” investor Kevin O’Leary.
O’Leary framed that volatility as the price of admission for owning a piece of Musk’s ambition, not a reason to walk away. It’s also a reminder of just how much of Tesla’s public narrative — for better or worse — is tied to one person’s willingness to say exactly what he thinks.
See Also: Big Pharma Has Spent Years Searching For Better Osteoarthritis Treatments. This Biotech Is Taking A Different Approach.
Backing Founders Who Think Differently — Without the Single-Person Risk
For investors, that dynamic highlights a broader reality about innovation. Many of the entrepreneurs building disruptive companies aren’t trying to win popularity contests, and their stock price shouldn’t hinge on a single tweet either. They’re focused on long-term execution, even when their ideas initially draw skepticism.
That’s one reason some investors look beyond established public companies to earlier-stage businesses pursuing ambitious ideas — before any one person’s headlines can move the needle.
Musk’s philosophy won’t resonate with everyone. But his message has remained remarkably consistent over the years, if speaking honestly comes with criticism—or a 10% swing in market cap—he considers that a price worth paying rather than a reason to stay quiet.
Read Next: Some of the world’s most valuable private companies—including SpaceX and other late-stage tech giants—are now accessible through diversified private-market funds inside this mainstream investing app
Building Wealth Across More Than Just the Market
Arrived
Realberry
FarmTogether
Farmland has historically held its value through market volatility and delivered returns uncorrelated to stocks and bonds. For accredited investors, FarmTogether offers direct access to high-quality U.S. farmland starting at $15,000 — fully managed, with no landlord headaches.
Immersed
Fundrise
Private real estate and private credit can add income and stability to a stock-heavy portfolio. Fundrise offers access to diversified private real estate and credit strategies through an easy-to-use platform, with professionally managed portfolios designed to generate passive income and long-term growth.
Mode Mobile
EquityMultiple
For accredited investors looking beyond stocks and bonds, EquityMultiple provides access to vetted commercial real estate deals starting at $5,000, with only ~5% of opportunities passing their due diligence process.
Image: Shutterstock
