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<ul><li><keyword id="20674001" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Savitri-Jindal" source="keywords">Savitri Jindal</keyword>, the matriarch of the <keyword id="21185539" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jindal-Group" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Jindal Group" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Jindal Group">Jindal Group</keyword>, is India's richest woman with a net worth of $36 billion. </li><li>Following her husband Om Prakash Jindal's sudden death in 2005, she took over the <keyword id="34570" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="steel" source="Orion">steel</keyword> and <keyword id="44011" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="power" source="Orion">power</keyword> conglomerate. </li><li>She is the only Indian woman in the top 10 of <keyword id="20017067" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Forbes" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Forbes" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Forbes">Forbes</keyword>’ list of the richest women in the world in 2024. </li></ul>In the vast and dynamic landscape of Indian business, one name stands out as a symbol of resilience, leadership, and unparalleled success: Savitri Jindal. With an astonishing net worth of $36 billion, she is India's richest woman. According to the <keyword id="962341" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bloomberg-billionaires-index" source="Orion">Bloomberg Billionaires Index</keyword>, her net worth zoomed at $9.5 billion in 2024, making her the only Indian woman in the top 10 of Forbes’ list of the richest women in the world that year. <h2> A Legacy of Leadership</h2>Savitri Jindal's journey began in 2005, following the unexpected death of her husband, Om Prakash Jindal, the visionary founder of the Jindal Group. Thrust into the helm of a vast conglomerate with interests in steel, power, <keyword id="6378916" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cement" source="Orion">cement</keyword>, and infrastructure, she faced immense challenges. Yet, her determination and astute leadership transformed these challenges into opportunities, propelling the Jindal Group to unprecedented heights. Under Savitri Jindal's guidance, the Jindal Group flourished, becoming a cornerstone of India's industrial sector. Some of the flagship companies of the Jindal group are Jindal Saw Limited, JSW Steel, Jindal Stainless Steel Limited and Jindal Steel and Power Limited. She’s currently the chairperson emerita of the O.P. Jindal Group, and also the president of Maharaja Agrasen Medical College, Agroha. <h2>Beyond the Boardroom</h2>Savitri Jindal's influence extends beyond the boardroom. She has made significant contributions to public service and philanthropy. In 2005, Jindal was elected to the Haryana Vidhan Sabha from Haryana’s Hisar constituency, which was earlier represented by her late husband Om Prakash Jindal for a long time. In 2009, she was re-elected to the constituency and was appointed the cabinet minister in the Haryana Government on 29 October 2013. She transitioned to the Bharatiya Janata Party in March this year. <h2>A Broader Trend of Empowerment</h2>Savitri Jindal's rise to prominence is not just a personal triumph but a reflection of a broader trend in India. Women are breaking barriers and redefining success in the business world. Influential figures like Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and Falguni Nayar are reshaping the narrative of corporate leadership and success, proving that the boardroom is no longer an exclusively male domain. Savitri Jindal's story is one of perseverance, strategic vision, and an unyielding commitment to excellence. Her leadership has not only fortified the Jindal Group's position as an industrial powerhouse but has also inspired a new generation of women leaders in India.

Meet Savitri Jindal: The richest woman in India, with a net worth of $36 billion!

Top 10 richest women in the world in 2024

The <keyword id="19895371" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Congress" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Congress" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Congress">Congress</keyword> on Thursday latched on to a new rich list to attack the Centre, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "<keyword id="21027901" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="billionaire-raj" source="keywords">billionaire raj</keyword>" is more unequal than even the <keyword id="20034027" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="British-Raj" source="keywords">British Raj</keyword> and it is also the cornerstone of the government's <keyword id="22965777" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="economic-policy-making" source="keywords">economic policy-making</keyword>. Congress general secretary in-charge communications <keyword id="20035989" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jairam-Ramesh" source="keywords">Jairam Ramesh</keyword> shared on X a media report which cited the <keyword id="21075617" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hurun-India-Rich-List" source="keywords">Hurun India Rich List</keyword> to state that India created a new billionaire every five days throughout 2023. "India has had one billionaire for every five days in 2023, and the non-biological Prime Minister's closest friend is the foremost among them all," Ramesh said on X. "Modi's Billionaire Raj is more unequal than even the British Raj. But it is also the cornerstone of the government's economic policy-making," he alleged. This is why, at a time when countries across the world are coalescing around the idea of a global billionaire tax, the Indian government has been conspicuously silent and continues to remain blind to rapidly increasing economic inequalities, Ramesh said. Recouping the dent caused by the <keyword id="20016892" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hindenburg-Research" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Hindenburg Research" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Hindenburg Research">Hindenburg Research</keyword> report, <keyword id="19929098" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gautam-Adani" source="keywords">Gautam Adani</keyword>'s networth shot up 95 per cent to Rs 11.6 lakh crore last year, which helped him replace <keyword id="19916798" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mukesh-Ambani" source="keywords">Mukesh Ambani</keyword> to become the richest Indian, according to the 2024 Hurun India Rich List. Reliance Industries Chairman and Managing Director Ambani's overall networth increased by 25 per cent to Rs 10.14 lakh crore, as per the Hurun list. In 2023's report, Adani's wealth declined by 57 per cent to Rs 4.74 lakh crore, and Ambani was way ahead with a fortune of Rs 8.08 lakh crore. It can be noted that Adani's networth declined sharply following various allegations levelled by US-based short seller Hindenburg Research. The conglomerate has denied all the allegations. In the 2014 edition, Hurun had pegged Adani's fortunes at Rs 44,000 crore, which made him the tenth richest Indian then.

PM Modi's 'Billionaire Raj' more unequal than even British Raj: Congress

The <keyword id="19956320" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="United-Kingdom" source="keywords">United Kingdom</keyword> hosts a diverse group of individuals and families who have accumulated substantial wealth through various sectors, including industry, finance, retail, and technology. Below is a look at the 25 <keyword id="23033805" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="richest-people-in-Britain" source="keywords">richest people in Britain</keyword>, each with their own unique journey to wealth, according to The Sunday Times Rich List 2024. <h2> </h2><h2>25. Tom Morris and family</h2>Net Worth: £6.673bn Tom Morris, the founder of Home Bargains, has quietly built a discount retail empire in the UK. Home Bargains has grown to over 500 stores, and Morris’s approach to low-cost, high-volume retailing has earned him and his family a spot among Britain’s wealthiest. <h2>24. Anders Holch Povlsen</h2>Net Worth: £6.73bn Anders Holch Povlsen, a Danish fashion retailer, owns Bestseller, a company with brands such as Vero Moda and Jack &amp; Jones. Povlsen has also become Scotland’s largest landowner. <h2>23. <keyword id="6354819" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Anil-Agarwal" source="Orion">Anil Agarwal</keyword></h2><div type="image" title="Anil Agarwal" agency="BCCL" msid="113051472" hostid="261" sizebytes="1024664"></div>Net Worth: £7bn Anil Agarwal is the founder and chairman of Vedanta Resources, a mining and metals company with operations in India, Africa, and Australia. Agarwal’s rise from a scrap metal trader to a mining tycoon is marked by his aggressive business strategies and expansion into global markets. <h2>22. John Reece</h2><div type="image" title="John Reece" msid="113051663" hostid="261" sizebytes="456630"></div>Net Worth: £7.224bn John Reece is a significant figure in Ineos and is the chief financial officer of the company. Reece's expertise is in finance and management, owing to his Chartered Accountancy background. <h2>21. Andy Currie</h2><div type="image" title="Andy Currie" msid="113051609" hostid="261" sizebytes="455580"></div>Net Worth: £7.257bn Andy Currie is a director of Ineos, the chemicals company founded by Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Currie’s wealth is closely tied to the success of Ineos, where he has played a key role in its strategic direction and expansion into new markets. <h2>20. Denise, John, and Peter Coates</h2>Net Worth: £7.467bn The Coates family founded Bet365, one of the largest online gambling companies in the world. Denise Coates, the driving force behind the company, has built Bet365 into a dominant player in the industry, with significant revenues generated from its online platform. <h2>19. Lord Bamford and family</h2><div type="image" title="Lord Bamford" msid="113051678" hostid="261" sizebytes="1568515"></div>Net Worth: £7.65bn The Bamford family owns <keyword id="107342" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="JCB" source="Orion">JCB</keyword>, a leading manufacturer of construction equipment known for its distinctive yellow machines. Under Lord Bamford’s leadership, JCB has grown into a global brand, exporting to over 150 countries and maintaining a strong market presence in the UK. <h2>18. <keyword id="469673" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nicky-oppenheimer" source="Orion">Nicky Oppenheimer</keyword> and family</h2>Net Worth: £7.937bn Nicky Oppenheimer, ex-chairman and once the controlling shareholder of De Beers, sold his family’s stake in the diamond company to Anglo American for $5.1 billion. Since then, Oppenheimer has diversified his investments, focusing on conservation, private equity, and venture capital. <h2>17. Carrie and François Perrodo and family</h2>Net Worth: £9.168bn The Perrodo family’s wealth comes from their privately-held energy company, Perenco, which operates oil and gas fields around the world. François Perrodo, who took over the company after his father’s death, has continued to expand its global footprint, solidifying their position among Britain’s richest. <h2>16. Marit, Lisbet, Sigrid, and Hans Rausing</h2>Net Worth: £9.188bn The Rausing siblings, part of the Tetra Pak dynasty, have expanded their wealth through diverse investments and philanthropy. While their fortune originates from the packaging industry, they have also made significant contributions to charitable causes, particularly in the arts and education. <h2>15. Barnaby and Merlin Swire and family</h2>Net Worth: £9.986bn The Swire family has deep roots in shipping and aviation, with their conglomerate, Swire Group, operating in industries ranging from property to beverages. Barnaby and Merlin Swire oversee a global empire that includes Cathay Pacific Airways and significant property holdings in Hong Kong. <h2>14. The Duke of Westminster and the Grosvenor family</h2>Net Worth: £10.127bn The Duke of Westminster, Hugh Grosvenor, inherited a vast real estate empire that includes prime properties in London's Mayfair and Belgravia. The Grosvenor family’s wealth is tied to their vast land holdings and investments, managed through the Grosvenor Group. <h2>13. Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken and Michel de Carvalho</h2>Net Worth: £11.751bn Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken, the controlling shareholder of Heineken, along with her husband Michel de Carvalho, manages one of the world’s largest brewing companies. Their wealth is underpinned by the global reach of Heineken, which operates in over 70 countries. <h2>12. Michael Platt</h2>Net Worth: £12bn Michael Platt is a hedge fund manager and the co-founder of BlueCrest Capital Management. Once one of the world’s largest hedge funds, BlueCrest now operates as a private investment firm, with Platt’s fortune growing from his successful investment strategies and management fees. <h2>11. Alex Gerko</h2>Net Worth: £12.055bn Alex Gerko, a mathematician turned financier, made his fortune through algorithmic trading. He is the founder of XTX Markets, one of the world’s largest electronic trading firms. Gerko's innovative approach to trading has positioned him as a significant figure in the finance industry, with a rapidly growing net worth. <h2>10. Kirsten and Jorn Rausing</h2>Net Worth: £12.634bn The Rausing family, heirs to the Tetra Pak fortune, continue to benefit from the global success of the packaging company. Kirsten and Jorn Rausing have also ventured into philanthropy and have stakes in various other businesses, maintaining their status among the wealthiest in the UK. <h2>9. John Fredriksen and family</h2>Net Worth: £12.867bn Norwegian-born shipping magnate John Fredriksen has a net worth built on his dominance in oil tanker shipping. He owns the world’s largest oil tanker fleet through his company Frontline and has substantial stakes in offshore drilling, fish farming, and other maritime sectors. <h2>8. Guy, George, Alannah, and Galen Weston Jr and family</h2>Net Worth: £14.493bn The Weston family has long been involved in retail, owning well-known brands such as Selfridges, Primark, and Fortnum &amp; Mason. Their wealth is not only tied to these retail ventures but also to their vast land holdings and investments in the food industry. <h2>7. <keyword id="29201" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lakshmi-Mittal" source="Orion">Lakshmi Mittal</keyword> and family</h2> <div type="image" title="Lakshmi Mittal" agency="BCCL" msid="113051708" hostid="261" sizebytes="1017200"></div>Net Worth: £14.921bn Lakshmi Mittal, a steel tycoon, transformed a small family steel business into ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steel producer. Despite facing challenges in the steel industry, Mittal remains one of Britain's wealthiest individuals, with his family holding extensive investments in real estate, including properties in London’s prestigious Kensington Palace Gardens. <h2>6. Idan Ofer</h2>Net Worth: £14.96bn Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer made his wealth through holdings in shipping and energy. His company, Quantum Pacific Group, owns significant stakes in the shipping firm ZIM and the energy company Pacific Drilling. Ofer’s influence extends to football, with ownership stakes in the Spanish club Atlético Madrid. <h2>5. Sir James Dyson and family</h2> Net Worth: £20.8bn Sir James Dyson revolutionized the home appliance market with his innovative vacuum cleaners, hand dryers, and bladeless fans. His company, Dyson Ltd, continues to expand into new areas such as electric vehicles and robotics, reflecting Dyson's relentless pursuit of innovation. <h2>4. Sir Jim Ratcliffe</h2><div type="image" title="Sir Jim Ratcliffe" msid="113051750" hostid="261" sizebytes="459440"></div>Net Worth: £23.519bn Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the founder and chairman of the chemical company Ineos, is one of the most prominent industrialists in Britain. Starting as a chemical engineer, Ratcliffe built Ineos into a global giant with operations in chemicals, oil and gas, and automotive, including the recent acquisition of the British brand, Grenadier. <h2>3. David and Simon Reuben and family</h2>Net Worth: £24.977bn The Reuben brothers, David and Simon, have amassed their wealth through real estate, particularly in London's lucrative property market. Originally making their fortunes in metals and commodities, the Reubens have since transitioned into property, owning prime real estate across London, including iconic locations like Millbank Tower and the Burlington Arcade. <h2>2. Sir Leonard Blavatnik</h2>Net Worth: £29.246bn Sir Leonard Blavatnik, a Ukraine-born American-British billionaire, built his fortune through diversified investments in industries such as oil, gas, and media. A major shareholder in Warner Music Group, Blavatnik's wealth also stems from his private equity firm, Access Industries, which has stakes in a wide array of sectors including chemicals, technology, and real estate. <h2>1. <keyword id="675132" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gopi-Hinduja" source="Orion">Gopi Hinduja</keyword> &amp; family</h2><div type="image" title="PP Hinduja and Ashok P. Hinduja" agency="BCCL" msid="113051799" hostid="261" sizebytes="944901"></div>Net Worth:£37.196bn Leading the wealth rankings, the Hinduja family, under Gopi Hinduja's leadership, has a vast empire spanning banking, energy, automotive, and more. The Hinduja Group’s origins trace back to India, and today, the family's business interests are spread across 38 countries, with significant assets in the UK.

These are the top 25 richest people in Britain

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The world's richest people saw huge wealth gains as stocks rallied after the election on Wednesday.</li><li>The biggest gainers include Elon Musk, Larry Ellison, and Warren Buffett. </li></ul>The world's richest people saw huge gains in their net worth on Wednesday as markets cheered the outcome of the 2024 election. Elon Musk, Larry Ellison, Warren Buffett, Jeff Bezos, and Jensen Huang saw their wealth soar on Wednesday, propelled by huge stock gains after former President Donald Trump sailed to victory in the presidential election.Together, the billionaires gained over $55 billion by the time the market closed on Wednesday. Their gains were <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/trump-election-win-stock-market-today-record-high-sp500-dow-2024-11">driven by euphoric stock investors</a>, who see a coming era of less regulation and lower taxes driving higher corporate profits. These were the top net-worth gainers on Wednesday, according to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/tesla-stock-price-trump-win-elon-musk-election-tsla-2024-11?_gl=1*1nvwem2*_ga*MTY3OTgyNjg0MS4xNzIxMDE2MDM2*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTczMDkyMzg4My4zNzMuMS4xNzMwOTI0OTcxLjYwLjAuMA..">Forbes' real-time billionaires list</a>. <h2 id="c3a32e82-837e-4695-818a-c29a082da794">1. Elon Musk</h2>Daily wealth gain: $20.9 billionNet worth: $285.6 billionElon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, saw his wealth surge by $20.9 billion on Wednesday, further solidifying his spot as the highest net-worth individual on the planet with nearly $286 billion.The billionaire's wealth is tied to his stake in his many companies, primarily Tesla and SpaceX. His gain on Wednesday came as <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/tesla-stock-price-trump-win-elon-musk-election-tsla-2024-11?_gl=1*1nvwem2*_ga*MTY3OTgyNjg0MS4xNzIxMDE2MDM2*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTczMDkyMzg4My4zNzMuMS4xNzMwOTI0OTcxLjYwLjAuMA..">Tesla stock rose almost 15%</a>, even as other EV stocks sold off amid fears Trump will pull back on Biden-era rebates and tax incentives. Traders are betting both Musk and his company will benefit from close ties to Trump as the former president retakes office."In our view, TSLA and CEO Elon Musk are perhaps the biggest winners from the election result," CFRA Research senior analyst Garrett Nelson said in a Wednesday note.<h2 id="4570c782-d339-42a6-bf95-c9a58879f17b">2. Larry Ellison</h2>Daily wealth gain: $11.7 billionNet worth: $220.8 billionLarry Ellison, the founder and chief technology officer of Oracle, gained $11.2 billion as Oracle shares rallied with the broader tech sector. The stock ended the day 5.5% higher. That gain brings Ellison's total net worth to over $220 billion, putting him third on the list of the richest people in the world. <h2 id="e1c823e7-38bc-489b-ab61-69729fbea3f9">3. Warren Buffett</h2>Daily wealth gain: $7.6 billionNet worth: $147.4 billionFamed investor Warren Buffett also saw $7.2 billion added to his net worth on Wednesday, bringing his total wealth to $147 billion.The famed investor is the is the chairman and CEO of conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway, which saw its shares soar 5.55% in the session. <h2 id="a3df8438-ae7f-4210-aaa8-743d0c25aa87">4. Jeff Bezos</h2>Daily wealth gain: $7 billionNet worth: $223.5 billionJeff Bezos added $5.5 billion to his net-worth, bringing the total to $222 billion. That amount puts him second only to Musk on the list of the world's wealthiest individuals. Bezo's retail powerhouse Amazon saw notable moves on Wednesday, up almost 4% to trade at an all-time high of $207 per share.<h2 id="50d93be9-206d-45c9-97a9-d37f99559cff">5. Jensen Huang</h2>Daily wealth gain: $4.9 billionNet worth: $126.9 billionJensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, gained about $5.3 billion to bring his total wealth to $127.4 billion on Wednesday as shares of his chip giant rose to a record high. Nvidia stock gained 4% on Wednesday amid a wide-rangin tech rally that pushed the Nasdaq up 3%. The gain further solidified the chip maker's position as the most valuable company in the world after it overtook Apple on Tuesday. The sector's gains come even as Trump has said he could curtail the Chips Act, which pledges to funnel billions into supporting US chip production.Trump has also said, however, that he prefers a "hands-off" approach to AI, which would be in line with his campaign's promises of less regulation for corporations.

These 5 billionaires were the biggest net-worth winners today as stocks surged

<ul><li>A former <keyword id="19908290" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="microsoft-india" source="keywords">Microsoft India</keyword> employee talked about his experience at the company</li><li>He revealed the lessons he learnt in a <keyword id="19951562" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="LinkedIn" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="LinkedIn" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="LinkedIn">LinkedIn</keyword> post</li><li>The <keyword id="23185487" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ex-microsoft-india" source="keywords">ex-Microsoft India</keyword> employee is an entrepreneur today</li></ul> No matter how much time you spend at a company, you always learn something new. Every workplace has its own work culture, environment and ways of operating. And later in life, when you do something of your own, these lessons come handy. A former <keyword id="19895622" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Microsoft" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Microsoft" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Microsoft">Microsoft</keyword> India employee, who is now running a company of his own, took to LinkedIn and shared some lessons that he learnt while at the company. The ex-Microsoft India employee spent over three years at the tech giant and shared two “profound lessons” that shaped his career perspective. <h2>'Background won’t define success' </h2> The ex-Microsoft India employee wrote that when he first joined Microsoft, he was struck by the diversity of his colleagues. The team included alumni from prestigious institutions like IITs and NITs, as well as graduates from private colleges. Despite the varied educational backgrounds, he noticed that two traits stood out among his peers: exceptional skills and unwavering dedication. He said that at Microsoft India , the standout professionals were those with strong abilities in data structures and algorithms, as well as software development. What truly mattered was not the name of their college but their skills and commitment to constantly improving them. Passion and proficiency, he argued, are the real drivers of success in the tech world. <h2> 'You don’t have to know it all'</h2> Another revelation from his time at Microsoft was the immense scope of the <keyword id="19955787" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tech-industry" source="keywords">tech industry</keyword>. He was amazed by the variety of fields being explored within the company, ranging from web and app development to emerging areas like AI, VR, AR, blockchain, and robotics. But do you need to know everything to make it big in tech? Not really. “The tech industry is huge. There’s space for everyone, but the trick is to find the area that excites you the most and double down on it. You don’t have to know everything—you just need to find your niche and go all in,” he said in his post. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="113317179" title="College student insults woman on LinkedIn, she turns out to be his job interviewer later on" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> LinkedIn, a job-search platform, is one of the most popular websites today. Apart from looking for opportunities, people actively use the platform to share their insights on trending topics, connect with like-minded people, or even just share their personal experiences. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/article/70-hour-work-week-to-sleeping-in-offices-golden-words-on-hustle-from-nr-narayana-murthy-elon-musk-and-other-billionaires/articleshow/113021204.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">70-hour work week to sleeping in offices: Golden words on hustle culture from NR Narayana Murthy, Elon Musk, and other billionaires</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/ai-is-entering-classrooms-in-italy-new-learning-tools-to-be-tested-in-15-classrooms-across-four-regions/articleshow/113364057.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">AI is entering classrooms in Italy, new learning tools to be tested in 15 classrooms across four regions</a>

You don't have to know everything: Ex-Microsoft India employee shares biggest lessons he learnt at Satya Nadella's company

Inside the island fortress of America's mega-billionaires

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Elon Musk is breaking ground as a pro-Trump megadonor.</li><li>While he may not donate the most money this cycle, Musk is behaving unlike any of the uber wealthy Americans before him.</li></ul>America has never seen a megadonor quite like <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-campaign-trail-pennsylvania-donald-trump-key-swing-state-2024-10">Elon Musk</a>.On Thursday, the world's richest man held a town hall event in Pennsylvania, the largest swing state in the 2024 race. The Tesla CEO has pledged to hold more events to promote former President Donald Trump's election. Musk has also seeded at least<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-trump-america-super-pac-2024-10"> $75 million</a> into a pro-Trump super PAC. His pro-Trump group, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="c-link" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-trump-america-pac-targets-young-men-vote-2024-9">America PAC</a>, even offers to pay people $47 if they get supporters to sign a petition, which in turn gives the outside group valuable data on potential swing voters. On Friday, Musk upped the offer even further, pledging $100 for every Pennsylvania voter."Elon Musk is sort of a natural for Donald Trump, " journalist Roger Lowenstein, who wrote a biography about Warren Buffett, told Business Insider.Musk, despite his $247 billion estimated net worth, isn't the biggest donor this presidential election cycle. According to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.opensecrets.org/outside-spending/top_donors">OpenSecrets</a>, among disclosed donors, that title belongs to banking heir <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/who-timothy-mellon-robert-kennedy-donald-trump-billionaire-2024-6">Timothy Mellon</a>, who has spent a staggering $165 million on boosting Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (We won't know the full extent of 2024 donations until after the election, and that excludes so-called "dark money" groups, which, unlike super PACs, do not have to disclose their donors.)But where Musk stands out is among the richest of the rich. While there have been plenty of wealthy mega-donors -- the Koch brothers, the Adelsons, Michael Bloomberg, and others have spent hundreds of millions on super PACs -- the men who recently preceded Musk as the wealthiest American and the world's richest person have not been nearly as involved. Musk is taking a far different tact than Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Warren Buffett."The richest man in the world fluctuates over time but not all of them have been able or even wanted to spend money in politics in the past four presidential elections," Ciara Torres-Spelliscy, a law professor at Stetson University, who has studied big money in politics, told Business Insider.Lowenstein pointed out how even Musk's temperament differs exceptionally from someone like Buffett."Warren just couldn't be more different," Lowenstein said. "This isn't affected by the fact that Warren was measured to be the richest person in the world. He is very careful about what he says. He does not like personal confrontations. He has always been fascinated by the pragmatic issues of policy. He doesn't get out there and say, you know, so and so is running the country or all the name-calling that is the political system these days. It's just not his bag."Even Musk has changed. Before this cycle, the largest single political donation he had ever given was $75,000 to Californians for Clean Alternative Energy in 2006. His final 2024 total is already more than 1,000 times that.<div type="image" title="Elon Musk with former president Donald Trump" height="2633" width="3949" msid="114397395" hostid="261" sizebytes="148502"></div>It remains to be seen what the South African-born tech titan has in store, but already he is showing an openness to rely on his fortune and his businesses in distinct ways the other three have not.Just look at how Musk has shaped X, formerly known as Twitter. It begins with his own account, which has roughly 202 million followers.Musk, who once said he voted for Barack Obama, has pushed memes and misinformation on the platform as he's become increasingly vocal about his views. He also lifted bans on Trump and other right-wing voices. According to The New York Times, X blocked links to a report with hacked information about Sen. JD Vance, Trump's running mate, after the Trump campaign reached out. Recently, Musk's company seized the @America handle to boost his super PAC.In the post-<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/citizens-united-supreme-court-precedent-political-hypocricy-desantis-disney-feud-2023-4">Citizens United</a> world, the nation's billionaires have dug deep to support outside organizations whose ad spending blitzes can shape elections. Over time, the hard ban on campaigns coordinating with super PACs, a limit that always allowed for some creative loopholes, has been further eroded. Super PACs can now explicitly partner with the campaigns on get-out-the-vote efforts for the first time. Trump's campaign is relying on America PAC along with other outside groups to make up the difference for this once critical role for campaigns.<h2 id="254490b1-6509-4044-ae33-54464a618e95">Citizens United blew open the door to big money in politics.</h2>The Supreme Court's 2010 landmark decision and related lower court rulings opened the door to super PACs. There was almost immediate concern about how the nation's wealthiest would shape elections, especially presidential races. According to reporter Ken Vogel's 2012 book, "Big Money," President Barack Obama told a room that included Bill Gates, then-the wealthiest American and previously the world's richest person, that he and a small group of people now had outsize power."You now have the potential of 200 people deciding who ends up being elected president every single time," Obama told the room that also included Steve Ballmer, who later replaced Gates as Microsoft CEO.Around the same time, Buffett, who briefly replaced Gates as the world's richest person in 2008, made clear that he would stay out of the super PAC business."I don't want to see democracy go in that direction," Buffett told Berkshire Hathway shareholders during an open Q and A at the multinational's 2012 meeting in Omaha. "You have to take a stand some place."It wasn't that Buffett and Gates didn't have political power.The Oracle of Omaha was the face of the Obama administration's push to raise taxes on the wealthy, the so-called "Buffett rule." And during a 2008 presidential debate, both Obama and Republican presidential nominee John McCain floated the investor as a potential Treasury secretary. (Buffett never joined the Obama administration.)Buffett also publicly endorsed Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020. He held a fundraiser for Obama in 2012. Thanks to Nebraska's way of awarding Electoral College votes, he's also lived through the era in which the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-nebraska-2nd-electoral-college-vote-omaha-harris-mcdonnell-2024-9">Nebraska 2nd Congressional Distric</a>t, which covers Omaha and some of the metro area, has become a fierce political battleground. The city's oracle has yet to make a 2024 endorsement.<div type="image" title="Warren Buffett speaks at a 2016 rally in Omaha where he talked about his support for Hillary Clinton" height="1472" width="2500" msid="114397396" hostid="261" sizebytes="124894"></div>Gates praised Harris after she replaced Biden earlier this summer. He has also been a more outspoken critic of Trump. Gates, through his and his now-ex-wife Melinda French Gates' foundation, played a major role in shaping the US response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He also arguably held the largest media presence of the American billionaires until Musk rocketed into the top slot.None of the other recent wealthiest men have come close to Musk's super PAC spending. Bezos made the biggest splash in 2018 when they donated <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/05/jeff-bezos-donates-10-million-to-super-pacwith-honor-fund.html">$10 million to With Honor</a>, a super PAC that supported veteran candidates. Unlike America PAC, though, With Honor was geared to support candidates from both parties.Both Buffett and Bezos also held or held stakes in media companies. Bezos still owns The Washington Post (which, full disclosure, previously employed me.) But neither man positioned those publications in the way Musk has harnessed X.Of the unofficial group, Buffett was arguably the best positioned for a career in politics. While he's most associated with Nebraska's largest city, he was born in the nation's capital, the son of an avowed anti-Communist congressman. Instead, he has pursued a much softer and less public power flexing."He's a pretty good listening post, and for those who want, a pretty good advice giver," Lowenstein said. "That way, he has a lot of influence. Obviously, that effectiveness wouldn't be there if it became public."

Elon Musk is flexing his wealth and political power unlike any of the richest men before him

<keyword id="19895142" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Shah-Rukh-Khan" source="keywords">Shah Rukh Khan</keyword>, widely known as the "King of <keyword id="19897820" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bollywood" source="keywords">Bollywood</keyword>," has officially joined the ranks of India’s wealthiest, debuting on the 2024 <keyword id="21075617" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hurun-India-Rich-List" source="keywords">Hurun India Rich List</keyword> with an impressive wealth of Rs 7,300 crores. But how did a Delhi boy with dreams of making it big in Mumbai become one of India’s richest individuals? Let’s dive into the ventures that propelled King Khan into the billionaires' club. <h3 style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:14pt;margin-bottom:4pt;"><keyword id="20033371" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Red-Chillies-Entertainment" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Red Chillies Entertainment" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Red Chillies Entertainment">Red Chillies Entertainment</keyword></h3>Shah Rukh Khan’s production company, Red Chillies Entertainment, has been a significant contributor to his wealth. Founded in 2002, Red Chillies has become a key player in Bollywood, producing blockbuster films and investing in high-quality visual effects. From chart-topping films like Chennai Express and Raees to the massive success of Pathaan in 2023, Red Chillies has consistently delivered box office hits. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112412196" title="&amp;#39;Deadpool &amp;amp; Wolverine&amp;#39; screenwriters reveal secrets and spoilers, including the movie&amp;#39;s original villain and who wrote that Hugh Jackman divorce joke" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>With an estimated revenue consistently in the hundreds of crores and a profit of Rs 85 crores last year, the company has not only cemented SRK’s position as a top actor but also as a successful producer. Furthermore, the company’s VFX division, Red Chillies VFX, has set new benchmarks in the <keyword id="20161413" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-film-industry" source="keywords">Indian film industry</keyword>, working on major projects that have earned critical and commercial acclaim, such as Ra.One, Fan, and Laal Singh Chaddha. These ventures have significantly bolstered SRK’s wealth, making Red Chillies Entertainment a cornerstone of his business empire. <h3 style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:14pt;margin-bottom:4pt;"><keyword id="19899758" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kolkata-Knight-Riders" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Kolkata Knight Riders" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Kolkata Knight Riders">Kolkata Knight Riders</keyword></h3>Shah Rukh Khan’s entry into the sports business with the IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has been a masterstroke. Co-owned by SRK, Juhi Chawla, and Jay Mehta, KKR has become one of the most successful and profitable franchises not just in the Indian Premier League, but also in the sporting world. The team’s consistent performance on the field has been matched by its financial success off it, with KKR’s brand value rising steadily over the years. As per Forbes, the cricket team was valued at over $1 billion in 2022. This surge in valuation played a crucial role in boosting SRK’s wealth, contributing significantly to his fortune. The success of KKR, coupled with its passionate fan base and strong marketing, has made it a jewel in SRK’s business portfolio, further solidifying his status as a businessman. <h3 style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:14pt;margin-bottom:4pt;">Brand SRK: The most followed Indian on social media</h3>More than just a business mogul, Shah Rukh Khan is also a brand unto himself. With 44.1 million followers on Twitter, SRK is the most followed individual from the 2024 Hurun India Rich List on Indian social media. His massive <keyword id="20462299" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="social-media-presence" source="keywords">social media presence</keyword> has translated into lucrative endorsement deals and collaborations with global brands. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112249289" title="One of Singapore&amp;#39;s flashiest CEOs was planning to throw a Tomorrowland-style party for the books. Then the mirage started to fall apart." mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Consistently being one of the most visible endorsers, SRK earns substantially from <keyword id="20004407" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="brand-endorsements" source="keywords">brand endorsements</keyword>, with an estimated fee of Rs 4-5 crores per endorsement. His portfolio includes major brands like Hyundai, Dubai Tourism, and BYJU'S, further adding to his immense wealth. His ability to leverage his celebrity status into profitable business ventures has undoubtedly been a key factor in his <keyword id="21015152" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="wealth-accumulation" source="keywords">wealth accumulation</keyword>. <h3 style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:14pt;margin-bottom:4pt;">Real estate</h3>Real estate has always been a key component of wealth building, and Shah Rukh Khan is no exception. Shah Rukh Khan’s <keyword id="22962036" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="real-estate-ventures" source="keywords">real estate ventures</keyword> extend far beyond his iconic Mumbai residence, Mannat. One of his lesser-known yet highly lucrative ventures is in Dubai, where he and his wife Gauri Khan launched a luxurious beachfront residential project, the "SRK Boulevard," located in the posh Dana Islands. This mega project, worth over Rs 18,000 crore, features 10 residential buildings with high-end facilities, including marine sports and leisure amenities. Designed by Los Angeles architect Tony Ashai, with interiors by Gauri Khan, this project highlights SRK’s foray into international real estate <h3>And of course, films</h3>Shah Rukh Khan’s earnings from films and endorsements are a significant part of his wealth. Known as one of the highest-paid actors in India, SRK reportedly charges over Rs 100 crores per film. This is certainly no small amount, but it is unlikely that filmmakers will find fault with it, considering how his films regularly break box office records. As per IMdB, both 2023 films Jawan and Pathaan grossed over Rs 1000 crores worldwide. All in all, King Khan’s entry into the Hurun India Rich List is significant not just for him, but for the entire entertainment industry. SRK’s success reflects the growing financial clout of Indian film stars and the increasing importance of entertainment in wealth creation. In 2024 alone, Hurun India Rich Listers from the entertainment industry added Rs 40,500 crores to their wealth, with SRK leading the charge. This trend highlights the expanding influence of Bollywood and the entertainment sector in India’s broader economic landscape.

Baadshah of Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan debuts on India's richest list with Rs 7,300 cr — here's how the King made his wealth

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Mark Zuckerberg and Jensen Huang have collectively gained $150 billion this year.</li><li>The Meta and Nvidia CEOs have both grown over $75 billion richer. </li></ul><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg">Mark Zuckerberg</a> and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nvidia-jensen-huang-chipmaker-cofounder-ceo-wealth-net-worth-ai-2023-5">Jensen Huang</a> have collectively grown over $150 billion richer this year, a figure that exceeds <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-warren-buffett-spends-money-net-worth">Warren Buffett</a>'s net worth.Zuckerberg, the CEO and cofounder of Meta, has <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-zuckerberg-wealth-nvidia-huang-tech-stock-ai-wealth-billionaires-2024-9">added</a> $76.1 billion to his fortune in 2024, making him the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wealth-gain-rich-list-billionaires-nvidia-huang-meta-zuckerberg-buffett-2024-9">largest wealth gainer</a> on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. He's worth $204 billion as of Thursday's close, ranking him as the world's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-meta-net-worth-wealth-rich-list-musk-bezos-2024-9">third-wealthiest person</a> after Tesla CEO Elon Musk ($242 billion) and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos ($210 billion).Huang, the CEO and cofounder of Nvidia, has <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nvidia-stock-price-blackwell-ai-market-value-costco-jensen-huang-2024-10">gained</a> $75.6 billion in net worth this year, second only to Zuckerberg. He ranked 11th on the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wealth-billionaires-musk-bezos-zuckerberg-net-worth-jensen-huang-waltoans-2024-8">rich list</a> with a $120 billion fortune ahead of Friday's open.The two tech titans have gained a combined $152 billion this year, which alone would make them the 7th richest person on earth. Zuckerberg and Huang's joint wealth has jumped to $324 billion —more than Coca-Cola ($301 billion) or Netflix ($295 billion) were worth at the end of Thursday trading.The pair owe their massive wealth gains to the stellar performance of their companies, in which they hold roughly 13% and 3.5% stakes respectively. Meta and Nvidia stock have surged 67% and 184% each year to date to rade at record levels, boosting the value of their bosses' equity.Meta shares have ballooned more than six-fold from their sub-$90 low in November 2022 to trade above $570. On a split-adjusted basis, Nvidia shares have skyrocketed from under $15 in late 2022 to north of $135 — an increase of more than 800%.Both companies —and their bosses — have benefited from <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/nvidia-stock-price-jensen-huang-blackwell-gpu-demand-ai-tech-2024-10">enormous buzz</a> around artificial intelligence, sparked by ChatGPT's release in November 2022.Investors have lifted tech stocks to unprecedented highs as they bet on a paradigm shift, and wager the revolution will be powered by Nvidia's microchips and run on Meta's platforms.

Mark Zuckerberg and Jensen Huang's combined wealth gains this year equate to the 7th richest person in the world       

Top 10 richest people in Asia in 2024

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Mark Zuckerberg is California's richest person, with a net worth of $177 billion, Forbes has reported.</li><li>The Meta CEO's wealth has grown notably this year as the company's stock has continued to rise.</li></ul><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg">Mark Zuckerberg</a> is now the richest billionaire in California, with a net worth of $177 billion, a new <a target="_blank" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeswealthteam/2024/05/02/the-richest-person-in-every-state-2024/?sh=4f4cf7386514">Forbes</a> report says.The report, which maps out the richest billionaire in each state for 2024, says the Meta CEO overtook the Google cofounder Larry Page as the Golden State's richest person.Zuckerberg has a roughly 13% stake in Meta, which has helped his fortune surge over the past year as the stock continued its gains from 2023, rising by about 23% so far this year.The stock was buoyed in 2023 by the company's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-layoffs-office-closures-stock-price-mark-zuckerberg-earnings-2024-2">big cost-cutting measures</a>, such as mass layoffs, and its investments in artificial intelligence and the metaverse.Zuckerberg's net worth placed him behind Texas' richest person, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and Amazon's founder, Jeff Bezos, who took the title in Florida.The 54 billionaires researched by Forbes for the report were together worth $1.6 trillion, $100 billion more than last year, the outlet reported.It added that 47 states were home to at least one billionaire.Zuckerberg has built an extensive property portfolio in California.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/zuckerberg-real-estate-holdings">Architectural Digest</a> reported in 2022 that the tech billionaire had 10 homes across the state, including in San Francisco, Palo Alto, and Lake Tahoe.The report also said he had several other properties on Kauai, Hawaii.While he had a base salary of just $1 in 2023, the Meta boss also took home a huge $24.4 million in "other compensation" for the year.Representatives for Zuckerberg didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, which was made outside normal working hours.

Mark Zuckerberg is now California's richest billionaire after his fortune surged over the past year, report says

Last week, Donald Trump announced the creation of the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-department-of-government-efficiency-donald-trump-ramaswamy-2024-11">Department of Government Efficiency</a>, which promises to "dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies." And to run the new cost-cutting department, Trump tapped the businessman he calls the world's "greatest cutter" — <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gop-senator-waste-list-influence-elon-musk-spending-cuts-2024-11">Elon Musk</a>.If you're looking to take a chainsaw to the federal government, Musk seems perfectly suited to the job. At <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/twitter-x-elon-musk-startup-competitition-town-square-election-2024-10">Twitter,</a> he eliminated a staggering 80% of the staff — over 6,000 people. At <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-salary-database-elon-musk-pay-strategy-2024-11">Tesla</a>, he cut 10% of the workforce, saying the company needed to be "absolutely hardcore about headcount and cost reduction." He also laid off 10% of employees at <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-jared-isaacman-interview-polaris-dawn-space-walk-2024-11">Space X</a>, insisting his teams need to be scrappy and nimble. Cutting, for Musk, is generally Job No. 1.For the most part, Musk's slash-and-burn tactics have paid off. Twitter usage, according to Musk, is at an all-time high. Tesla's stock is up 28% over the past year. And SpaceX — now valued at $250 billion — is grabbing rockets out of the sky with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-spacex-starship-landing-super-heavy-2024-10">giant chopsticks</a>. In the world of business, fewer workers often translate into higher profits.The question is: Can the cost-cutting tactics Musk has employed in the private sector work to corral waste and bloat in the federal government? Musk and his DOGE cochair, the biotech billionaire <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-elon-musk-cutting-federal-spending-could-work-2024-11">Vivek Ramaswamy</a>, have said they're looking to hire "super high-IQ small government revolutionaries" to help make $2 trillion in cuts — about a third of all federal spending — and to slash the federal workforce by as much as 75%. It's a dream that has eluded every Republican administration since Ronald Reagan — and it's one that may prove elusive even for Musk, the man now anointed as America's cost-cutter in chief.There's certainly no shortage of waste and inefficiency in the federal government that cries out to be streamlined. In 2019, the Defense Department forked over $22 million for lobster tails. In 2020, the IRS sent $1.4 billion in tax refunds to dead Americans. Millions of square feet in federal buildings sit unoccupied.In theory, a bold, outside figure like <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-donald-trump-elected-shadow-president-2024-11">Musk</a> could be the very thing needed to downscale an operation as vast and intractable as the federal government. Large organizations need a force of "creative destruction" to change, says Michael Morris, a professor at Columbia Business School. "Things don't go away on their own. You have to have somebody with a willingness to deliberately dismantle things if you're going to have innovation." And when a new figure institutes a massive shock to the system — whether at the government or private level — "it often backfires," says Morris. "There's often very fierce, active resistance to change." As <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/joe-biden-corporate-gerontocracy-aging-ceos-retirement-succession-replacement-2024-8">CEO</a>, Musk has the latitude to push past that resistance and overhaul company culture. But things are going to be different with DOGE. Despite its branding as a "department," the new outfit will operate only in an advisory capacity: Congress holds the ultimate responsibility for authorizing spending and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/doge-how-to-apply-dm-job-application-elon-musk-2024-11">eliminating agencies</a>. Government, by design, is an intensely collaborative process, intended to hammer out the competing needs of different constituencies. Musk, by contrast, is accustomed to ruling by fiat."Musk certainly exercises a great deal of control in his companies that he won't have in the environment of the federal government, where we have checks and balances," says Andy Wu, an associate professor of business administration at Harvard Business School. "Even if Musk had the right idea for things, it's not so clear he could implement any of them."The federal government is infamous for holding on to past practices, even when they no longer make sense. Linda Bilmes, a senior lecturer in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, cites the continued minting of the penny, each of which costs three cents to produce. Last year, in an economy that has largely moved away from cash, the government spent $179 million forging pennies and nickels. Yet past calls to get rid of the penny haven't amounted to one red cent."The danger is if Elon Musk were to somehow think he is the first person who has ever looked at cost cutting in government," says Bilmes. "Many people who know a lot about government have proposed many good ideas. The potential for usefulness would be if he could take some already reasonably good ideas and help them get implemented."The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/watchdog-dod-must-speed-up-weapons-deliveries-to-maintain-advantage-2024-6">Government Accountability Office</a> and inspectors general have already recommended a variety of potential targets. They aren't always flashy: This year, the GAO recommended agencies use predictive models to schedule maintenance, saying they could save $100 million or more. It also urged the IRS to focus on collecting taxes owed by sole proprietors, which could generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. If the government implemented all 5,480 of its suggestions, the GAO estimated, it would "produce measurable financial benefits" of up to $208 billion.But so far, Musk has seemed more interested in the kind of flashy, small-bore proposals that attract clicks on X. He's taken to resharing what he sees as examples of waste — everything from $3 million spent on drug research that involved watching "hamsters fight on steroids" to a $20,000 grant that funded drag shows in Ecuador — and crowdsourcing them on the platform. Those sorts of items might generate outrage on <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/twitter-donald-trump-elon-musk-2024-11">Fox News</a>, but eliminating them won't do much to trim the federal government's $6,200,000,000,000 in annual spending.Then there's the politics of budget cutting. The last time Republicans succeeded at slowing government spending, under <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reagan-secret-service-agent-says-trump-shooting-failure-for-agency-2024-7">Ronald Reagan</a>, they made deep cuts to areas of government that proved unpopular — including social welfare programs, student loans, and job training. Musk may see plenty of areas he'd like to slash, but a wide range of constituencies will inevitably push back against cuts to programs they consider essential. When it comes to federal spending, one person's waste is another person's bread and butter."People support the idea of improving how the government delivers services," says Joel Friedman, the senior vice president for federal fiscal policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a progressive think tank. "I think people would take a different view if you end up gutting programs they depend on and care about." Efficiency always sounds like a good thing, until it comes for something you love.Beyond the question of where to cut, Musk will face intense scrutiny over why he's targeting certain areas of government. His role at DOGE is rife with the potential for conflicts of interest. SpaceX, for example, has received nearly $20 billion in federal contracts since 2008, and Musk has been sharply critical of the Federal Aviation Administration, viewing it as an obstacle to launching his powerful <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-trump-spacex-starship-rocket-milestone-election-2024-10">Starship</a>. And his massive investments in electric vehicles and social media are dependent on all sorts of federal spending and oversight. When it comes to how the government interacts with the marketplace, the world's richest man inherently has a lot of skin in the game. Musk's companies did not respond to requests for comment. But Brian Hughes, a spokesperson for Trump's transition team, says it plans to ensure that those involved with DOGE "are compliant with all legal guidelines related to conflicts of interest."Those concerns also touch on the larger question of what Trump and his allies hope to accomplish by reducing the size of government. Calls for reducing "inefficiency" and "bureaucracy" have long been a euphemism for Republicans eager to reduce or eliminate federal oversight of everything from industrial pollution to airline safety. Less government is not necessarily better government, and there are plenty of federal agencies that remain so understaffed and underfunded, from the IRS to the Veterans Administration, that they're unable to perform even their most basic functions. The GOP's aim of cutting spending, a leading Reagan ally once acknowledged, is to shrink government to the size where conservatives can "drag it into the bathroom and drown it in the bathtub." On Friday, Ramaswamy directly linked DOGE to the Reagan-era dream of smaller government, promising that the new agency will finish its work by July 4, 2026 — the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.And even when conservatives have succeeded at cutting costs, it's done nothing to slow the pace of government spending. Reagan slashed $22 billion in social welfare programs during his first two years in office — savings that were more than offset by his tax cuts and military spending, which nearly tripled the national debt. And in 1981, when a deep recession hit, carving up the safety net left the millions of Americans who were mired in poverty with even fewer resources to get by.It's also important to remember that Musk did more than downsize X — he also used the platform to elevate far-right talking points and unfounded conspiracy theories. In short, he reshaped it to serve his own political ends, making it meaner as well as leaner. It remains to be seen if Musk will do the same with DOGE. There are plenty of places where Uncle Sam could spend America's hard-earned tax dollars more wisely. But there are also plenty of places where the man Trump's family now refers to as "Uncle" Elon could deploy what DOGE calls "unglamorous cost-cutting" to bend the federal government to serve his own financial needs.Musk has acknowledged that Americans will feel "hardship" as a result of the cuts he wants to see implemented. But that doesn't mean he won't be able to juice more performance out of fewer resources, as he did at his own companies. When Musk slashed the workforce at Twitter, critics predicted that the app would collapse without enough staff to maintain it. Two years later, after a few initial glitches, it works much the same as before — at a far lower cost. Doubting Musk, even when he seems to be operating at his most extreme, can be a fool's game.<a target="_blank" rel="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/amanda-hoover">Amanda Hoover</a> is a senior correspondent at Business Insider covering the tech industry. She writes about the biggest tech companies and trends.

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