The Banality of Modern Evil: How Musk Rose on Privilege and Public Wealth, Only to Undermine Equity
Lest we forget, Elon Musk owes his early business advantage not to raw ingenuity alone, but to the privileges afforded by an apartheid-era upbringing and, later, to lucrative government concessions.
The world should count itself fortunate that there is no Richter scale to measure evil, nor an ignoble prize to crown the most contemptible among us. Were such instruments of moral calibration to exist, the richest man on Earth would not merely shatter the scale — he would monopolise the trophy in perpetuity. His brand of depravity would be the benchmark by which all others are judged — and fall short.
Let me explain.
If one were to pose the question to people across the globe — "Who is the most evil person in the history of humankind?" — it is almost inevitable that the name Adolf Hitler would feature prominently, if not at the very top of the list. And rightly so. His name has become synonymous with unrestrained cruelty, genocidal ambition, and the catastrophic consequences of unchecked power.
Given the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, it is an epic irony in a world that once proclaimed “Never Again!” that history may well come to place Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the same ignominious company as some of the most reviled figures of the modern era. Increasingly referred to as the Butcher of Gaza, Netanyahu has presided over a modern-day genocidal campaign marked by relentless bombardment, mass displacement, and a systematic assault on the basic tenets of international humanitarian law. His open calls — direct or by policy implication — for the starvation, annihilation, and forced expulsion of Palestinians in Gaza have not only gained disturbing traction in mainstream discourse but have also resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands, many of them women and children.
Netanyahu’s strategy appears less a security operation and more an attempt to erase an entire people from their ancestral land. The world watches as schools, hospitals, and refugee shelters are reduced to rubble, while the language of dehumanisation is normalised by those in power. Against this backdrop, a dystopian vision has emerged — one in which, as some reports and analysts suggest, United States President Donald Trump or his political allies and oligarchs would seek to transform this ravaged territory into a so-called 'Riviera of the Middle East' — a grotesque proposition that would convert the ruins of Palestinian suffering into a playground for geopolitical ambition and profiteering.
Lest we forget, in the years preceding the outbreak of the Second World War, the Nazi regime pursued a deliberate strategy aimed at encouraging the forced emigration of Jews from the Greater German Reich. This campaign — driven by virulent antisemitism and systemic oppression — was a precursor to the horrors that would follow.
Today, the actions of Netanyahu bear a chilling resemblance to those dark chapters of history. His policies toward the Palestinian population in Gaza, marked by coercive displacement, systemic dehumanisation, and devastating military aggression, evoke disturbing parallels with the early tactics of Hitler’s regime.
However, unlike Hitler — who, at least in the early stages, faced considerable international scrutiny and resistance — Netanyahu operates with the full diplomatic and military backing of the most powerful nation on Earth. The United States, especially more so under the leadership of a mercurial, narcissistic, and venal figure, has become complicit in enabling a humanitarian crisis of historic proportions. This alignment of destructive ambition with unrestrained geopolitical support represents a perilous moment for international law, human rights, and the moral conscience of the global community.
History may lead us to believe that, in order to perpetrate great evil or be considered an evil genius, one must occupy a formal position of public authority — such as a chancellor, prime minister, president, military dictator, or other elected official. These are the roles traditionally associated with the capacity to inflict harm on a large scale.
But what if, in the modern age, that assumption no longer holds true?
What if all it takes to shape the destiny of nations — and to enable or orchestrate immense injustice — is not the office itself, but the ability to influence those who hold it? In an era governed as much by capital and digital power as by laws and democratic processes, the capacity to command or control an elected official may suffice to commit acts of staggering consequence without ever holding a public mandate.
Yes, if that is what you suspected, you are correct — I am referring to oligarchs such as Elon Musk, a man who has channelled hundreds of millions of dollars and leveraged the formidable reach of his social media platforms in support of Trump’s re-election campaign.
Whether we like it or not, Musk holds extraordinary sway over Trump — politically, financially, and ideologically. Much like Trump’s infamous boast, “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose voters,” Musk appears to operate with impunity, wielding his influence like a licence for calculated, unchecked power.
He wields such outsized influence that he can effectively determine which US government agencies, programmes, or departments continue to exist — and even shape the size and scope of government itself. In the face of such power, Congress appears utterly emasculated, reduced to a bystander in matters of profound national consequence.
Similarly, just as theAmerican Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has entrenched itself as a dominant force in the American electoral process — shaping narratives, policy positions, and even determining viable presidential contenders — Netanyahu enjoys near-absolute immunity from US government criticism. In Washington’s eyes, he can seemingly do no wrong, regardless of the human toll his policies exact in Palestine.
Musk embodies the most shameless deceit, moral rot, and state capture of this century. His Machiavellian character and lies are not just brazen — they are corrosive to truth and decency. There is a vile arrogance in his actions, a willingness to let the world collapse if he cannot bend it to his will.
Lest we forget, the world’s richest man owes his early business advantage not to raw ingenuity alone, but to the privileges afforded by an apartheid-era upbringing and, later, to lucrative government contracts and concessions — beginning with those extended during the Obama administration. Having leveraged public resources and structural advantage to build his vast fortune, he now adopts the ironic stance of opposing transformative initiatives such as Black Economic Empowerment (BEE), Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programmes, and critical welfare mechanisms including US foreign aid. In effect, having ascended through the very ladders of opportunity and public investment, he now seeks to dismantle them behind him.
Hitler’s legacy is a grim reminder of how ideological fanaticism, weaponised hatred, and the machinery of a state can converge to inflict unspeakable horror upon humanity. His deeds are not only etched in history but also serve as a moral warning of what humanity must never allow to happen again.
If history is indeed the final arbiter of moral accountability, then it will not soon forget those who orchestrated, enabled, or turned a blind eye to one of the gravest injustices of our time.
Musk is not merely worse than Gordon Gekko, the iconic symbol of ruthless capitalism from the 1987 film Wall Street — he is its real-world embodiment. His actions reflect a chilling fusion of unrestrained greed and calculated cruelty.
If there is justice beyond this life, then surely it reserves a scorched and solitary corner of hell for men like Musk, whose callous disregard for humanity is matched only by his insatiable lust for power and control.
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