His one singular innovation: Getting taxpayer money.
“Tesla Motors, SolarCity Corp and Space Exploration Technologies – known as SpaceX – together have benefited from an estimated $4.9bn in government support, according to the data compiled. The figure underscores a common theme running through his emerging empire: a public-private financing model underpinning long-shot startups.” -from 2015, the numbers have only grown since.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/06/03/worstall_on_wednesday_elon_musk_spacex/
http://www.independentsentinel.com/deep-state-parasite-elon-musk-gets-panties-bunch/
Let’s not forget that Musk is a global warming true believer and has his parents twisted over us pulling out of the Paris clinate change agreement.
“Solar energy’s future on the open market will be brighter when technology allows it to be be price competitive with other forms of energy, not because the federal government can give Elon Musk or anyone else enough taxpayer funded benefits to make it happen. “
https://www.redstate.com/diary/qstarweb/2015/12/14/heavily-subsidized-failing-elon-musk-solarcity/