In the late 1800s, the land of opportunity entered an era known as the Gilded Age, a time of economic corruption at the hands of powerful businessmen and technological innovators often dubbed “Robber Barons.”
These massively wealthy individuals garnered their nicknames through ethically questionable monopolies and poor employee treatment, further dividing the classes at the time.
As the rich grew richer, the power amassed led to corruption within the country’s politics as barons endorsed candidates that could further their control in society.
Despite the derogatory labels and studies of political corruption in the past, society is facing a re-emergence of shady puppeteers pulling the strings of America’s marionette-like government.
The wealthy have long played significant roles in politics. According to Brookings, 183 candidates contributed more than one million dollars of personal income to their campaigns from 2018 to 2024, compared to the average American’s net worth of $1,063,700.
While wealth can surely guarantee a spot in the running, it cannot always guarantee a win.
As a result, the exceedingly rich are beginning to squeeze into the cracks of politics through dark money deals behind the facade of All-American political candidates who shake hands and kiss babies.
A modern-day Robber Baron, Elon Musk is the wealthiest man in the world with an estimated net worth of $426 billion, amassed from Tesla Motors and SpaceX, and a newfound dedication to the conservative effort.
According to Open Secrets, during the recent presidential election, Musk supported President Trump by donating more than $76 million to his campaign.
The overwhelming monetary support bought Musk a seat at the table of Trump’s presidency as the head of a newly created Department of Government Efficiency, illustrating the modern-day spoils system emerging in society.
Musk used his fortune not only to sway political leaders but also everyday voters. By promising a check of one million dollars to a randomly chosen registered voter in a crucial swing state, Musk weaseled his way into the favor of the common citizen.
However, according to The Week, voters could only be considered if they signed a petition supporting his pro-Trump America PAC, to which Musk personally donated at least $119 million.
The billionaire also backed Trump via X, a social media platform formerly known as Twitter, which he purchased for $44 billion on October 27, 2022.
According to NPR, Musk had originally declared that “[f]or Twitter to deserve public trust, it must be politically neutral, which effectively means upsetting the far right and the far left equally.”
This stance has since been eradicated as X has emerged as a conservative platform with an algorithm that promotes Musk-supported conspiracy theories meant to decrease democratic support.
From rumors of illegal immigrants brought in to vote Democratic to Haitian migrants eating pets in the streets, Musk relentlessly attempts to sway the American public, truthful or not.
When asked whether Musk could become president due to his influence and wealth, President Trump replied, “No, he’s not going to be president, that I can tell you,” according to NBC.
Musk cannot legally hold office as president of the United States due to his birth country being South Africa.
Still, as a leading donator and spokesperson for the President, his influence has diluted Trump’s position as a mere figurehead of a government ruled by the ridiculously rich.
In his farewell address, former President Biden warned about dangerous concentrations of power in the hands of a “tech-industrial complex” that spreads false information in the search for profit.
The influence of the ultra-rich and powerful in politics is a serious issue that could unravel democratic values instilled in America since its revolutionary split from a monetarily-focused motherland.
If the rich are the ones who truly rule behind the scenes of the political world, it will not be long before the land of opportunity dwindles into a landlocked country ruled by the classes.
