These suits will no doubt proceed in the weeks and months ahead, as it falls to the courts to hold Musk accountable for his blatant indifference to the law. But beyond his individual actions, Musk’s role raises more fundamental questions.

It seems that Elon Musk’s friendship with President Donald Trump and government cost-cutting job has already saved a boatload of money ― for him. Just a month into the second Trump administration, Musk has overseen the slashing of thousands of government jobs through his so-called Department of Government Efficiency.