At the top of an ugly list is Elon Musk, the creative entrepreneur behind firms such as Tesla, SpaceX, and now X (previously Twitter). In a recent study, Fortune magazine asked hundreds of corporate professionals to grade their peers according to their perception of their overrating or underrating. The findings show that Elon Musk is America’s most overrated CEO for the second year in a row.
Musk was voted in with an overwhelming 399 votes, confirming his status as the CEO who people believe doesn’t deserve as much recognition. This decision is in line with one that was rendered last year, suggesting that business executives’ opinions on Musk’s public persona are not changing.
Disney CEO Bob Iger claimed the second spot on the overrated list with 302 votes, highlighting the diverse range of industries covered in the survey. Meanwhile, Microsoft chief Satya Nadella emerged as the most underrated CEO, securing 274 votes. Nadella has consistently held this title for eight consecutive years, showcasing a stark contrast to Musk’s fluctuating reputation.
Elon Musk’s bold endeavors, ranging from electric cars to space exploration for business purposes, have sparked both admiration and criticism. While he has been praised for transforming industries, especially with the triumph of Tesla and SpaceX, Musk has also encountered opposition for establishing objectives that appear to be impossible to achieve. Detractors have particularly taken issue with his frequent changes in projected schedules, especially when it comes to SpaceX’s mission of sending humans to Mars.
Musk’s decision to buy Twitter and then rename it as X not only increased his power but also brought more attention to his already jam-packed schedule. According to the survey conducted by Fortune, there seems to be a split in the business world about whether Musk’s accomplishments live up to the massive excitement surrounding him. Musk’s team has yet to respond to the survey findings, leaving the entrepreneur with thoughts about how his colleagues perceive him.