I think there was an opportunity for Elon to turn out differently, but his upbringing almost guaranteed he’d turn out a bastard. He might be into rockets and electric cars, but that doesn’t mean he actually makes things work, he’s an executive who started life somewhere between third and home. He got his start in Canada when he stepped of a plan with uncut emeralds from his family’s emerald mine. He could afford to take risks and such because his family’s wealth was extraordinary (and built on the exploitation of others, which totally wouldn’t be a recurring theme in companies he runs).