Interesting... because I think that Musk is one of the worst public speakers. But, that doesn’t matter, because what he has to say is so damn important.

Since I saw his presentation on Starship, I have started considering the “polish” of a presentation, and the “skill” of public speaking, to be a negative signal (the speaker wants us to focus on the form, instead of on the content).

Part of the reason I find Musk endearing (I know, controversial opinion in these parts) is that he doesn't come across as fake. Every time I hear a different CEO give a speech I think to myself how many speech classes they've taken, how often they rehearsed this, and that a big component of their job is just acting to project a good image. And they're getting paid tens or hundreds of millions of dollars for that.

Musk often just says what comes to mind. He clearly doesn't often rehearse or sometimes even prepare. He comes across as human and relatable. Not just some dude in a suit that has a team of secretaries of lawyers and hasn't had to flush his own toilet in 20 years.

bill gates, mark zuckerburg strongly disagree with that hypothesis. I think maybe in tech, looking the part is even better than being conventionally handsome.

Most of tech's critical dealmaking is not done face to face.

Both Gates and Zuck had substantial backing from their parents from the start.

Bill Gates was given a huge gift horse via nepotism, in the IBM DOS contract.

Zuck isn't a bad looking fellow.

The nepotism point intrigued me, as I didn't remember that from the accounts I'd read. Sure enough: https://forwardthinking.pcmag.com/archive/the-rise-of-dos-ho...

"According to Fire in the Valley, he also reportedly told Gates that when IBM CEO John Opel heard Microsoft would get the contract, he said "Oh is that Mary Gates' boy's company?" since Opel and Bill Gates' mother served together on the national board of the United Way."

The way it's worded makes it sound like they already had the deal aside from any nepotism, but perhaps the CEO's approval sealed it / ensured terms were kept fair.

Gates also went to a school that had remote access to a large mainframe, back when this was almost unheard of. A lot of pre-Microsoft work was done on that mainframe.

Zuck is an awful looking fellow. He barely looks human.

One wonders how much wealthier Bezos would be if he had the same procedures done.

He definitely started eating and exercising better. I personally think he looks great for his role.

lol yes he started eating and exercising better... and taking supra-physiological amounts of testosterone. he had a second puberty in his 50s that was more androgenic than the one he had in his teens.

Firstly, I think Bezos has done quite a bit in an effort to look better.

Secondly, I think Elon's role is a lot more outward-facing than Bezos's role, and that would probably have been the case even if Bezos was more attractive, so I doubt the procedures would have had as much an effect on Bezos's success as they may have on Musk's.

Bezos is probably on some high quality, doctor prescribed performance enhancing drugs. He's jacked, compared to what the lanky physique he used to have.

Not much since he's 5'7.

But he would be hated a lot less, IMO.

Its been interesting to me how people hate Bezos so much but love Musk, when Bezos has almost certainly provided more value to the average American's life [up until this point at least]. People like Zuck and Bezos can't get away with the smallest mistakes without being grilled yet Musk got away with some crazy things. One huge difference is how Musk is unapologetic and Bezos.Mark are constantly apologizing for everything, which i've been critical of. Since the Trump era I've always thought never apologizing is the way to win in the current environment, but maybe if you're good looking you just don't need to apologize?

We could put him back the way he was. We have the deepfake technology.

You mean his hair?

That's one of the more notable ones, but I do think he had some other things done as well

I was referring to the general concept (e.g. think of OP's link), not Musk in particular. Edited for clarification, thanks

Steve Jobs wasn't really conventionally attractive (and to my knowledge didn't get any cosmetic surgeries) and still managed to make billions and a massive impact on the world.

Additionally I wonder what bald Elon looks like. Jeff Bezos put on some muscle and looks a lot better afterwards despite losing his hair

I'd beg to differ--I'd say he was maybe _the_ original sexy young tech startup founder, and his appearance was integral to his success as a marketer, leader, etc.. A lot of his early publicity shots are smoldering, e.g.: https://manwithoutqualities.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/stev...

He was also 6'2".

They had Ashton Kutcher play him in the movie for a reason.

Because they look like brothers.

I guess you're right, I only knew him from the iPod era onward and was basing my statement with that context in mind. Thanks for pointing this out

Steve Jobs wasn't exactly unattractive, though. He looks above average/handsome to me.