Mr. Musk is fundamentally a creature of Silicon Valley, a scene that initiated an entire revolution in power dressing. The young masters of that universe dressed down to show that they were members of a new elite — one that refused to dress like the grown-ups they were about to topple. It was the defeat of the suit by the T-shirt.

Stephen and Katie Miller—he's “the prime minister,” sources say; she’s DOGE’s comms guru—liaise between the White House and Elon Musk, and are centrally involved as he tears the government apart.

While Tesla CEO Elon Musk isn't in any danger of struggling to make ends meet, his wealth has taken a significant hit recently as shares of the electric vehicle company tumble on the stock market. Some analysts say it's an indication that Musk's controversial comments and connection to the Trump administration are having an impact on his personal riches.