Priyanka Tiwari
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In a recent appearance on the "Verdict with Ted Cruz" podcast, Elon Musk revealed the three individuals he considers the smartest people in the world—Larry Ellison, Jeff Bezos, and Larry Page. Musk, known for his strong opinions and candid remarks, discussed the intelligence of these tech industry giants, highlighting their impressive achievements and contributions to their respective fields.
Musk Praises Larry Ellison’s Intelligence
When asked by Republican Senator Ted Cruz about the smartest person he’s met, Musk immediately named Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle, calling him “very smart.” Musk expressed admiration for Ellison’s intellect, stating, “Larry Ellison is one of the smartest people.”
Musk and Ellison have had a close relationship over the years, with Ellison serving on Tesla’s board from 2018 to 2022. Additionally, Ellison pledged $1 billion toward Musk’s Twitter acquisition. Reports also suggest that Ellison played a role in helping Musk secure valuable Nvidia GPUs to advance AI development at Tesla and SpaceX.
Jeff Bezos: Acknowledging Competitors in Space
Despite their long-standing rivalry in the space industry, Musk also spoke highly of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, acknowledging his significant contributions. Musk remarked, “Jeff Bezos has done a lot of difficult and significant things.”
The two billionaires have been in direct competition for years, with Musk’s SpaceX and Bezos’ Blue Origin battling in the aerospace industry. However, Musk’s comments signal a shift in their relationship, which has historically been marked by competition. In January, Musk even hinted at a potential reconciliation by sharing humorous memes from the comedy film Step Brothers, suggesting a friendlier dynamic between the two.
Larry Page: Intelligence Measured by Achievement
Musk also praised Google co-founder Larry Page, calling him one of the smartest individuals he has met. Reflecting on the nature of intelligence, Musk added, “To some degree, smart is as smart does.” In this statement, Musk suggested that intelligence should be measured not only by intellectual capabilities but also by tangible achievements in the real world—something that Page has undoubtedly demonstrated with the success of Google.
