The richest man in the world’s business empire is a "financial cult" built on inflated investor expectations rather than solid fundamentals. Through a "high-wire act" of ambitious promises amplified by social media, he creates a self-reinforcing wealth cycle despite concerning business performance metrics at his car company and other ventures. His aggressive political involvement may be backfiring, potentially damaging his business interests. Ultimately, financial markets—which initially enabled his rise—may serve as natural guardrails against both his and the president’s overreach as investor sentiment shifts in response to economic realities.