Last Saturday, after publishing my atomic essay about Seneca, shipper Geeta Anjali showed me a fascinating correlation I did not see before:

Elon Musk is our modern version of Seneca

The correlations between our multi-CEO/meme-lord and the ancient Stoic master are the following:

• Both are/were the richest men in the world (300 million dinari vs 260+ billion dollars).

• Both keep/kept the riches without being corrupt by it.

• Both take/took full advantage of the opportunities they saw.

• Both direct/directed the messages to ordinary people. Instead of pleasing the elite, Seneca regularly advised his friends and community on Stoicism. Today, we can enjoy Elon’s unfiltered opinions on Twitter.

• Both are/were antifragile and unstoppable.

• Both invest/invested in good deeds without need for recognition, such as teaching how to live, saving humanity and the Earth. Elon is completely selfless in his actions.

• Both mentally adjust/adjusted to being poor. In Elon’s case, he regularly sleeps on factory floors during intense episodes. During the pandemic, Elon donated his possessions and lived below the poverty line (losses as liberation).

Let the last one sink in.

Elon Musk is by far the richest man in the world and he can still live like a very poor person.

No wonder why we admire Seneca today and pay huge respect and attention to Elon and (more importantly) his vision of a better future.

Key takeaways for us mortals

No matter how wealthy and famous you become, you should always be able to endure maximum frugality. Not only is it heroic but nothing can stop you. You should also recognize the impact you can achieve and take advantage of your opportunities. Break free from conformity and embrace what is.

Lastly, be completely selfless and act for the greater good, whether it is teachings, welfare, altruism, entertainment, or ensuring a prosperous (and intergalactic) humanity!