Musk is the exception, not the rule.
It's usually much easier to make money in unnecessary bullshit, and via rent-like activities, than in socially valuable activities. So that's what most rich people choose to do.
He really isn't, as Paul Graham sys he's got unparalelled experience of working with many people doing exactly this - creating value and accumulating the resources to leverage that value to benefit society.
Yes of course there are inefficiencies in the system, rent seeking behaviour does happen and it's an important aspect of policy to try and minimise and disincentivise it. Nevertheless, our economic system does work. All those companies employing people, paying taxes and generating goods and services are the economy. That's where the wealth is being generated. The vast majority of wealthy people are incredibly hard working, dedicated people running companies, employing people and creating wealth. If they weren't the system just wouldn't work.
Isn’t that what we want?
Just a week ago or so on Reddit someone posted imagining how much good Elon could do with his Billions. I replied that yes, maybe he could devote those resources to push forward electrification of transport to mitigate global warming, invest heavily is solar power technology and devote resources to trying to create a future for humanity in space.
Well, of course, that’s exactly what he’s doing. All those billions aren’t stacked in a mountain of dollar notes in his basement, it’s embodied in the jobs, infrastructure, technology and products of his companies. This basic, fundamental ignorance of even the simplest economic concepts is incredibly common. I see it all the time, here as well.