It's true that some people won't sacrifice their beliefs no matter how much they're tempted. And I think most people who've unexpectedly got rich and famous actually became nicer and saner. You don't hear about people who quietly maintain their integrity and rich people who quietly live their lives, you hear about those who aren't quiet and especially those who generate negativity.

At the same time, I don't think anyone can truly understand what power does to the human brain in general and their brain specifically. It doesn't mean everyone with power is corrupt and certainly doesn't excuse those who are, but IMO it does mean one can't underestimate power's influence and assume they're one of the incorruptible "good ones"*.

* There are ways to mitigate being corruptible, such as planning ahead, delegating power to others, and finding other sources of truth besides your unreliable judgement. They're the same techniques to avoid impulsiveness, dumb crush behavior, and other mental distortions.

> I don't think anyone can truly understand what power does to the human brain in general and their brain specifically

But you purport to? :)

Power is such a nebulous term and can mean a lot of things. Of course, persuasive power, such as by reputation or actual charisma (not the case here), is a thing. But I think also in this case, at least as much as I can glean from others, Musk already had them at hello.