Elon Musk defined the fine line between genius and insanity, between hope and delusion, when he test-drove his brand of cognitive dissonance on Wednesday, telling his investors that Tesla could be worth more than that of the world’s largest companies combined, even as it posted a stinker of a quarter.

That’s fighting talk from Musk given that Tesla’s profit for the quarter just dived 71 per cent, marking its worst quarterly profit since 2021. Just to keep things in perspective, Tesla is worth about $US750 billion, while the next five largest US companies boast a combined market value of roughly $US12 trillion.

Elon Musk has vowed to spend more time at Tesla after the company's profit went into freefall on April 23, 2025.Credit: nna\seathompson

But perhaps the more confusing element of Musk’s behaviour is just how much time and effort he has invested in backing Donald Trump, whose tariff policies are blowing a hole in Tesla’s future. Musk’s contention that other US vehicle manufacturers have it worse just misses the point.

“I just want to emphasise that this tariff decision is entirely up to the President of the United States,” he said. “I will weigh in with my advice with the president, but then it’s up to him.”

Trump’s policies, along with Musk’s messianic........

© The Age