He was still a total fuckin loser before that though. He didn't make tesla just like he didn't make spacex. The only argument you can make is that he had the money for marketing and to pay actual smart people to do the job. Meanwhile he only had that money because of mommy and daddy's apartheid emerald mine.
Also from what I've heard from his ex employees they had to lie to him because he asked for things that were literally impossible but was too stupid to take no for an answer.
He's always been a loser. He just acted like a memelord and the internet put him on a pedestal.
You fly until a size 13 boot renders you into a fine paste.