I think those aren’t incompatible views.

Undeniably Elon’s success is his tremendous wealth, the basis of which are two very valuable companies that the cofounded and has as CEO marketed brilliantly, if not always honestly.

He obviously knows a lot about what people to work with.

It is highly unlikely he knows how to build or design almost anything Spacex or Tesla makes. He knows a lot about everything they make of course, and can get more detailed briefings and information on it that anyone, but he didn’t make it.

So the wealth and the successful companies are his success sure, but his greatest personal accomplishments are obviously his marketing skills.