We have had some truly exceptional people grace our land over the years.

Jefferson in politics.
Einstein in Science.
Michael Jackson in Music.
Martin Luther King Civil Rights.
Thomas Edison Inventor.
Walt Disney Entertainment.

But today, we have someone operating in the country who, to my mind, readily deserves the label of genius and all that entails – Elon Musk.
While wealth is by no means the sole criteria of sucha characterization, as we speak, Elon Musk is the richest man in the world with a net worth of $426 billion.

But it is not the amount of money. Look where it came from. Look at the responsibility he has taken to improve life on the planet.
• Tesla, Inc.: Musk founded what is currently the largest electric vehicle company in the world. He holds the titles of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and “Technoking” at Tesla, Inc. In March 2021, Tesla bestowed upon Musk the whimsical title of “Technoking.”

He owns approximately 13% of Tesla, with his shares valued at over $100 billion.
• SpaceX: Elon Musk is the founder, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Technical Officer (CTO), and Chief Designer of SpaceX. In these roles, he oversees the company’s strategic direction, engineering, and design efforts. SpaceX aims to significantly reduce the cost of space launches and make spaceflight more accessible and affordable. This goal is central to their mission of revolutionizing the aerospace industry. Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX, has a long-term goal of establishing a sustainable human presence on Mars.
He holds about 42% of SpaceX, which was valued at $350 billion as of December 2024, making his stake worth approximately $147 billion.
• X Corp (formerly Twitter): Elon Musk holds the positions of Executive Chairman and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. An estimate of the value of his 79% ownership is about $8 billion.

• xAI: In 2023, Musk founded xAI, an artificial intelligence research company. He is both the founder and leader of xAI, established in March 2023 with the mission to “understand the true nature of the universe.” While specific titles such as CEO are not explicitly stated, Musk leads the company, guiding its strategic direction and development.
As of November 2024, private investors valued xAI at around $50 billion, with Musk owning an estimated 54% stake, equating to approximately $27 billion.
• The Boring Company: Elon Musk is the founder of The Boring Company, established in 2017 to revolutionize urban transportation through tunnel construction.
While Musk remains actively involved, the company’s day-to-day operations are led by President Steve Davis, a longtime associate of Musk.

Elon Musk owns over 90% of The Boring Company, As of October 2023, The Boring Company was valued at more than $7 billion. Based on this valuation, Musk’s stake would be worth over $6.3 billion.

Neuralink: Elon Musk co-founded Neuralink in 2016. A neurotechnology company developing implantable brain-machine interfaces. By October 2024, private market data suggested that Neuralink’s valuation had risen to around $10 billion. Given Musk’s majority stake, his interest in Neuralink would be valued at at least $5 billion.
I mean, put yourself in his shoes…can you imagine?
And if you have added the asset values above, note that several are a few months old and total a mere $293 billion. But the stock value of some of Musk’s assets have been soaring since Trump’s election, which has pushed his net worth up another $133 billion.

But again, besides the wealth, look at what he’s doing; its mind blowing. And besides all of the corporate responsibilities, Musk has taken on an ultra-important job of trimming the U.S. government’s budget and improving its efficiency. A job for which he will be taking no pay. He says, “Indeed, this will be tedious work, make lots of enemies & compensation is zero. What a great deal!” https://www.yahoo.com/news/musk-doge-tedious-zero-compensation-182510342.html

Like millions of others, I have been interested in Musk and his activities, but I have reported this data for a self-serving purpose, and that is to point out that Elon Musk is a voracious user of surveys.
That’s right. Genius that he is, Elon Musk has used surveys and polls, particularly on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter). He often engages his audience by creating polls to gather public opinion on various topics, including business decisions and policy changes on the platform

Let’s just take Tesla…
Tesla has effectively used surveys and feedback mechanisms as part of its broader marketing and product development strategy. Surveys and customer feedback have played a key role in shaping its electric vehicles (EVs) and marketing messages. Here are areas Tesla has leveraged surveys to market its EVs:

1. Product Development Feedback
Design and software updates, Tesla ensures their vehicles remain aligned with consumer expectations, which indirectly strengthens their market appeal.
2. Engagement with the Tesla Community
Tesla has also surveyed customers about their experience with its referral programs to refine them for better engagement and effectiveness.
3. Pre-Launch Market Research
Tesla sometimes uses surveys to measure interest in new products or features. For example, before the launch of the Cybertruck, Tesla collected input from its fanbase and prospective buyers to understand desired specifications.
4. Assessing Market Trends
Tesla may use surveys to understand market trends, consumer sentiments, and perceptions about EVs compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
5. Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty
Tesla regularly surveys its customers about their satisfaction with their vehicles, the Supercharger network, and customer service.
6. User-Generated Content and Advocacy
Feedback collected from surveys often inspires Tesla owners to share their positive experiences, contributing to organic marketing.
7. Surveys as a PR ToolTesla occasionally shares results from surveys or studies that position it favorably, such as high customer satisfaction ratings or widespread interest in sustainability, to strengthen its brand narrative.

Examples of Tesla’s Survey Impact:

Cybertruck Design: Early feedback from surveys and online discussions influenced the radical design of the Cybertruck.

I can’t guarantee that survey data will enable you to drive your net worth to $400 billion, but I can tell you unequivocally, with more than 25 years experience, that – SURVEYS DRIVE SALES.

“Nice one Bruce!! We are having our best year ever!! On pace for a 50% growth in revenue! You did a great job for us and we are pumped!” PRES

Call or send me an email. We’ve been doing surveys since Elon was in high school.

Best,
Bruce

Bruce Wiseman
President & CEO
On Target Research
www.ontargetresearch.com
Br***@**********an.net
1-818-397-1401