As Donald Trump returns to the White House, an unprecedented constellation of tech bn’aires is positioned to shape his administration’s policies. At Trump’s inauguration, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Google co-founder Sergey Brin, and most notably, Elon Musk — now the world’s wealthiest person, and self-proclaimed “first buddy” in chief at the White House — occupied seats typically reserved for distinguished government officials.

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This wasn’t just ceremonial — it signaled a new power dynamic in Washington. Musk’s influence has already proved significant. Fresh off spending over USD 250 mn to help secure Trump’s victory, he flexed his new political muscles by helping derail an emergency spending measure, nearly triggering a government shutdown. Trump has appointed Musk to lead a new non-governmental office focused on reducing government inefficiencies, though he dismisses suggestions that Musk might overshadow his presidency.

The tech influence extends beyond Musk. The new administration features an unprecedented number of bn’aires in key positions, with around thirteen serving in various roles. The total net worth of the rich members of Trump’s administration could reach USD 460 bn, as per ABC News calculations — a dramatic shift from Joe Biden’s cabinet, which had a total net worth of approximately USD 118 mn.

Despite receiving substantial financial support from tech leaders, Trump maintains that they won’t receive special treatment: “They’re not going to get anything from me. I don’t need money, but I do want the nation to do well, and they’re smart people [who] create a lot of jobs.” This came as a response to Biden’s warning that the US was becoming an “oligarchy of tech bn’aires wielding dangerous levels of power” during his farewell address.

As AI and other technological advances reshape society, the implications of this tech-wealthy coalition extend far beyond traditional policy debates. With Silicon Valley’s most powerful figures now directly shaping government policy, questions remain about how this will affect everything from industry regulation to social media oversight and AI development, especially after Trump issued an executive order yesterday reversing a Biden decision on restriction on AI systems that could pose risks on national security, economy, or public safety.

Power by pandering: In 2017, the Meta CEO publicly opposed Trump’s immigration policies, citing his own family’s immigrant background. Now, Zuckerberg has maneuvered to co-host an exclusive black-tie inaugural event alongside Trump’s top donors, after making a series of moves to curry favor with the new administration, including praising “masculine energy” on Joe Rogan’s podcast, shifting in the tech community’s DEI initiatives to overtly enforce a status quo that has always been exclusionary, and is in line with MAGA’s policies.

Jeff Bezos, who once worried that Trump “erodes [US] democracy around the edges,” has also changed course. Amazon contributed USD 1 mn to the inaugural committee, and agreed to produce a documentary about First Lady Melania Trump.

Why? The stakes for these tech leaders are enormous. Zuckerberg faces a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit against Meta. Bezos’ Amazon is battling antitrust cases. Musk’s Tesla is under federal investigation for its auto-driving technology, while SpaceX competes with Bezos’ Blue Origin for lucrative government contracts as they both try to edge out NASA. The question remains: Will these tech titans’ expensive bet on Trump pay off? Or will they live and see that Trump’s favor can be as fleeting as it is expensive?

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