If there’s one thing you can count on during a financial crisis, it’s that billionaires will find a way to make it worse for the rest of us while stuffing their own pockets. And if that billionaire is Elon Musk, it’s not just about money—it’s about power.
Musk has made a habit of using economic downturns to his advantage, and a recession in 2025-2026 would be no different. In fact, there are at least seven reasons why he might actively want a recession right now. Spoiler: None of them help the average worker.
1. Recessions Crush Wages, and Musk Hates Paying Workers
Let’s start with the obvious—Musk hates labor rights. He’s spent years fighting unionization at Tesla, ignoring worker safety issues, and even illegally firing employees for trying to organize. When workers have bargaining power, it cuts into profits, and that’s a problem for Musk.
A recession would weaken labor movements overnight. When unemployment spikes, workers become more desperate to keep their jobs, meaning they’re less…
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