Elon Musk (And Tesla) Became Much More Unpopular —As Unfavorability Soars To 55%

Group 1 - Elon Musk's popularity has significantly declined in 2025, with 55% of Americans holding an unfavorable view of him, marking a 10 percentage point increase in unfavorability since the beginning of the year [2][3] - Among Democrats, only 16% have a favorable opinion of Musk, while 82% view him unfavorably, largely due to his association with Trump and substantial donations to his campaign [3][4] - Republican support for Musk has also decreased, with favorable opinions dropping from 83% to 67% in recent months, while independents' views shifted from a balanced 42% to a negative 27% favorable rating [4] Group 2 - Tesla's brand reputation has suffered, as evidenced by its drop from 63rd to 95th in the Axios Harris Poll 100 ranking, with only 32% of Americans viewing the company favorably [5] - Tesla's vehicle deliveries decreased by 13% year-over-year in the first half of 2025, and profits are estimated to have shrunk by 29% compared to the previous year [5][6] - The market value of Tesla fell by approximately $280 billion in the first half of 2025, with Tesla stock declining by 21%, making it one of the worst performers in the S&P 500 index [6] Group 3 - Despite the decline in popularity and Tesla's financial struggles, Musk remains the wealthiest person globally, with a net worth of $407 billion as of June 30, although this represents a $14 billion decrease from the end of 2024 [7][8] - Analysts have noted the unprecedented speed at which Tesla's brand value has diminished, with J.P. Morgan's Ryan Brinkman highlighting the lack of historical parallels in the automotive industry [9]