Despite Constantly Being Surrounded by Elites, Elon Musk Only Recognizes These Three as the Smartest

Despite constantly being surrounded by world leaders, pioneering scientists, and tech industry elites, Elon Musk only publicly acknowledges three individuals as the smartest people he’s ever encountered. Speaking candidly on the “Verdict” podcast released March 17, Musk—prompted by host and Republican Senator Ted Cruz—didn’t hesitate to name names. His choices? Larry Ellison, Larry Page, and Jeff Bezos.

“Larry Ellison is very smart,” Musk said, referring to the Oracle co-founder. “I think he’s one of the smartest people out there.” That was the first name on his list, delivered with conviction and no hint of hesitation.

Next came Larry Page, the co-founder and former CEO of Google. Musk didn’t elaborate deeply in that moment, but his tone suggested a deep, longstanding respect for Page’s intellect and vision. Lastly, Musk acknowledged Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon and his long-time rival in the private space race.

“Jeff Bezos has done a lot of hard and great things,” Musk said, giving rare public credit to someone he’s often locked horns with—especially in the competition between SpaceX and Blue Origin.

For Musk, intelligence isn’t just about IQ or verbal acrobatics. It’s about results. “You can measure intelligence through what a person has accomplished,” Musk hinted. That yardstick puts Ellison, Page, and Bezos firmly in the upper echelon.

Each of them built iconic companies that redefined not just their industries but the very way we live and work today.

Despite being engaged in a two-decade-long technological duel with Bezos, particularly over dominance in the space sector, Musk put rivalry aside to recognize Bezos's achievements. It’s a rare gesture from a man known more for his blunt honesty than his praise.

As of now, financial clouds are looming for all three. According to insider accounts, their net worths have been facing sharp downturns. Bloomberg estimates Larry Ellison’s net worth at $169 billion, Larry Page’s at $149 billion, and Jeff Bezos’s at $218 billion.

Even Musk himself isn’t immune to the turbulence. Tesla’s stock volatility recently wiped out 30% of his wealth in just ten weeks.

But this isn’t about money—it’s about intellect. In that arena, these three titans still reign supreme in Musk’s mind. That’s telling, especially coming from someone who’s personally helped reshape industries from electric vehicles to spaceflight to social media.

Interestingly, Musk’s podcast appearance wasn’t limited to doling out compliments. The conversation also ventured into politics, policy, and the state of the U.S. federal government.

Musk openly criticized what he views as inefficiencies in Washington, calling the government “worse than I thought” but also acknowledging “there’s room for improvement.”

He specifically discussed the proposed DOGE office at the White House, a not-so-subtle nod to his love for the meme cryptocurrency Dogecoin, as well as his belief in shaking up outdated institutions. Musk also touched on the need for federal workforce reductions—a position that’s attracted significant criticism from both civil servants and the general public.

One of Musk’s more vocal critics on this front is none other than Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. Wozniak pushed back hard against the idea of massive layoffs, calling them a form of “bullying.” He emphasized that reforms should be done with precision and care. “Use a scalpel, not a sledgehammer,” he advised, referring to Musk’s brash style of eliminating inefficiency.

The tension between Musk’s vision and traditional structures is not new. He’s long been at odds with regulators, unions, and slow-moving institutions. But what’s interesting here is how his admiration for fellow disruptors—Ellison, Page, and Bezos—mirrors his own combative style.

Each of them broke through barriers, redefined norms, and rewrote the rules of what was possible in business.

Larry Ellison didn’t just co-found Oracle; he built one of the most resilient enterprise software giants in the world. His bold bets and sharp mind have earned him a reputation as a business tactician with a deep understanding of both technology and markets.

Larry Page co-created the world’s most powerful search engine and turned it into one of the most influential companies on Earth. His belief in moonshots and radical innovation echoes Musk’s own tendencies—whether it's electric cars or colonizing Mars.

Jeff Bezos, of course, transformed online retail with Amazon, then pivoted to cloud computing dominance with AWS, and finally threw his hat into the space race with Blue Origin. While Musk and Bezos may compete fiercely, there’s mutual recognition of their respective journeys—each marked by unrelenting ambition and outsized success.

In the end, Musk’s comments provide insight not just into who he respects, but what he respects. Intelligence, in his world, isn’t abstract. It’s tangible. It looks like Ellison’s calculated rise through software, Page’s relentless pursuit of innovation, and Bezos’s empire-building stamina.

And perhaps, by naming these three, Musk is also revealing a bit of himself. These are not just smart men. They’re visionaries. Builders. Outsiders who beat the odds and redefined the game on their own terms.

It’s not surprising that Musk sees something of himself in them.

But for now, he’s happy to give credit where it’s due—something rare in a world where ego often trumps admiration. In Ellison, Page, and Bezos, Musk has found minds worthy of recognition. And in doing so, he’s given the rest of us a glimpse into the hall of fame that exists in his own head.