Billionaires Are Buying Our Democracy—and Our Reality

Billionaires shouldn’t be the gatekeepers of our democracy—or our information.

Yet here we are, living in a world where Elon Musk controls one of the biggest social media platforms and Donald Trump built a political career off of manufactured wealth and media manipulation. These aren’t just rich guys with opinions; they’re power brokers shaping the narratives that dictate our politics, our news cycles, and even our collective reality. And let’s be clear: they aren’t just doing this for fun—they’re doing it to protect and expand their own influence.

Musk has turned Twitter (I refuse to call it X) into a playground for disinformation, amplifying extremists under the guise of “free speech” while conveniently silencing journalists and activists who challenge him. He reinstates white nationalists and conspiracy theorists but suspends accounts that call him out. He’s made it clear: “free speech” only applies to those who align with his interests. Meanwhile, Trump has spent years perfecting the art of media manipulation, weaponizing social platforms and billionaire-funded propaganda to spread election lies, dismantle democratic norms, and position himself as the solution to the chaos he creates.

And here’s the thing—this isn’t just about Musk and Trump. They are symptoms of a much bigger disease: the unchecked power of billionaires in our democracy. From media empires to political action committees, the ultra-rich don’t just buy elections; they buy the way we talk about elections. They fund candidates who will protect their wealth, bankroll think tanks that justify their greed, and flood the airwaves with narratives that serve their interests. The result? A democracy where power isn’t determined by the will of the people, but by the wallets of the elite.

We see it everywhere. Billionaire-funded groups pushing for corporate tax cuts while working people struggle to afford rent. Dark money flowing into state legislatures to gut labor protections. Silicon Valley tech moguls using their platforms to boost right-wing talking points while suppressing progressive voices. It’s a full-scale takeover, and the worst part is that many people don’t even realize it’s happening because billionaires control the very channels that could expose them.

And that’s the real danger. When a handful of ultra-rich men decide what news is amplified, whose voices get heard, and what is deemed “truth,” democracy stops being about the people—it starts being about them. Elections become a formality, not a reflection of public will. Media coverage gets shaped not by what’s important, but by what protects the wealthy. And regular people? We get fed whatever version of reality serves their bottom line.

So, the real question is: How do we break free from a system where money decides what’s true? It starts with breaking the billionaire grip on our media and political institutions. That means demanding stronger campaign finance laws, supporting independent journalism that isn’t beholden to corporate interests, and holding tech platforms accountable for amplifying lies. Most importantly, it means recognizing that democracy is not just about voting every few years—it’s about actively fighting for a system where power is distributed, not hoarded.

Because until we do, billionaires will continue to shape the world to fit their interests, while the rest of us are left to deal with the consequences.