Is Elon Musk The Billionaire Archetype Behind “Squid Game” Villains?

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Initially airing in 2021, the series Squid Game rapidly gained worldwide attention not only due to its grim dystopian narrative but also for its incisive commentary on economic inequality and the unchecked authority of the affluent elite. As the story progressed, the antagonists evolved, with particular focus on the mysterious “VIPs” – a clandestine group of incredibly wealthy individuals who sponsor the lethal games solely for amusement. With the end of Season 3, Squid Game’s creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has ultimately revealed the real-life influences behind these characters. Among these, Elon Musk is a name that stands out the most.

From Wealth To Warped Entertainment: The Rise Of The VIPs

In Season 1, the high-society elite are portrayed as exaggerated representations of extreme wealth. Veiled behind luxurious masks and shrouded in anonymity, they arrive from various parts of the world to witness desperate competitors engage in lethal combat – purely for entertainment. Their speech is riddled with apathy and malice, and their presence instills a spine-tingling message: such is the face of power when it has no trace of compassion left.

In Season 3, the series delved even deeper into darkness. Instead of just watching from luxurious viewing rooms, certain high-profile individuals started participating in the game, disguising themselves as pink guards and directly eliminating players. This development symbolizes a transformation, moving from mere spectators to active enforcers. As Hwang explains, this change reflects how real-world elites are no longer content with manipulating events from behind the scenes; they now crave visibility, acclaim, and approval, even as they inflict pain.

Hwang Dong-hyuk: The Man Behind The Mask

As a passionate gamer speaking from my own perspective, I’d rephrase that as: “In a recent conversation with Time, Squid Game creator Hwang gave his thoughts on how today’s power brokers are shaping the narrative of our favorite games. He pointed out that in the past, those who controlled the game system often remained unseen, like an invisible puppet master. However, these days, especially in America, they seem to be stepping out of the shadows and making it clear: ‘We’re the ones calling the shots.’

He singled out tech moguls, in particular, as individuals who not only possess significant financial clout but also exert influence in areas like politics, media, and societal conversations. Among these figures, Elon Musk was someone Hwang found particularly notable.

Hwang noted that Elon Musk is quite prominent these days,” he said. “He’s not just the leader of a significant tech firm shaping our future, but he also has a flair for the dramatic. Upon writing Season 3, I recognized that some of the high-profile characters bear a resemblance to him.

Elon Musk: The Real-Life VIP?

It’s challenging to ignore the resemblance between Elon Musk and the wealthy, influential characters in Squid Game who are controversial figures due to their bold actions and unconventional personalities, despite the fact that no character in the show is based on a real person.

He openly backs political figures, impacts world economies with a single tweet, and portrays himself as a visionary leading mankind towards Mars – all while reducing workforces, butting heads with labor unions, and facing accusations of creating an unpleasant workplace atmosphere. This contradiction – hero and villain – mirrors the skewed reasoning of the high-ranking individuals in Squid Game, who defend their actions through a distorted perspective of meritocracy and spectacle.

This individual openly backs political figures, affects global markets with a single tweet, and projects himself as a visionary guiding humanity towards Mars – all while reducing workforces, challenging labor unions, and dealing with accusations of fostering an unpleasant work environment. This paradoxical image – both savior and destroyer – is reminiscent of the warped logic of the influential figures in Squid Game, who rationalize their actions through a twisted lens of meritocracy and entertainment.

Billionaires Without Borders

Hwang’s criticism encompasses more than just Musk. He has also identified similar traits between the VIPs and ex-US President Donald Trump, such as their penchant for extravagant self-promotion, using wealth as a means of power, and disregard for potential repercussions. Essentially, Hwang is suggesting that modern tycoons are no longer trying to hide. Instead, they are marketing themselves, constructing empires in the open, and even encouraging public scrutiny.

In Squid Game, the VIPs wear masks. In real life, today’s billionaires wear brands.

One notable aspect about the VIP group is their fondness for grand displays, as they are not merely players but also spectators of the event. This fascination with showmanship shares a resemblance with Musk’s penchant for the dramatic. Whether it’s sending a Tesla Roadster into space, abruptly updating the logo of a prominent social media platform, or engaging in debatable interviews, Musk actively courts the spotlight rather than avoiding it.

At the core of Elon Musk’s image and the warped ethics of high-profile individuals lies a concept known as performative control – the belief that power should not only be evident but also palpable. Simply possessing power is insufficient; one must also project an image of power.

A Mirror, Not A Portrait

Elon Musk shares characteristics similar to the villains in Squid Game, as the creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has pointed out. These traits include immense wealth, significant influence, and a strong desire for attention, even in the most dramatic situations.

Fundamentally, VIPs aren’t just centered around a single individual. Instead, they represent a dynamic in which power is overtly displayed rather than concealed, where the boundaries between real life and spectacle become indistinct, and where the affluent are no longer mere spectators of the game – they are the ones orchestrating it.

In the world portrayed by Squid Game, the harsh realities of societal inequalities are laid bare. It provokes an unsettling query that resonates deeply: once the disguise is removed, can we truly identify who we’re looking at?

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2025-07-04 16:10