Why Time Magazine Chose Elon Musk As Person Of The Year For 2021

Elon Musk, the billionaire founder and CEO of Tesla and Space X, was chosen as Time Magazine's Person of the Year. Musk is the richest person in the world with a net worth of more than $250 billion.

While choosing the "clown, genius, edgelord, visionary, industrialist, showman, cad" Musk, Time Editor-in-Chief and CEO Edward Felsenthal said, "Musk emerged not just as the world’s richest person but also as perhaps the richest example of a massive shift in our society."

Time's choice of Musk was criticised by many including sitting US Senators and Congress members for his attitude towards taxation and unionising as well as his scepticism towards COVID-19 and vaccination despite being vaccinated himself.

Time defended its choice of Musk stating that the title was not an award but rather "recognition of the person who had the most influence on the events of the year, for good or for ill".

The Heroes of The Year title was bestowed upon Vaccine Scientists whose work on the mRNA vaccines have helped vaccinate millions across the world against COVID-19.

Gymnast Simone Miles was chosen as the Athlete of the Year after she withdrew from some competitions during the Tokyo Olympics. Time said Biles "made clear the importance of prioritizing oneself and refusing to succumb to external expectations".

American singer Olivia Rodrigo was chose as Time's Entertainer of the Year in a year which saw the 18-year-old became the youngest solo artist to top the Billboard Hot 100.