"There would be no SpaceX without NASA, its largest customer."

True. But SpaceX had to change NASA first, by suing them to force them to treat SpaceX fairly and not merely hand out contracts to ULA.

Regarding the tax breaks for electric vehicles, those are tax breaks - not subsidies: i.e., money _not taken_.

Regarding the DOE loan, I don't know enough about that to comment on it; but note that it was a loan - not a handout.

I think that when Musk says things, many people often over-simplify what he is saying and thereby misconstrue it.

I also think that lumping Musk with other "billionaires" as if they are all the same is unfair and misguided. He is quite unique. His goal is not to make more money or to live lavishly. While Jeff Bezos builds a superyacht, Musk is focused on some goals that have nothing to do with power, wealth, or lifestyle.