Tesla’s depiction of Musk echoes the "great man theory" – a now discredited approach to history pioneered in the 19th century by Scottish historian Thomas Carlyle. Tesla’s twist on the great man myth is that Musk’s presumed greatness justifies his status as the richest person in the world. Australia’s animal spiritsUsing the narrative of the "great man" to justify excessive CEO pay is not limited to the goings on at Tesla. A particularly striking example of the great man theory in action is the Australian Financial Review’s (AFR) annual celebration of CEO wealth in its published ‘Rich bosses’ list. Despite being unsupported by any evidence, when it comes to leadership, the zombie of the great man theory lives on because it flatters and serves the interests of elites.