Elon Musk's endorsement ofDonald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign might seem surprising to some, especially given Musk's past political inclinations.

Once a supporter of Democratic candidates — he voted forBarack Obamain 2008, 2012 andHillary Clintonin 2016 — Musk publicly soured on the party in recent years, and turned his focus to Trump's bid to retake the White House.

Musk's shift might seem ideological on the surface, but a closer look suggests his motivations may be less about politics and more about money.

Musk's support for Trump — and his fierce rejection of Vice PresidentKamala Harris — aligns...