Being Rich Isn’t a Qualification: Why the ‘Businessman President’ Myth Needs to Die

By Preston Shamblen

Let’s cut through the BS. Being a “businessman” does not automatically make someone a good leader — and it sure as hell doesn’t make them qualified to run a country.

But for years, a huge chunk of America has clung to the myth that success in business somehow equals competence in governance. That if someone has “made money,” they’ll manage the country’s finances like a spreadsheet, fire the bad guys, and lead the nation like a boardroom. It’s a fantasy — and one that’s aged like unrefrigerated mayo.

1. Business Degrees Are the Most Common — Not the Most Impressive

You know what the most awarded college degree in the U.S. is? Business. It’s not rare. It’s not elite. And while many people with business degrees are hardworking, honest folks, it doesn’t mean they’re qualified to steer a 300-million-person democracy with global responsibilities and nuclear weapons.

It’s a basic misunderstanding of what business teaches: efficiency and profit. Not justice. Not diplomacy. Not how to write laws, appoint judges, or handle a humanitarian crisis. Running a country is not about cutting costs — it’s about protecting people.

2. Trump Is Just a Statistical Anomaly — Not a Genius

Imagine every person on Earth flips a coin for survival. One flip per round. Eventually, someone is going to hit heads again and again and again — until they’re the last person left. People would look at that person and say, “How did you do it? What’s your strategy?”

But the truth is: they’re just the statistical leftover of a huge group. They didn’t do anything special. Haven’t created significant value. They just haven’t lost enough yet.

That’s Trump. That’s Musk. That’s a lot of these “once-in-a-generation business legends.” They’re not repeatable formulas. They’re lottery winners standing on top of wreckage, trying to sell you a strategy.

3. Real Businessmen Don’t Brag — They Build

Small business owners — real ones — don’t have time for cults of personality. They’re running HVAC companies, detailing cars, selling tacos, or training clients in a gym. They’re up at 6 AM, not filming themselves eating McDonald’s to impress boomers.

If anyone has the temperament to lead, it’s the guy who actually shows up, keeps books straight, pays taxes, treats workers fairly, and grows something meaningful over decades. But those people aren’t flying around on private jets or lying to investors on social media.

4. Government ≠ Business (and That’s a Good Thing)

A business has one job: maximize profit. That’s it. If fewer safety inspections mean more quarterly earnings, they skip the inspections. If layoffs make the stock go up, people lose jobs.

A government is supposed to serve its people — not just the profitable ones. We don’t privatize police departments or elections for a reason. Public services exist because some things should never be left to whoever can squeeze the most out of you.

5. Privatization Isn’t Private If It’s Funded by Taxpayers

You want to talk about hypocrisy? Elon Musk is the poster child for it. He’s the “free market” guy who takes billions in government subsidies. SpaceX? Tesla? Starlink? All propped up with public money — and then sold back to the public like private genius.

It’s like a contractor getting paid with your tax dollars, then charging you again just to enter the house. Meanwhile, the same crowd that trashes the USPS and NASA somehow worships this guy for launching 30,000 satellites that only reach 0.01% of the population.

6. They Sell You a Fantasy Version of Success — Because They Know You’ll Buy It

Trump standing at McDonald’s like he’s “just like you.” Musk tweeting through meltdowns while pretending to be a savior. These guys aren’t relatable. They’re performing for you — because their empires need your belief more than your money.

You think they care about your struggles? They’re not building ladders. They’re pulling them up behind themselves. And they’ve convinced millions of people to cheer them on while they do it.

Final Thoughts: Stop Worshipping Wealth

The businessman myth is dead. It should’ve died in 2008. It should’ve died in 2020. It should’ve died after January 6th. And yet here we are — still watching people defend wealth as if it’s wisdom, and success as if it’s sainthood.

We need leaders. Not brand deals. Not coin-flippers. And definitely not guys who inherited money, scammed investors, and bought blue checkmarks to feel special.

Bonus: I’ve Been a Businessman for Years — It Doesn’t Make Me Want to Run a Country

I’ve been selling stuff online since I was a teenager. I’ve packed more orders than I can count. Built multiple websites. Managed inventory, handled refunds, dealt with nightmare customers, and shipped products from Texas in the middle of summer.

I’m a businessman.

And I still think this whole idea that “businessmen should run the world” is one of the dumbest takes out there.

Running a business teaches you how to deal with stress, sure. But it doesn’t make you wise. It doesn’t give you moral clarity. It doesn’t mean you should be in charge of millions of lives and make decisions that affect the globe. Most days, I don’t even want to deal with customer emails — why would I want to fix Social Security?

You know who should run a country? People who understand service, sacrifice, and actual governance. Not people who optimize tax loopholes and tweet through disasters.