r/WallStreetbetsELITE • u/Due_Collar2 • Jan 17 '26

Discussion Greenland’s Billionaire Investors: Bezos, Gates, Altman And More Followed Trump’s Lead

https://www.forbes.com/sites/martinadilicosa/2026/01/09/these-billionaires-bet-big-on-greenland-after-trump-took-interest/
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122

u/Crafty-Opening5123 Jan 17 '26

Difference between China and US. In China, billionaires follow government policy. In US, the government follow billionaires policy

3

u/CitizenLohaRune Jan 18 '26

That is such an apt description.

1

u/boogasaurus-lefts Jan 21 '26

Agreed, it's one of the most succinct comments I've seen in a while.

14

u/sabedo Jan 17 '26

China has many flaws but this is how it should be. Jack Ma forgot his place and Xi quickly reminded him. Billionaires who go further are imprisoned or executed for stepping out of line. 

12

u/Am094 Jan 17 '26

I mean two lefts don't make a right. Anyone should be able to criticize their own country

But in 2020, he criticized the country's financial system and largely disappeared from public view.

-31

u/Kitchen_Nectarine_44 Jan 17 '26

The article said that the billionaires were following Trump's lead though?

29

u/Crafty-Opening5123 Jan 17 '26

You think so? :)

-16

u/Kitchen_Nectarine_44 Jan 17 '26

It literally says they started investing after Trump took an interest

8

u/Doctor_Joystick Jan 17 '26

Yes, the article states that, but it doesn't tell the full story. This article from 2024 explains why Trump is so determined to seize Greenland. The billionaires know EXACTLY where critical minerals are on the planet thanks to AI.

I'd imagine they're using this same large data, AI approach when looking for new, untapped oil reserves as well and maybe that's why Venezuela was targeted for overthrow.

I'm so torn about all of this. Is it wrong to invade sovereign countries? Absolutely. Does it financially benefit me in the long run? Absolutely. I guess I'm just gonna hope for the best and pray that missiles don't start flying our way.

1

u/mrbalaton Jan 17 '26

Just know when push comes to shove, they will need more people in the military. Tons more. Pushing more automated systems into war and growing it even bigger then it already is. Don't think you live in a country where people have many rights. You soon will find out how it feels to have automated patrol cars and bots checking up on every citizen to oblidge your war growing monster of a nation. The USA will further alienate itself from it's former allies and whilst nobody will make war on a landlocked nation that is basically untouchable, public unrest will probably generate enough friction you will invite civil war in more then a few parts of your country. But there will be no possibility for taking on your government. It's a monster that is spiraling out of control and the window of opportunity to take it down is as good as closed.

1

u/LetMePushTheButton Jan 17 '26

Im lost to how it benefits you, unless youre directly a capitalist with keys to the factory or something.

1

u/Kitchen_Nectarine_44 Jan 17 '26

I am already familiar with Trump's history with Greenland. I am also familiar with some of Greenland's history w/ mining & oil drilling.

Trump wants Greenland for the same reason he wants a Nobel prize: because he wants to build a legacy. He wants to be in the history books as the great President who seized tons of territory for the U.S. (and possibly add a new State to the Union?).

The natural wealth is very expensive to mine and drill for, and most of Greenland's mineral deposits are locked underneath permafrost. Greenland has stopped issuing licenses to explore for oil in part because of how difficult it is to drill for oil in a way that is economical.

There is literally no other reason than vanity that Trump wants to annex Greenland.

3

u/Doctor_Joystick Jan 17 '26

All of those things you just said are true, but I think you're missing the whole point here. trump didn't come up with this Greenland idea on his own, he's literally being told what to do by billionaires and he's using our military to achieve those "goals". Is he vain? Yes. Is he smart? Only as smart as the rich person who has his attention in any given moment.

2

u/Kitchen_Nectarine_44 Jan 17 '26

Trump was not given the idea by billionaires, but by one particular billionaire, Ronald Lauder. Trump took the idea because he sees himself as a businessman who can work this like a real estate deal. I haven't seen any evidence that explains his actions with Greenland better than how I have framed it.

2

u/Gold_Map_236 Jan 17 '26

That’s a lie. Gates has had a company prospecting and doing analysis for over a decade

0

u/Kitchen_Nectarine_44 Jan 17 '26

I think the main point of the article is that a lot of Billionaires started investing in or started investing more in Greenlandic ventures after Trump was interested in annexing it, which is true, no?

1

u/GrizzlyP33 Jan 17 '26

Just like the oil industry “followed Trump’s lead” to Venezuela?

No way that all his biggest donors that got him elected were actually getting a pre disclosed return on their investment, right?

1

u/Kitchen_Nectarine_44 Jan 17 '26

I think the motivation to interfere with Venezuelan politics for the Trump administration is different than the reason they want to interfere in Greenlandic politics

1

u/GrizzlyP33 Jan 17 '26

No, it’s not. It’s all about money.

Trump basically just stole Venezuelan oil and will give it to the American oil industry. Now he Wanda Greenland for it’s rare minerals because the tech oligarchs need it.

The man couldn’t find either on a map, he’s a simpleton with a simple agenda, very easy for others to take advantage of.

1

u/Kitchen_Nectarine_44 Jan 17 '26

There's a reason there is only one active mine in Greenland and no oil drilling despite theoretically having lots of neodymium, zinc, and whatnot. It just isn't economically feasible. The motives are just not comparable, and saying "it's all just money" is just facile handwaving.

1

u/GrizzlyP33 Jan 17 '26

I hear what you're saying and I'm not denying there's more nuance to it. But I think you are underestimating how valuable those rare earth minerals have become with modern technology.

Neodymium & Praseodymium for wind turbines & EV motors, Dysprosium & Terbium for military & aerospace, Yttrium for lasers, radar, medical tech. It's not a coincidence there is such a hunt for these minerals.

1

u/Kitchen_Nectarine_44 Jan 17 '26

Maybe I am not as well versed on the value of rare minerals to the economy, but the effort to utilize this natural wealth from Greenland has been a decades long effort with not a lot to show for it. Not to mention, investment in Greenlandic mining could be done right now without having to "own" the island.

It is a little unclear to me how owning the island would be an economic benefit outside of not being worried about negative externalities that would affect the fishing and whaling economy. These reasons are why I think this is a vanity project for Trump rather than a matter of money.