Steve Davis, a longtime employee of Elon Musk, has proven himself an invaluable asset in driving cost-efficiency across various companies under Musk’s umbrella, including SpaceX, the Boring Company, and Twitter, Bloomberg reports.
His latest challenge is helping streamline government operations as part of Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a unique initiative aimed at reducing waste and improving productivity within government systems.
Davis’s extensive experience in cost-cutting measures and his reputation for frugality made him a natural fit for this role. Over the years, Davis has demonstrated his ability to bring significant savings to Musk’s ventures. At the Boring Company, for example, he became known for his tight control over spending, often scrutinizing even the smallest purchases to ensure the company remained within budget. He’s been known to drive hard bargains with suppliers, always encouraging staff to ask for better deals, often telling them to “go back and ask again.” This mindset has become a hallmark of his leadership.
Before his role at DOGE, Davis’s career trajectory showcased his adaptability and dedication. After joining SpaceX in 2003, Davis, with his background in aerospace engineering, became an integral part of the company’s success. Musk once tasked him with finding a cheaper alternative to a $120,000 part, and Davis succeeded by sourcing a replacement for just $3,900. This ability to find cost-effective solutions earned him Musk’s trust and set the stage for his future roles within Musk’s ventures.
Davis was later appointed president of the Boring Company, which seeks to revolutionize urban transportation with underground tunnels. Although the company has faced regulatory hurdles, including challenges in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, Davis’s leadership has kept the project moving forward. His unique approach to problem-solving, combined with a strict focus on cost efficiency, has enabled the company to operate within its means despite facing obstacles.
Davis’s influence also extended to Twitter, where he helped Musk cut costs following the acquisition of the social media platform. His dedication during this period was notable, with reports of him and his family sleeping at Twitter’s headquarters to help navigate the intense restructuring efforts. Despite not taking the CEO role, Davis’s work in cost-cutting earned him significant recognition as an integral part of Musk’s team.
As part of Musk’s vision for DOGE, Davis aims to bring some of the same cost-cutting and transformative strategies that have been effective in Musk’s private companies to the public sector. While DOGE’s specific mandate and authority remain unclear, the presence of someone with Davis’s track record signals Musk’s commitment to applying his leadership style to reduce inefficiency within government operations.
