Elon views himself and his online activities to be the best possible advertising. Until now, it's been free and highly effective. He's been able to manipulate markets and inflate his own investments at will.
A good comparison of what's happening to Elon is what's happening to aggy.
When relatively few people look closely at maladaptive behavior, it's easy to write it off as harmless eccentricity.
Eventually though, narcissists can't help themselves. They push and push until they pass a threshold where everyone can see what they really are.
Elon has lived his entire life in Fuckaroundtown, but he just moved to Findoutsville and hasn't grasped it yet. He'll always be a billionaire, but he will never again approach the level of adoration he's previously enjoyed.
Hope he likes hanging with the mouthbreathers. Doubt they will buy many Teslas though.