It goes beyond that and is largely related to the same anti-intellectual propaganda we have had shoved down our throats for decades (basically since reagan).

Think back to basically every single movie/tv show with a “smart” character. Invariably, they are “cool” and have anti-authority tendencies. And, invariably, there is a character who is a conventional nerd who is actually an idiot compared to this cool kid with an ice rink in their basement because they pronounced a word wrong or got a single question wrong.

And what has that done? It has raised generations of people to value “genius” over “smart” where someone who is quirky and weird is WAY more intelligent than the person who actually just sits down and reads things. THOSE people are losers.

And what does a balding techbro with hairplugs who has driven double digit companies into the ground have? That’s right, he thinks he is a living meme and thus must be a genius.