What is the Dilbert Principle? Elon Musk says 'still can't believe' Scott Adams has died

As Shelly Miles, the former wife of Scott Adams, announced the death of the 68-year-old Scott Adams, the creator of the Dilbert comic strip, social media users offered their tribute to the writer and remembered how the Dilbert Principle taught them better about management than many serious management books. The Dilbert principle is a satirical odea about workplace management created by Scott Adams which says that companies systematically promote their least competent employees into management to minimize the damage they can do.

It is not a scientific theory and is meant to be satire. Adams first explained the principle in a 1995 Wall Street Journal article, and he elaborated upon it in his humorous 1996 book The Dilbert Principle.




"I wrote The Dilbert Principle around the concept that in many cases the least competent, least smart people are promoted, simply because they’re the ones you don't want doing actual work. You want them ordering the doughnuts and yelling at people for not doing their assignments—you know, the easy work. Your heart surgeons and your computer programmers—your smart people—aren't in management. That principle was literally happening everywhere," Adams explained.

Final message from Scott Adams

A last message from Scott Adams who was battling cancer, was released after his passing was announced. The message was written on January 1, 2026. "For the first part of my life, I was focused on making myself a worthy husband and parent, as a way to find meaning. That worked. But marriages don't always last forever, and mine eventually ended, in a highly amicable way. I'm grateful for those years and for the people I came to call my family," the message read.

Meandering through the milestones of his life, the message concluded with: "I had an amazing life. I gave it everything I had. If you got any benefits from my work, I'm asking you to pay it forward as best you can. That is the legacy I want."

"Even though I knew his death was coming, as he told us it would, I still can’t believe he has died. Rest in peace, good and great man, rest in peace," Elon Musk wrote.

President Donald Trump posted a message on his Truth Social remembering Adams as a 'fantastic guy'. “Sadly, the Great Influencer, Scott Adams, has passed away. He was a fantastic guy, who liked and respected me when it wasn’t fashionable to do so,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “He bravely fought a long battle against a terrible disease. My condolences go out to his family, and all of his many friends and listeners. He will be truly missed. God bless you Scott!”