I'm not so sure. In terms of dollars (compared to national space programs) they were broke from the beginning. This constraint has forced them to think about the problem in a different way and seek efficiencies that probably don't occur to the larger programs.
While on a personal level, the money Musk had was FU money, on a company level, SpaceX has been operating out of the poor house.
Not really. They went big by going orbital -- their expenditure is comparable to dinospace budgets. There are companies doing amazing things with 1 / 10th the budget.
While on a personal level, the money Musk had was FU money, on a company level, SpaceX has been operating out of the poor house.