The widely held belief in the existence of a “military industrial complex” is false and has not been true since 1993. The concept is more of a cognitive impediment than a reality. Starting from Eisenhower’s 1961 farewell address, I trace the evolution of defense and technology industries, highlighting their consolidation and the significant reduction in U.S. defense spending as a percentage of GDP since the Cold War. Then I contrast the profits of defense companies with those of big tech, pharmaceutical, and consumer product companies to demonstrate that defense contracting is not as lucrative or expansive as commonly believed. The notion of a powerful military industrial complex is perpetuated by adversaries like Russia and China to justify their actions, I urge you to reconsider your perspectives based on the evidence provided.