Lex Luthor of Smallville is a role model. It is hard to believe that someone who becomes so evil could also be a role model. In the world of Smallville, he not only shows his genius and intelligence, but he also shows his business sense, weighing all the odds to make the most out of his business. Lex protects the people he cares about.
Clark Kent and Lex became friends after Lex hit him with his car off a bridge, and Clark saved him. Lex felt indebted to him and showed Clark and his family all the generosity he was able to. The remembrance of Lex's father, Lionel Luthor, leaves a bad taste in Jonathan Kent's mouth when it comes to the Luthor family.
Lex Luthor is willing to give people a chance, as he gave Lana Lang a rejection in the form of a challenge for the Talon, which she wanted to see, restored.
He also puts people first as he looks to save jobs at the fertilizer plant. Lex works to help people who were infected by a deadly plant. When the students were held hostage in the plant he went into the plant thinking only of their safety.
He is not afraid of being asked the hard questions by Chloe Sullivan.
Lex Luthor is very aggressive, when he wants something he goes after it. Lex wants to please his father. His father can be rather ruthless. The one thing Lex knows is he has money and he has power, and he definitely knows how to use it. If something gets in the way of what he wants, he just removes it. Lex does what is in the best interest of achieving his goal. Keeping secrets does not bother him a bit.
