He's definitely been bipolar his whole life. It's not something that he suddenly acquired, it will have been with him his whole adult life, probably longer, even if it wasn't diagnosed. That's how mental illness works. Calling it an "ego trip" doesn't dispel or do away with the fact that he is having a manic episode. Going on an ego trip is a symptom of a manic episode. This isn't his first episode and it won't be his last.
Poor guy. Hope he gets the help he needs, even if he doesn't see it as help at this time.