Elon Musk and Bill Gates, two of the world’s wealthiest individuals, have a history of disagreement. Their differences have been on display once again, with Musk warning that Gates could face bankruptcy if Tesla achieves a specific milestone.
The tension between the two billionaires dates back to April 2022, when Musk revealed a text exchange with Gates. Musk had asked Gates if he still held a short position against Tesla worth half a billion dollars. Gates confirmed that he had not closed the position and expressed interest in discussing philanthropic opportunities. Musk was skeptical, questioning how Gates could be taken seriously on climate change issues while holding a massive short position against Tesla, a company leading the charge in addressing climate change.
Musk’s concerns about Gates’ short position were further validated when a Twitter user shared a screenshot of a 2023 tweet. In the tweet, Musk explained that taking a short position against Tesla, as Gates had done, would yield the highest returns only if the company went bankrupt. Musk accused Gates of hypocrisy, pointing out that Gates had asked him to donate to environmental causes while simultaneously betting against Tesla’s success.
Musk’s latest warning to Gates is clear: if Tesla becomes the world’s most valuable company, Gates’ short position could lead to bankruptcy. With Tesla’s stock potentially surging by 200%, the company could overtake Apple as the world’s most valuable company. Only time will tell if Musk’s prediction comes to pass, but one thing is certain – the rivalry between these two billionaires is far from over.
