Tesla CEO Elon Musk Rings Alarm Bells, Warns “Short Position Will Bankrupt Even Bill Gates”

Highlights

• Elon Musk has again criticised Gates’ alleged short position against Tesla.
• He suggests serious financial consequences for Gates if Tesla surpasses Apple in value.
• Gates reportedly lost $1.5 billion because of the increase in Tesla stock value.
• Tesla stock has surged 56.91% this year reaching a record high of $400.

If there is one thing we can say for sure about Tesla CEO Elon Musk, it is that the man never hesitates to speak his mind. This is both endearing and surprising, especially for a billionaire of Musk’s stature. The world has not seen too many opinionated rich men, which could be a reason why every Musk post on X (formerly Twitter) becomes headline-worthy.

Recently, Elon Musk has reignited his feud with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. This time addressing Gates’ alleged short position against Tesla stock, Musk took to X to suggest that Gates could face serious financial consequences if Tesla were to surpass Apple as the world’s most valuable company.

In a sharp comment, Musk wrote, “If Tesla does become the world’s most valuable company by far, that short position will bankrupt even Bill Gates.”

If Tesla does become the world’s most valuable company by far, that short position will bankrupt even Bill Gates

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 10, 2024

Musk’s remark refers to Gates’ previously disclosed bet against Tesla. According to Walter Isaacson’s 2023 biography of Musk, Gates reportedly lost $1.5 billion due to Tesla’s stock surge.

For those of you who aren’t aware, a short position is a strategy where an investor borrows shares, sells them on the market and hopes to buy them back at a lower price. The whole practice is a tactic to profit from a decline in the stock’s value.

Musk has criticised Gates for this short position before particularly during Tesla’s challenging times. In 2022, Musk tweeted, “Taking out a short position against Tesla, as Gates did, results in the highest return only if a company goes bankrupt!”

Just so that the public understands:

Taking out a short position against Tesla, as Gates did, results in the highest return only if a company goes bankrupt!

Gates placed a massive bet on Tesla dying when our company was at one of its weakest moments several years ago. Such a…

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 11, 2023

Gates has admitted to betting against Tesla in earlier interviews.

However, Musk has often accused Gates of hypocrisy highlighting Gates’ environmental philanthropy while allegedly betting against a company central to the green energy movement (Tesla). Musk has even claimed, “To the best of my knowledge, Gates still has that massive bet against Tesla on the table. The lack of self-awareness and hypocrisy of Gates… is astounding.”

Tesla’s stock has surged 56.91% this year boosted by market optimism after President-elect Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 elections and Musk’s close relations with the new administration. The stock reached a record high of $400 after Goldman Sachs raised its price target for Tesla.

Meanwhile, Tesla still trails behind Apple in market capitalisation even after showing remarkable growth. Some reports speculated that Tesla’s value would need to increase by nearly 200% and the company will claim the title of the world’s most valuable company.

FAQs

Q1. What recent comment did Elon Musk make about Bill Gates on X?

Answer. Elon Musk suggested that if Tesla becomes the world’s most valuable company, Gates’ short position could bankrupt him. Musk wrote, “If Tesla does become the world’s most valuable company by far, that short position will bankrupt even Bill Gates.”

Q2. How much did Bill Gates reportedly lose due to his short position against Tesla?

Answer. Bill Gates reportedly lost $1.5 billion due to Tesla’s stock surge, according to Walter Isaacson’s 2023 biography of Musk.

Q3. What was Elon Musk’s criticism of Bill Gates’ short position?

Answer. Musk criticised Gates for taking a short position against Tesla, particularly highlighting the hypocrisy given Gates’ environmental philanthropy while allegedly betting against Tesla, a company central to the green energy movement.

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