Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has hinted that Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates could go bankrupt. The world’s richest man, Elon Musk’s tweet has gone viral on social media. The feud between the two billionaires stems from Gates’ undisclosed short position in Tesla stock, which reportedly resulted in a $1.5 billion loss for Gates.

Could Microsoft founder Bill Gates face bankruptcy? Elon Musk, the world’s richest man thinks this is possible if a certain condition by a company he owns Tesla, American multinational automotive and clean energy company, is fulfilled.

Elon Musk, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Bill Gates might face bankruptcy if Tesla becomes “the world’s most valuable company by far”. This statement by the Tesla and SpaceX CEO has escalated their long-running dispute over Gates’ short position in the electric vehicle maker.

The statement by Musk came as Tesla’s market capitalization stands at $1.251 trillion, still significantly behind Apple In at $3.729 trillion. To achieve the top position, Tesla would need to grow by nearly 200%.

In the post on X, Musk wrote “If Tesla does become the world’s most valuable company by far, that short position will bankrupt even Bill Gates”. (sic)

Musk and Bill Gates?

The conflict between the two billionaires (Elon Musk and Bill Gates) stems from Gates’ undisclosed short position in Tesla stock, which reportedly resulted in a $1.5 billion loss for Gates, according to Walter Isaacson’s 2023 biography of Musk.

Stock position mainly refers to a stock market strategy where an investor borrows shares of a stock they do not own, sells them on the open market, and aims to buy them back later at a lower price. The goal is to profit from a decline in the stock’s price.

When confronted about the investment during a 2021 CNBC interview, Gates declined to comment on his positions but praised Tesla’s achievements, stating, “What Elon’s done with Tesla is fantastic.”

Bill Gates’ short position in Tesla
The feud between Musk and Gates originates from Gates’ reported short position against Tesla stock, reports TOI.

In interviews earlier in 2022, Gates revealed that he had placed a bet against Tesla. According to Walter Isaacson’s 2023 biography of Musk, this position allegedly cost Gates a $1.5 billion loss.

Why Elon Musk said Microsoft founder Bill Gates could face bankruptcy

The tension peaked during a March 2022 meeting at Tesla’s Austin factory, where Gates and Musk discussed philanthropy and climate change
Synopsis

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has hinted that Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates could go bankrupt. The world’s richest man, Elon Musk’s tweet has gone viral on social media. The feud between the two billionaires stems from Gates’ undisclosed short position in Tesla stock, which reportedly resulted in a $1.5 billion loss for Gates.

Could Microsoft founder Bill Gates face bankruptcy? Elon Musk, the world’s richest man thinks this is possible if a certain condition by a company he owns Tesla, American multinational automotive and clean energy company, is fulfilled.

Elon Musk, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Bill Gates might face bankruptcy if Tesla becomes “the world’s most valuable company by far”. This statement by the Tesla and SpaceX CEO has escalated their long-running dispute over Gates’ short position in the electric vehicle maker.

The statement by Musk came as Tesla’s market capitalization stands at $1.251 trillion, still significantly behind Apple In at $3.729 trillion. To achieve the top position, Tesla would need to grow by nearly 200%.

In the post on X, Musk wrote “If Tesla does become the world’s most valuable company by far, that short position will bankrupt even Bill Gates”. (sic)

What is the conflict between Elon Musk and Bill Gates?

The conflict between the two billionaires (Elon Musk and Bill Gates) stems from Gates’ undisclosed short position in Tesla stock, which reportedly resulted in a $1.5 billion loss for Gates, according to Walter Isaacson’s 2023 biography of Musk.

Stock position mainly refers to a stock market strategy where an investor borrows shares of a stock they do not own, sells them on the open market, and aims to buy them back later at a lower price. The goal is to profit from a decline in the stock’s price.

When confronted about the investment during a 2021 CNBC interview, Gates declined to comment on his positions but praised Tesla’s achievements, stating, “What Elon’s done with Tesla is fantastic.”

Bill Gates’ short position in Tesla
The feud between Musk and Gates originates from Gates’ reported short position against Tesla stock, reports TOI. In interviews earlier in 2022, Gates revealed that he had placed a bet against Tesla.

According to Walter Isaacson’s 2023 biography of Musk, this position allegedly cost Gates a $1.5 billion loss.

Recently, an X user Teslaconomics posted an old tweet of the Tesla CEO where he said “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 big short position also drives the stock down for everyday investors.”

“To the best of my knowledge, Gates *still* has that massive bet against Tesla on the table. Someone should ask him if he does.

The lack of self-awareness and hypocrisy of Gates who had the nerve to ask me to donate to his mostly window-dressing environmental causes, while simultaneously aiming to make $500M from Tesla’s demise,” he added further.