Musk Exposes ‘Pure Hypocrisy’ Of ‘Categorically Insane’ Bill Gates
From his ties to convicted sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein to his massive acquisition of U.S. farmland, critics of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates have plenty of reasons to find fault with the tech mogul.
But for another billionaire, there is a more personal reason for such animus.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently targeted Gates on X, the social media platform Musk acquired last year when it was called Twitter. He began by denouncing Gates’ decision to short-sell Tesla stocks during a downturn in the electric vehicle company, essentially betting on its bankruptcy.
“Such a big short position also drives the stock down for everyday investors,” Musk explained.
He went on to assert that Gates likely still “has that massive bet against Tesla on the table” while still attempting to solicit money from the company’s chief executive. Text messages between the two billionaires bolster that assessment — including when Musk asked Gates if he had removed his short position on Tesla stock.
“Sorry to say I haven’t closed it yet,” Gates wrote, adding: “I would like to discuss philanthropy possibilities.”
“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 $500 [million] from Tesla’s demise, boggles the mind,” Musk added.
In a recent Musk biography, Gates is quoted complaining that the Tesla CEO was “super mean” to him after learning about the short sale. He went on to defend his decision based on the prediction that the supply of electric vehicles would soon eclipse demand.
Musk’s most recent derisive statements about Gates on X have touched on a number of issues aside from shorting Tesla stocks, including an indirect but unmistakable reference to reports about Gates’ visits to Epstein’s private island.
Musk also landed more than a few blows of his own in the book, telling biographer Walter Isaacson that it was “pure hypocrisy” for someone who claims to be “passionate about fighting climate change” to bet big on the “failure of a sustainable energy car company.”
He went on to describe Gates as “categorically insane” and “an a—hole to the core,” claiming that he actually hoped they would get along when they first met.
