Bill Gates Calls Elon Musk ‘Super Mean’ in New Biography
In a recent biography written by Walter Isaacson, Microsoft founder Bill Gates described Elon Musk as “super mean.” This remark sheds light on the ongoing tension between two of the most well-known billionaires. Their clash began when Gates publicly expressed his doubts about Tesla by taking a short position against its stock, causing friction with Musk.
Gates revealed that he had not yet closed his short position on Tesla, which clearly upset Musk. In a private exchange that later became public, Musk confronted Gates, asking if he still held a $500 million short position against Tesla. Gates acknowledged it, saying he wanted to discuss potential philanthropic opportunities. However, Musk dismissed his offer, stating he couldn’t take Gates seriously on climate change while he was betting against the very company that is making strides to combat it.
Things escalated when Musk shared a meme poking fun at Gates. This shift from a financial dispute to personal insults marked a significant turning point in their feud.
In a separate incident, Musk warned that Gates could find himself in financial trouble if Tesla continues to rise in value. Musk’s comments reignited discussions about Gates’ ongoing short position against Tesla, highlighting the stakes involved.
For those unfamiliar, a short position in the stock market is when an investor borrows shares they don’t own, sells them, and then hopes to buy them back at a lower price to make a profit from the drop in value. This strategy can be risky and is often contentious, especially when it involves high-profile companies like Tesla.
