What Elon SaidAn archive of questions answered

Subjects / Markets

Markets

24 answers

Fact

Isn't your wealth just a big pile of cash?

“I have stock in SpaceX and Tesla, not some big pile of cash. As my companies do more and more useful things, their value increases proportionate to their projected usefulness. All shareholders benefit along the way, including most retirement programs.”

— Elon Musk, 5 September 2026 · Post on X ↗ · In the archive

Opinion

Why did you do DOGE and what did it achieve?

“The standard applied by DOGE was very simple and easy: Provide contact information for the recipients of aid, so that we can confirm it is not fraudulent. The reality is that money was being sent to corrupt politicians under the guise of aid! Liars and stock insider traders like Ro the Robber should be in prison!!”

— Elon Musk, 22 June 2026 · Post on X ↗ · In the archive

Opinion

What's your relationship with Trump / why support him?

“For one, I endorsed Trump and they know it all too well, so that statement from “Kamala Wins” is deliberately misleading. Second, very few corporate CEOs ever endorse a Presidential candidate, so any implication that the rest of the Fortune 100 supports Kamala is false. Overwhelmingly, the corporate CEOs tell me privately that they support Trump, not Kamala. From Wikipedia, which is very left-leaning, here is a partial list of those who have publicly endorsed Trump: Steve Schwarzman is a de facto top 5 CEO, given that he controls $1 trillion in assets.”

— Elon Musk, 18 September 2024 · Post on X ↗ · In the archive

Prediction

Why do you need the Tesla pay package / more voting control?

“I should note that the Tesla board is great. The reason for no new “compensation plan” is that we are still waiting for a decision in my Delaware compensation case. The trial for that was held in 2022, but a verdict has yet to be made. I put “compensation plan” in quotes, because, from my standpoint, this is primarily about ensuring the right amount of voting influence at Tesla. If I have 25%, it means I am influential, but can be overridden if twice as many shareholders vote against me vs for me. At 15% or lower, the for/against ratio to override me makes a takeover by dubious interests too easy. I would be fine with a dual class voting structure to achieve this, but am told it is impossible to achieve post-IPO in Delaware.”

— Elon Musk, 15 January 2024 · Post on X ↗ · In the archive

Opinion

Why do you need the Tesla pay package / more voting control?

“I am uncomfortable growing Tesla to be a leader in AI & robotics without having ~25% voting control. Enough to be influential, but not so much that I can’t be overturned. Unless that is the case, I would prefer to build products outside of Tesla. You don’t seem to understand that Tesla is not one startup, but a dozen. Simply look at the delta between what Tesla does and GM. As for stock ownership itself being enough motivation, Fidelity and other own similar stakes to me. Why don’t they show up for work?”

— Elon Musk, 15 January 2024 · Post on X ↗ · In the archive

Prediction

Will Starlink IPO and let retail investors in early?

“We will probably IPO Starlink, but only several years in the future when revenue growth is smooth & predictable. Public market does *not* like erratic cash flow haha. I’m a huge fan of small retail investors. Will make sure they get top priority. You can hold me to it.”

— Elon Musk, 28 September 2020 · Post on X ↗ · In the archive

Opinion

Is a journalist working with Tesla short-sellers?

“Sounds very sketchy if true. @lopezlinette, is it possible you’re serving as an inside trading source for one of Tesla’s biggest short-sellers? An ex-Tesla employee just went on record formally claiming you bribed him & he sent you valuable Tesla IP in exchange. Is this true?”

— Elon Musk, 5 July 2018 · Post on X ↗ · In the archive

Fact

What happened at Christmas 2008?

“I remember waking up the Sunday before Christmas in 2008, and thinking to myself, ‘Man, I never thought I was someone who could ever be capable of a nervous breakdown,’ but I felt, ‘This is the closest I’ve ever come.’… I couldn’t even hold the phone, I just blurted out, ‘I love you guys.’…”

— Elon Musk, March 2014 · Watch: 60 Minutes video (8:25) ↗ · In the archive