E-12 WTF is Going on with Elon?
Welcome to Fintastic Females! I’m Kalyani, one of your finance expert hosts, and I’m here with Rupali to dive into the fascinating world of money and energetics. Today, we’re delving into the recent buzz surrounding Tesla, Elon Musk, and Twitter. We know these names are making headlines, but not everyone is familiar with the details. So, we’re here to break it down and shed some light on the situation. Let’s start by revisiting the basics and understanding who Elon Musk is as an individual. Born in Pretoria, South Africa, in 1971, Elon Musk has a remarkable entrepreneurial journey. He co-founded his first company, Zip2, with his brother, which was later acquired for an impressive $307 million. He then went on to co-found X.com, an online bank, which merged with Confinity to form PayPal. PayPal was subsequently acquired by eBay for $1.5 billion. Elon Musk’s ventures didn’t stop there. In 2002, he founded SpaceX, an aerospace manufacturer, and became an early investor in Tesla, an electric vehicle company. Although he is not the founder of Tesla, Elon Musk became its largest single shareholder, and his unique approach and vision have driven the company’s success. Now, let’s fast forward to Elon Musk’s latest endeavor involving Twitter. The idea of his interest in Twitter first came up in 2017, but it wasn’t until March 2022 that he acquired a 9.2% stake in the company, making him the largest shareholder. This news set off a chain of events, with Elon Musk initially accepting a seat on Twitter’s board, only to change his mind six days later. Speculation grew around a potential hostile takeover, as Elon Musk’s actions fueled rumors and discussions. Twitter implemented defensive measures, including a poison pill, to prevent the hostile takeover. However, Elon Musk persisted, and after offers from private equity funds fell through, the deal was eventually sealed. To fund the acquisition, Elon Musk sold $8.9 billion worth of Tesla stock, which generated significant attention and raised concerns about the future of both companies. Twitter faced revenue losses as advertisers grew cautious due to the uncertainty surrounding the company. Additionally, Elon Musk made headlines by suggesting a price increase for Twitter’s verified blue tick accounts and expressing his desire for a substantial portion of Twitter’s revenue to come from this source. The volatility in Tesla’s stock price can be attributed to the market sentiment influenced by all the uncertainties surrounding Elon Musk, Tesla, and Twitter. Investors are wary of such uncertainties and prefer stability and confidence in companies. As a result, Tesla’s stock price has been subject to fluctuations. The story of Elon Musk, Tesla, and Twitter is filled with twists and turns, creating a captivating narrative. However, this uncertainty and ongoing developments have impacted market sentiment and the perception of these companies. The future will reveal how these events shape the trajectory of these tech giants. Join us next time as we continue to explore fascinating stories and insights from the world of finance. This is Kalyani signing off, and remember, together we can uncover the path to financial empowerment.