Tesla Inc. TSLA CEO Elon Musk quipped on X that Microsoft Corp. MSFT co-founder Bill Gates could face bankruptcy if Tesla becomes “the world’s most valuable company by far,” escalating their long-running dispute over Gates’ short position in the electric vehicle maker.
What Happened: The statement comes as Tesla’s market capitalization stands at $1.251 trillion, still significantly behind Apple Inc. AAPL at $3.729 trillion. To achieve the top position, Tesla would need to grow by nearly 200%.
The conflict between the two billionaires 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.
When…
