Elon Musk and Bill Gates, two of the wealthiest people in the world, got into a heated argument last year, which some have called a "d**k-measuring contest."
Musk publicly criticized Gates for shorting Tesla shares while promoting climate change action, which started the spat.
Musk and Gates Engage in Heated Feud Over Tesla and Climate Change
The specifics of their altercation and the underlying problems have been revealed in a new biography by Walter Isaacson that will be published soon.
During a meeting at Musk's facility in Austin, Texas, in September of last year, Gates approached Musk to talk about philanthropy and climate change, as per Daily Mail. However, What started as a discussion on these global challenges swiftly devolved into a disagreement about their divergent opinions on Tesla and sustainability.
In the past, Gates had shorted Tesla stock, ultimately losing him an incredible $1.5 billion. In their encounter, Gates expressed regret for the action, but Musk was unfazed and, in Isaacson's words, turned super mean toward the Microsoft co-founder.
Musk's first response to Gates' request for a meeting was typical of his straightforward style. He instructed Gates to call him directly rather than speak with his secretary, scheduling the March 9, 2022 appointment. The tour Musk gave the computer tycoon of his Austin facility made him very happy, but their disagreements were significant.
Gates' shorting of Tesla shares was one of the main issues. Musk, a fervent supporter of clean energy and electric vehicles, thought it was absurd that someone who professed to be in favor of combating climate change would wager against the success of a clean energy automaker.
Isaacson called Gates' explanation of his choice as a way to make money alien to Musk. Also at odds with Gates' opinions were Musk's convictions about the potential of solar power and electric truck batteries.
Musk was pressed on the viability of these technologies by Gates, who is renowned for his data-driven philosophy. He referred to Musk's plans to colonize Mars as "bizarre thinking."
Their differences extended to philanthropy, where Musk expressed doubt and called it "bulls**t." In his opinion, only a tiny part of the money given to charitable causes would have a significant influence.
Billions and Bitcoin: Musk and Gates Spar Over Philanthropy and Cryptocurrency
On the other hand, Gates gave examples of initiatives in which he had committed $100 million and seen tremendous positive results.
This argument didn't stay at their meeting; it spread to social media. In a tweet, Musk made fun of Gates' appearance, while Gates expressed his concerns about Bitcoin by criticizing Musk's involvement in it.
Their disagreements extended to the viability of electric vehicles, with Musk remaining steadfast in his support for the Tesla Semi project while Gates expressed skepticism. Per Times of India, the planned book by Isaacson offers insightful perspectives on Musk's character and decision-making.
There are allegations that during the Russian invasion, Musk blocked Starlink's internet connection across the Crimean shore to stop an assault on the Russian naval fleet, according to Business Insider. Musk made it clear that he did not give the shutdown the go-ahead, but he did decline Kyiv's request to turn it on to avoid participating in a possible act of war.
The book by Isaacson also emphasizes Musk's ferocious work ethic and urgency, which occasionally resulted in conflicts with his staff, notably in his early years at Twitter.
Musk and Gates are two of the wealthiest people in the world, and their public arguments have highlighted the differences in their worldviews, philanthropic methods, and future goals. Even though both have significantly impacted technology and society, their opposing viewpoints continue to spark discussion.
