Elon Musk Accuses Jeffrey Epstein of Pushing Bill Gates to Short Tesla: A Deeper Look
Elon Musk has ignited a firestorm with a stunning claim: the late Jeffrey Epstein allegedly orchestrated a campaign to short Tesla stock, persuading Bill Gates to bet against the electric vehicle titan back when its market cap was a mere $40 billion. This accusation, amplified on social media platform X, comes alongside the release of millions of Epstein-related documents by the US Department of Justice, painting a murky picture of influence, rivalries, and high-stakes financial plays in the tech world.
- Core Allegation: Musk claims Epstein influenced Gates to short 1% of Tesla at a $40 billion market cap.
- DOJ Revelations: Documents show Musk-Epstein communications from 2012-2013, challenging Musk’s prior stance on minimal contact.
- Financial Sting: Musk suggests Gates’ short position may have cost him up to $10 billion as Tesla’s stock skyrocketed.
Musk vs. Gates: The Short-Selling Bombshell
Musk, never one to mince words, took to X to lay out his grievance with a signature blend of accusation and mockery. He alleges that after cutting ties with Epstein around 2014—a move backed by SpaceX servers rejecting Epstein’s emails—the disgraced financier retaliated by pushing a short-selling campaign against Tesla. Short selling, for the uninitiated, is a bet that a stock’s price will fall: an investor borrows shares, sells them, and hopes to buy them back cheaper to profit from the difference. It’s a high-risk strategy, especially against a company like Tesla, whose stock has been a rollercoaster fueled by innovation, hype, and a fiercely loyal investor base.
According to Musk, Epstein convinced Gates to short 1% of Tesla when the company’s valuation was around $40 billion, a claim detailed in a recent report on Elon Musk’s allegations about Epstein and Gates. With Tesla’s shares recently closing at $417.44, reflecting a 17.3% rise over the past year and a jaw-dropping 100.4% surge over three years, that bet—if still open—could have cost Gates a staggering $10 billion. Musk didn’t miss the chance to rub salt in the wound, posting on X with a smirk:
“After I ghosted him, Epstein went on a massive campaign to short Tesla and got Gates to short 1% of Tesla stock when the market cap was $40B. As far as I know, Gates still has the short open. Someone should ask him how that’s working out
