2023-09-11 09:47:54
Bill Gates and Elon Musk
Dubai – Al Arabiya.net
Published on: September 11, 2023: 11:55 AM GST Last updated: September 11, 2023: 01:47 PM GST
The relationship between Elon Musk and Bill Gates was characterized by tension during the recent period, as it included many public statements and criticisms between the two richest men in the world.
But what are the roots of this tense relationship and what are its causes?
The roots of this tension go back to 2022 when the two men who hold the title of the world’s richest people entered into a confrontation over the sale of shares of the electric car company Tesla.
Musk then publicly mocked Gates on Twitter for selling Tesla shares while claiming to support action on climate change.
In a biography of Musk scheduled to be released this week, journalist Walter Isaacson wrote that in September of that year, Gates spoke to Musk and said he wanted to come see him and talk regarding philanthropy and climate at a meeting, according to the British newspaper “Daily Mail.”
“So mean”
The meeting was held at Musk’s factory in Austin, Texas, where the SpaceX owner confronted Gates regarding the decision to sell Tesla shares short, and Gates apologized for this step, which cost him $1.5 billion. But Musk was still upset and became “very mean” to the Microsoft leader.
Gates, in turn, told Isaacson: “But he’s very mean to a lot of people, so you can’t take it too personally.”
The real disagreement between the two was over charity, which Musk said was “nonsense” and that only 20 cents of every dollar donated would have an actual impact.
While Gates tried to show him some of the projects on which he spent $100 million and which had a significant impact.
Bill Gates and Elon Musk, including Tesla and Tesla Semi cars
Mutual criticism
In parallel, Gates also criticized Musk’s belief that solar energy can solve the problem of climate change and that batteries can power semi-trucks. He also spoke sarcastically regarding Musk’s attempt to colonize Mars.
The relationship between the two men witnessed many tense situations in which the two men exchanged harsh criticism, as Gates criticized the CEO of Tesla following the company announced that it had acquired a stake worth $1.5 billion in Bitcoin.
Gates also previously made comments regarding the futility of electric trucks like the Tesla Semi, to which Musk responded in an interview on a television program.
Elon Musk
Other scandals
The book, which will be published on Tuesday, accused the CEO of Tesla, X and SpaceX of cutting off Ukraine’s access to Starlink over the Crimean coast to prevent an attack on the Russian naval fleet.
The book also revealed another topic regarding Musk, especially during the fraught days following his acquisition of Twitter, describing him as having an “obsessive sense of urgency” that frightened his employees during the launch of “Twitter Spaces.”
The writer, who also published biographies of Steve Jobs and Leonardo da Vinci, said that Musk was often angry with employees during his first days at Twitter when he fired more than half of the workforce.
It is noteworthy that the relationship between Musk and Gates has been characterized by extreme tension for a long time. After the outbreak of the Corona epidemic in 2020, Gates then demanded that Musk reduce his comments on the epidemic, while Musk responded to that, describing Gates as having an empty head.
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