Grilling Musk: use CEO's tweets, thin skin against him, trial experts say
FinanceJan 18, 2023
The Facts
A lawyer representing Tesla investors claimed on Wednesday that company CEO Elon Musk lied when he tweeted that funding had been secured to take Tesla Inc. private in 2018.
Lawyers claim that investors lost billions after the Twitter claim drove up the company's share price. According to the investors' representatives, as Musk tweeted, "regular people" watched their money evaporate.
The Spin
Narrative A
While Musk may have built a cult-following, his tweets, public comments, and thin skin have done considerable damage and he should be held to account for the irresponsible use of his public influence. The prosecution must establish control and ensure that the jury is not won over by Musk's charisma.
Narrative B
There is a real concern about potential bias within the court's jury in this case, as San Fransisco has been flooded with negative media stories and accounts from politicians about the billionaire. Much like the trial of Elizabeth Holmes, Musk will unjustly start his defense on the back foot.
Nerd narrative
There is a 40% chance that Musk will be the richest person in the world on December 31st, 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
