Billionaires may share a tax bracket, but that doesn't mean they get along. Just ask Bill Gates and Elon Musk, whose relationship has been a mix of admiration, competition, and, at times, outright hostility.
In an interview with The Independent earlier this month, Gates opened up about their dynamic, acknowledging Musk's accomplishments while admitting their personal interactions haven't always been the smoothest.
"He's been nice to me at times, and mean to me at times," Gates said. "I will try and work with him because he's brilliant, he's rich, he's influential."
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That's a diplomatic way of putting it—especially considering their history of public clashes, business rivalries, and, yes, a Twitter meme Musk posted mocking Gates's appearance.
A Feud Built on Tesla, Philanthropy, and a Billion-Dollar Bet
Their tensions date back years, but one of their most publicized clashes happened in 2022, when Gates flew to Tesla's (NASDAQ:TSLA) Gigafactory in Texas to discuss philanthropy with Musk. Gates, a longtime advocate for climate initiatives, had hoped to convince Musk to direct more of his wealth toward charitable giving.
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That argument might have carried more weight if Musk hadn't already discovered that Gates had placed a $1.5 billion short position on Tesla stock—essentially betting against the company's success.
"Sorry… I cannot take your philanthropy on climate seriously," Musk reportedly told Gates, refusing to engage further.
Then came the infamous tweet. Musk posted a meme mocking Gates's appearance, comparing him to a pregnant man emoji. It was a public jab that made headlines and cemented the feud.
From Sparring to Some Respect
Despite the drama, Gates has repeatedly acknowledged Musk's contributions to technology and innovation. In his recent interview with The Independent, he admitted that Musk has had a major impact on the auto industry.
"I'm in awe of the great work he did at SpaceX and Tesla," Gates said. "The fact that Tesla kind of forced the car industry to do great EVs is a gigantic contribution."
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But while Gates respects Musk's achievements, he's more puzzled by the political shift in Silicon Valley, particularly the growing support for Donald Trump.
"I'm a little surprised at the variety of political views coming out of Silicon Valley," he said, adding that just a few years ago, most tech leaders leaned left. Now, many have financially backed Trump, which he finds unexpected.
Gates even joked that he half-expected to run into Musk when he met with Trump last month at Mar-a-Lago before the former president assumed office again.
"When I went down to see Trump, I wondered if Elon would be there, but it ended up being a meeting with just Trump and I and our two staff people."
Two Billionaires, Two Different Playbooks
At the core of their tension is a fundamental difference in how they approach money, influence, and legacy.
- Gates believes in structured philanthropy, using his foundation to tackle global health, poverty, and climate change.
- Musk sees philanthropy as inefficient, preferring to invest in technological advancements like Tesla, SpaceX, and AI.
Despite their differences, Gates hasn't ruled out collaborating with Musk in the future. Whether Musk will put their past behind him—or resist the urge to take another shot at Gates online—remains to be seen.
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