Scott Olson / Getty Images
Elon Musk can't seem to keep out of the spotlight.
In the past few months, Musk (the CEO of Tesla, The Boring Company, and SpaceX) has repeatedly inserted himself into the news cycle — usually through tweeting.
At a time when criticisms of Musk's electric car company Tesla have ramped up, the 47-year-old tech magnate has publicly sparred with people on numerous fronts — a remarkable form of conduct for a chief executive, even one as outspoken as Musk.
The latest saga involved Musk's efforts to help extract the Thai soccer team trapped in a flooded cave, and his resulting feud with a British diver involved in the rescue whom Musk denigrated as a "pedo guy."
Here's a list of all the controversies Musk has found himself in during the past few months:
Musk said he would start a website to "track the credibility score of each journalist, editor & publication."Wikipedia CommonsMusk suggested the website could be called "Pravda," a nod to the former USSR state-controlled newspaper, and would rank journalists on their credibility through a voting system. Musks' announcement came after Tesla popped up in headlines concerning company spending and factory safety.
Tweet Embed://twitter.com/mims/statuses/999357298861486080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Thought you’d say that. Anytime anyone criticizes the media, the media shrieks “You’re just like Trump!” Why do you think he got elected in the first place? Because no ones believes you any more. You lost your credibility a long time ago.
He called an analyst's question "boneheaded" during an earnings call.Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press
Musk, who grew increasingly frustrated during an earnings call in May, began to lash out at some of the people present in the call.
After a question about expenditures, Musk interrupted a conversation between an analyst and Deepak Ahuja, Tesla’s chief financial officer, saying the question was "boneheaded," and moved on to other questions.
He then doubled down on Twitter:
Tweet Embed://twitter.com/mims/statuses/992372195304198144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The reason the Bernstein question about CapEx was boneheaded was that it had already been answered in the headline of the Q1 newsletter he received beforehand, along with details in the body of the letter
It was revealed that he donated to a political action committee dedicated to keeping Republicans in charge of the House of Representatives.Evan Vucci / AP
Although he has also donated to Democratic groups, Musk's $38,900 contribution to a group called "Protect the House" (in addition to donations of $138,900 to other Republican causes over the last year), seemed to contradict his professed desire to fight climate change. Given the Republican party's historical hostility towards legislation to slow climate change, as well as other recent GOP policies, Musk was criticized for supporting a party that doesn't seem to align with his personal beliefs. Musk defended his actions on Twitter.
Tweet Embed://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1018268378962640896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
So that they are willing to listen when I call to object about issues that negatively affect humanityTweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1018265614295523328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Thanks Jack. To be clear, I am not a conservative. Am registered independent & politically moderate. Doesn’t mean I’m moderate about all issues. Humanitarian issues are extremely important to me & I don’t understand why they are not important to everyone.Tweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1018290544986845184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
That said, I do not actually see the checks (changed that policy today). A nominal annual amount goes out automatically to both parties to maintain dialogue. I have given vastly more to humanitarian causes.
Notably, the Sierra Club came out and defended Musk's commitment to the environmental cause.
Tweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1018321524728610817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Thank you for fighting climate change. This affects every living creature on Earth. https://t.co/mm0cpaQLsn
He insinuated that a reporter was complicit in insider trading and might be providing non-public information on Tesla.Bill Pugliano / Stringer / Getty Images
Musk took to Twitter to voice his displeasure with Business Insider reporter Linette Lopez’s coverage of Tesla. Using her Twitter handle, he directly asked her if she provided compensation to a source in exchange for information and whether she was complicit in insider trading and provided non-public information to short sellers. (Business Insider has said it stands by Lopez's story and that it does not compensate sources).
Tweet Embed://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1014957159048732672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
.@businessinsider does not compensate its sources. It did not do so here and we stand by @lopezlinette’s reporting on Tesla. Our invitation for Elon Musk or anyone from his team to further discuss what has been reported and the state of Tesla stands. https://t.co/SFLKikNhYQ
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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