In an unexpected turn of events, billionaire businessman Elon Musk borrowed an enormous $1 billion from his space exploration firm, SpaceX, right as he was buying the dominant social media platform, Twitter, now known as ‘X.’ The Wall Street Journal has reported that this financial decision has stirred interest and discussion among investors and business enthusiasts.
The sizeable loan, which was backed by a portion of Musk’s SpaceX shares, received approval from SpaceX’s board of directors in October of last year. Notably, he decided to withdraw the entire sum right as he took over Twitter, which raised questions about his financial decisions.
Elon Musk has been known for his penchant for leveraging his holdings in various companies, including Tesla, to fund his ambitious ventures. In this case, SpaceX served as his lender, showcasing the interconnectedness of Musk’s vast business empire.
With a sizeable 42% ownership and an astounding 79% of the voting power in SpaceX as of March, Musk is the company’s largest stakeholder. Although the Wall Street Journal reported that SpaceX had roughly $4.7 billion in cash and securities at the end of the previous year, the decision to use SpaceX’s resources has prompted concerns about the company’s liquidity.
Musk’s financial maneuvers didn’t stop with the Twitter acquisition. In 2022, he made headlines by selling a substantial portion of his Tesla shares, amassing a staggering $40 billion in sales. These actions drew criticism from Tesla investors and prompted the company to tighten its regulations around Musk’s use of his stake as collateral for loans.
Despite his involvement in Twitter and Tesla, Musk is also deeply entrenched in another pioneering venture: Neuralink, a brain-chip startup with ambitious goals for human-machine interfaces.
Moreover, in late 2022, Ross Gerber, a shareholder in both Twitter and Tesla, revealed that Musk’s team had approached him for additional investment in Twitter Inc. at the original acquisition price of $44 billion, indicating ongoing interest in the social media platform.
In a final financial twist, Musk conducted a second round of Tesla stock sales, netting over $3.5 billion. These transactions occurred shortly after the Twitter acquisition, showcasing Musk’s ability to navigate the complex financial web of his diverse business ventures.
Elon Musk’s latest financial maneuvers demonstrate his unparalleled ability to juggle multiple high-stakes investments while continually pushing the boundaries of innovation across various industries. His bold strategies continue to captivate the business world and will undoubtedly be closely monitored by investors and enthusiasts alike.