In the world of industry titans, a precarious peace often reigns. This was the case between Elon Musk, the billionaire tech mogul, and George Soros, the legendary investor1. Soros Fund Management (SFM), Soros’ hedge fund, had become one of the shareholders of Tesla, the crown jewel in Musk’s empire, which also includes industry-disrupting ventures like SpaceX, Twitter, Neuralink, and The Boring Company Co.
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Soros Divests from Tesla, Musk Retaliates
Soros’ hedge fund disclosed in May that it had liquidated all of its Tesla shares1. A few days after this revelation, Musk launched a series of incendiary tweets against George Soros. Some of these tweets were deemed to be fueling conspiracy theories among Musk’s followers.
Musk likened Soros to Magneto, a Jewish supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe, claiming Soros “hates humanity” and “wants to erode the very fabric of civilization”1. Soros, like the fictional Magneto, is Jewish and a survivor of the Holocaust. This comparison drew criticism from groups like the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the American Jewish Committee, who found Musk’s posts distressing and dangerous, hinting at historical stereotypes against Jews1.
Musk Accuses Soros of Buying Influence
In a continuation of his tirade, Musk accused Soros of buying influence in the American justice system. He asserted that Soros was funding the election campaigns of district attorneys to turn them into his “pets” who would obey his orders. “Soros astutely identified a massive arbitrage opportunity in district attorney elections, where a relatively small amount of money has outsized influence,” Musk wrote1.
Conclusion: An Unfolding Drama
Musk’s comments about Soros were seen as deeply problematic, potentially stoking antisemitic attacks1. The back-and-forth between these two billionaires represents another chapter in the ongoing saga of Musk’s controversial social media presence. It remains to be seen how this drama will unfold and what consequences it might have for both parties involved.
