Tesla CEO Elon Musk issued a final warning to Bill Gates on November 16, 2025, urging him to exit his long-held short position on Tesla stock. Musk described the bet against the company as 'crazy' and ongoing for about eight years. Gates had previously confirmed the $500 million short to Musk during discussions on philanthropic opportunities.
Elon Musk's public admonition came via a post on X, where he stated: "If Gates hasn’t fully closed out the crazy short position he has held against Tesla for ~8 years, he had better do so soon." This marks a escalation in their rivalry, rooted in Gates' skepticism toward Tesla. Several years ago, Gates admitted to Musk that he held a $500 million short position, betting on a decline in Tesla's shares to profit. Despite attempts to collaborate on philanthropy, Musk reportedly responded harshly, described as being "super mean" in Walter Isaacson’s biography of the Tesla CEO.
Tesla's stock performance has contradicted Gates' bet, rising over six percent this year and nearly 150 percent over the past five years. At Tesla's recent Annual Shareholder Meeting, Musk highlighted future projects aimed at disrupting industries. Shareholders showed strong support, approving a $1 trillion compensation package for Musk with 76.6 percent of votes, to be awarded in twelve tranches tied to company valuation and product goals. This follows a previous package that was voided by a Delaware Chancery Court ruling.
The warning follows news that the Gates Foundation sold 65 percent of its Microsoft position for nearly $9 billion. Musk's message suggests concern for Gates amid Tesla's upward trajectory, though their tension stems primarily from the short position. By issuing the alert publicly, Musk appears to offer a heads-up rather than immediate confrontation.