In the realm of billionaire rivalries, the proposed clash between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg emerges as a standout spectacle.
After years of simmering tensions, the two billionaires have tentatively agreed, as revealed through posts on their respective social media platforms, to engage in a duel, a remarkable development that gained momentum following Musk’s acquisition of Twitter late last year.
Seizing an opportunity to undermine rival Twitter, which has been plagued by controversies since its new ownership, Zuckerberg recently launched Meta Platforms’ own Instagram-based tweet-like feature, taking a swipe at Musk’s company.
While it remains uncertain whether Meta versus Twitter will rival the legendary brand battles of the past century—such as Ford versus Chevrolet or Coke versus Pepsi—it is undeniable that the competition between these tycoons is escalating, infusing renewed vigor into the fight for social media advertising revenue.
Behind closed doors, the two billionaires have harbored an ongoing feud, occasionally taking public jabs at each other over topics like artificial intelligence. Privately, they have expressed grievances about one another, as insiders have revealed. Musk, who struggled financially for years, brooded over Zuckerberg’s seemingly effortless accumulation of wealth through software, while he toiled away on electric cars and space rockets. On the other hand, Zuckerberg longed for the kind of innovative acclaim Musk effortlessly garnered, according to sources familiar with the matter.
This month, Meta executives unveiled Project 92, an upcoming Twitter competitor internally dubbed as such, to their employees. The Chief Product Officer, Chris Cox, subtly ridiculed Musk’s company by suggesting that the product was inspired by users seeking a “sanely run” social media platform.
Since assuming control of Twitter in late October, Musk has faced numerous challenges in reshaping the company according to his vision, including a decline in advertising spending by brands wary of the company’s instability. In response, Musk has implemented drastic cost-cutting measures, including workforce reductions, to avert financial ruin. Now, he asserts that the company is on track to achieve positive cash flow and has recruited a high-profile TV ad executive as CEO to enhance relations with advertisers.
Amidst reports of Zuckerberg’s plans to challenge Twitter, Musk has resorted to online insults aimed at his rival. This week, a Twitter user cautioned Musk about Zuckerberg’s recent martial arts pursuits. Musk responded late Tuesday with a tweet, saying, “I’m up for a cage match if he is lol.” The following day, Zuckerberg, who has been training in jujitsu, responded on Instagram with the words, “Send me location.”
Musk then tweeted, “If this is for real, I will do it,” later proposing a meeting for the match in Las Vegas. Throughout the evening, Musk continued to tweet about their potential showdown, including addressing concerns about Zuckerberg’s physical fitness. A resurfaced photograph from last year showing Musk out of shape and being hosed off shirtless gained traction on Twitter.
This proposed cage match recalls the early 1990s when Herb Kelleher, co-founder of Southwest Airlines, settled a business dispute by arm-wrestling a rival in front of an audience at a Dallas arena in an event dubbed “Malice in Dallas.” However, the results of that event were prearranged, according to Southwest’s historical account.
Signs of public animosity between these tech magnates emerged in 2016 when SpaceX, Musk’s rocket company, was contracted to launch a satellite for Facebook, aimed at providing internet access to large portions of sub-Saharan Africa. Unfortunately, an explosion during a routine test firing destroyed the rocket and satellite, derailing Zuckerberg’s ambitions.
Expressing his disappointment, Zuckerberg wrote, “I’m deeply disappointed to hear that SpaceX’s launch failure destroyed our satellite that would have provided connectivity to so many entrepreneurs and everyone else across the continent.”
A year later, the two clashed over artificial intelligence, a subject on which Musk has expressed concerns about its potential dangers to humanity. During a live video on Facebook from his backyard while smoking meat, Zuckerberg was asked about Musk’s stance. In response, Zuckerberg stated, “With AI, especially, I’m really optimistic. I think that people who are naysayers and try to drum up these doomsday scenarios… I just don’t understand it. It’s really negative, and in some ways, I actually think it’s pretty irresponsible.” Musk swiftly fired back with a tweet, asserting, “I’ve talked to Mark about this. His understanding of the subject is limited.”
In 2018, amidst Meta’s privacy controversies following the 2016 presidential election and the subsequent delete-Facebook movement, Musk joined the fray, deleting the Facebook pages of Tesla and SpaceX, where he serves as CEO.
Their discord extends beyond their personal rivalry, as both billionaires have engaged in heated exchanges with others in the past.
Musk has been involved in several public disputes, using his Twitter account to poke at fellow billionaires like Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, and Warren Buffett. However, he has never proposed physical combat with any of them, although he did suggest a confrontation with Russia’s Vladimir Putin during the Ukrainian conflict, challenging the president to “single combat.”
Meta CEO Zuckerberg notably engaged in a protracted private feud with Apple’s Tim Cook after the latter publicly criticized Facebook. The tension between the two tech giants has persisted due to Apple’s privacy setting changes, which hindered Facebook’s ability to monetize user data. In private, Zuckerberg rallied his team against Apple, urging them to “inflict pain.”
Musk also experienced conflicts with Apple, particularly over the App Store, which is crucial for Twitter’s success in reaching users. Soon after assuming control of Twitter, Musk initiated a clash with Apple over the fees charged for in-app purchases via the App Store. However, Cook seemingly mended fences by hosting Musk at Apple’s headquarters and taking him for a stroll around the company’s pond.
The idea of a potential fight between these social media billionaires has amused the online community. One Twitter user suggested that podcaster and UFC commentator Joe Rogan serve as the referee. Musk responded with a fire emoji.
Both billionaires have a history with Rogan. During a podcast appearance, Zuckerberg discussed the parallels between business and mixed martial arts, emphasizing the importance of recognizing when one needs to push through adversity.
Recently, Zuckerberg showcased his extreme physical fitness routine and participation in his first jujitsu tournament, while Musk has embraced a more sedentary lifestyle, attributing his weight loss to fasting and weight-loss drugs and expressing his fondness for doughnuts and Diet Coke. Musk infamously smoked marijuana during an appearance on Rogan’s podcast.
“I almost never work out, except for picking up my kids and throwing them in the air,” Musk tweeted on Wednesday.
Musk also has a history of physical altercations that went awry. Years ago, a sumo wrestling match left him with severe neck and back pain.
As the hype surrounding their potential clash intensifies, Musk’s mother, Maye, appealed for restraint.
“No joking,” she tweeted on Thursday. “Let the battle be fought with words only. From armchairs. Four feet apart. The wittiest individual shall emerge victorious.”