Share

Tesla's Musk says Tweet that cost him $20m was `worth it'

Tesla Inc.’s Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk said he was signing off Twitter for a few days, shortly after tweeting that the $20m penalty he was given for announcing on Twitter that he had funding to take the electric vehicle maker private was “worth it.”

His sign-off culminated a series of tweets that included an announcement about the release of autopilot drive on navigation. Elon Musk @elonmusk Replying to Quinn Nelson@SnazzyQ Fred Lambert@FredericLambert

Earlier this month, a U.S. judge approved Tesla and Musk’s $40 million settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission over a probe of Musk’s August tweet citing funding being secured to take the company private. Musk would pay a penalty of $20 million as part of the deal.

The SEC settlement required that Tesla implement mandatory procedures and controls to oversee all of Elon Musk’s communications regarding the company in any format, including Twitter. It said any such written communications that contain information material to the company or its shareholders would need to be pre-approved.

Musk took to the social media service Friday, saying “on Twitter, likes are rare & criticism is brutal. So hardcore. It’s great.”

A Twitter user wrote to him asking: “How about the one that cost you 20M, how was the ‘like’ ratio on that one?”. Musk responded to the tweet with “worth it.”


* Sign up to Fin24's top news in your inbox: SUBSCRIBE TO FIN24 NEWSLETTER

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Rand - Dollar
19.29
-0.7%
Rand - Pound
23.87
-1.1%
Rand - Euro
20.58
-1.2%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.38
-1.1%
Rand - Yen
0.12
-1.2%
Platinum
943.50
+0.0%
Palladium
1,034.50
-0.1%
Gold
2,391.84
+0.0%
Silver
28.68
+0.0%
Brent-ruolie
87.29
+0.2%
Top 40
67,314
+0.2%
All Share
73,364
+0.1%
Resource 10
63,285
-0.0%
Industrial 25
98,701
+0.3%
Financial 15
15,499
+0.1%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Company Snapshot
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE
Government tenders

Find public sector tender opportunities in South Africa here.

Government tenders
This portal provides access to information on all tenders made by all public sector organisations in all spheres of government.
Browse tenders