I Ghosted Him": Musk Claims Epstein Shorted Tesla and Convinced Bill Gates to Bet Millions in Revenge

For years, the tech world has watched the public spats between Elon Musk and Bill Gates, primarily revolving around electric trucks and space travel. But in a stunning new revelation, the Tesla CEO has linked their financial rivalry to one of the most notorious figures in recent history: Jeffrey Epstein.

Musk is now claiming that his refusal to engage with the disgraced financier—effectively "ghosting" him—triggered a massive financial retaliation campaign that eventually roped in the Microsoft co-founder.

The "Ghosting" Incident

According to Musk, his interactions with Epstein were brief and unsettling. In recent posts on X (formerly Twitter), Musk stated that he met Epstein a handful of times in the early 2010s but found him to be "creepy" and a "crook."

• The Snub: Musk claims he cut off all contact, refusing to visit Epstein’s private island or attend his gatherings.
• The Reaction: "I ghosted him," Musk wrote. "And he took it personally."

The Revenge Short

Musk alleges that this rejection didn't just bruise Epstein's ego—it hurt his wallet. The Tesla CEO claims that Epstein, leveraging his deep connections on Wall Street, launched a "massive short campaign" against Tesla.

At the time (circa 2018), Tesla was undeniably struggling with production hell and financial instability. Musk suggests that Epstein smelled blood and actively worked to drive the stock price down, potentially to bankrupt the company as payback for the snub.

The Bill Gates Connection

The most explosive part of the claim involves Bill Gates. It is public knowledge that Gates held a massive short position against Tesla—estimated to be around $500 million to $2 billion (roughly 1% of the company at the time).

Musk’s new theory connects the dots: he alleges that it was Epstein who convinced Gates to make that bet. * The Influence: Musk suggests Epstein whispered in Gates’ ear, framing Tesla as a failing venture and a smart short.

• The Cost: If true, this advice was catastrophic. As Tesla’s stock soared 10x in the following years, Gates’ short position would have lost him billions—a point Musk frequently mocks online.

Why It Matters

These allegations reframe the Musk-Gates rivalry from a mere clash of egos to a proxy war involving a convicted sex offender. While Gates has previously stated his short position was purely a financial decision based on market fundamentals, Musk’s narrative paints it as the result of a "vengeful whisper campaign" orchestrated by Epstein.