No one has won in this situation.
Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk are having an online argument. These very rich tech leaders have been disagreeing for some time. One, whose father owned a mine, has even suggested they have a real fight. This is because they seem to have too much money and not enough things to do. Even though nobody really supports either side in this argument, here’s what you should understand about the disagreement between Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk.
Why are Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg are Having a Disagreement
Musk and Zuckerberg are having a disagreement. Despite Musk’s success and money, he might feel a bit insecure and doesn’t like the competition that comes from the free market, which he usually supports. In June 2023, when Zuckerberg introduced Threads, Meta’s version of Twitter, Musk said on Twitter that he’s ready for a direct competition (cage match) with Zuckerberg. Zuckerberg responded on Instagram, saying “Tell me where” he should go.
Certainly, their disagreement went beyond just that one incident. In 2016, Zuckerberg was upset because a failed SpaceX rocket launch damaged a satellite belonging to Meta (formerly Facebook). Musk responded to this complaint two years later by admitting his mistake and saying that they provided Meta a free rocket launch to make up for it, and that there was some insurance involved.
Musk also openly commented that Zuckerberg didn’t fully grasp the dangers and ethics of artificial intelligence, even though Zuckerberg was worried about those issues. Musk also took a step that might disappoint the older generation who were still following him on Facebook – he removed the Facebook pages of all his companies.
When can we expect a clash between Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk?
As per Zuckerberg, it seems unlikely that the jiu jitsu match will happen anytime soon. He believes Musk is not genuinely committed, consistently delaying the event. Zuckerberg shared on the platform Threads, dated August 13, 2023, that Elon’s seriousness is questionable. Zuckerberg and Dana White have proposed a genuine charity competition, but Elon has neither confirmed a specific date nor committed. First, he mentioned needing surgery, and now he’s suggesting a practice round in Zuckerberg’s backyard. This situation has led Zuckerberg to believe that it’s time to move on from the idea.
He said, “If Elon decides to plan a real date and an official event and wants to talk about it seriously, he knows how to contact me. If not, I’ll stop waiting and do something else. I’ll concentrate on competing with those who are committed to the sport.”
Musk replied by calling Zuckerberg a “scaredy-cat” and said that the person who started Meta “can’t eat at Chick-fil-A because that would be like eating their own kind.”
Will Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk have a fight?
If I were to consult a Magic 8-Ball, the answer would be unclear at this moment. Elon Musk appears enthusiastic about playfully teasing Mark Zuckerberg on Twitter (or Mark X, if you will). Recently, Musk mentioned that he plans to visit Zuckerberg’s residence to engage in a humorous fight within Zuckerberg’s hypothetical octagon. Additionally, Musk posted a screenshot of what seems to be a conversation between them, where Zuckerberg suggests that Musk should train before their friendly face-off.
Musk replied that he would be willing to face off against Zuckerberg in his own designated arena on Monday, August 14, 2023. He humorously mentioned that he hadn’t been training extensively, except for a short sparring session with Lex Fridman earlier. Musk acknowledged the significant difference in their physical build and playfully suggested that unless Zuckerberg possessed exceptional martial arts skills like Bruce Lee, the odds of him winning were quite slim.
Shortly after 1 p.m. ET on August 14th, Musk sent another message to Zuckerberg on Twitter. He said, “Knock, knock… I’m ready for the challenge. Please respond and open the door.”
Afterwards, he responded to his own comment, stating, “I thought you might be interested in having some tea, so I brought the tea bags.” Nevertheless, no actual tea has been accidentally poured. Perhaps someone with greater enthusiasm can clarify the usage of this figure of speech to him.
Sure, here are the basic details about Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg:
Elon Musk:
- Elon Musk is a smart person who has created and leads several big companies.
- He was born in South Africa in 1971.
- He’s known for starting companies like Tesla (which makes electric cars) and SpaceX (which launches rockets).
- Musk is also involved in projects related to solar energy and connecting brains with computers.
- He’s one of the richest people in the world because of his successful businesses.
Mark Zuckerberg:
- Mark Zuckerberg is a smart guy who co-founded a popular social media website.
- He was born in New York in 1984.
- He’s known for creating Facebook, a website where people can connect and share things online.
- Zuckerberg’s company has grown a lot and also owns Instagram and WhatsApp.
- He’s one of the youngest billionaires and has donated money for various causes.
Elon and Mark want to have a fight in a place like ancient Rome. Musk says their foundations are figuring out the details.
“I talked to the leaders of Italy, and they agreed to a big place,” Musk said on Twitter. He mentioned it might happen at the Roman Colosseum and would respect Italy’s history. Musk wants the money to help veterans and kids in hospitals. But an Italian official said there’s been no official agreement and if they want to use the Colosseum, it can’t be for a violent fight.”
By 2 p.m. ET on August 14, 2023, Musk is prepared to battle Zuckerberg in Zuckerberg’s own octagon at his home in Palo Alto, California.
Who will Musk fight? People who study false information and many ex-workers from Twitter in a courtroom. And perhaps, at some point, Mark Zuckerberg. Maybe.