Elon Musk, the South African entrepreneur, sparks strong opinions. Some hail him as a self-made billionaire challenging norms and transforming the world through technology. Others view him as an attention-seeking egomaniac.
Regardless of your stance, Musk’s eccentric behavior is undeniable. As CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, he’s known for some odd stunts, and his social media presence is equally peculiar. Here are ten of his most absurd moments to date, showcasing the unique character of Elon Musk.
That Time He Got Into An Argument About Stealing A Farting Unicorn
In 2018, Lisa Prank accused Musk of using her father’s artwork, a unicorn design from Colorado potter Tom Edwards, without permission. Edwards’ mug featured a cartoon unicorn powering an electric car with its farts.
Musk tweeted about the mug in 2017 and later used a similar image for Tesla’s sketch pad software and a Christmas card, without compensating Edwards.
Prank confronted Musk on Twitter, who initially offered to change it but deemed suing “kinda lame.” They settled a month later, with Edwards stating everyone felt good about the agreement.
That Time He Produced A Motivational Dance Song
In January 2020, Musk debuted as an electronic music producer with “Don’t Doubt Ur Vibe” on SoundCloud. The song combines European trance music with motivational mantras, repeating, “Don’t doubt your vibe because it’s true. Don’t doubt your vibe because it’s you.”
Adding to the oddity, the algorithm linked Musk’s track to a rap song about erectile dysfunction. In 2019, he also released a trap song about the shooting of Harambe the gorilla.
That Time He Started A Fight Over Tequila
In 2018, Musk declared war on tequila, tweeting, “We will fight Big Tequila!” after attempting to trademark his own brand, Teslaquila, which began as an April Fool’s joke.
The Tequila Regulatory Council intervened, citing the strict definition of tequila, limiting the name to drinks made with blue agave in specific Mexican regions.
Musk renamed it Tesla Tequila, selling the drink in a lightning bolt-shaped bottle for $250.
That Time His Tweets Inspired Coronavirus Conspiracy Theories
Musk’s social media posts fueled coronavirus conspiracy theories. In November 2020, he tweeted about inconsistent antigen test results, claiming “something extremely bogus is going on,” and comparing COVID-19 to the flu.
Skeptics praised Musk for challenging lockdowns, which he had previously called “fascist,” ordering Tesla staff to work during the pandemic’s peak. He incorrectly predicted the virus would end by April 2020.
That Time He Accused A Diver Of Being A Paedophile
After British diver Vernon Unsworth helped rescue a soccer team from a flooded cave in Thailand, Musk called him a pedophile.
Musk offered a submarine for the rescue, but Unsworth dismissed it as a publicity stunt. In response, Musk branded Unsworth “pedo guy” on Twitter, without evidence.
Unsworth sued Musk for $190 million, but the jury found Musk not guilty of defamation in December 2019.
That Time He Claimed A Monkey Could Play Video Games With Its Mind
Musk claimed Neuralink implanted a chip into a monkey’s skull, enabling it to play video games with its mind. He envisioned primates playing Pong together using their minds.
Neuralink aims to create a computer chip for the human brain, merging people with artificial intelligence, potentially enabling telepathy or consciousness survival after death.
That Time He Gave His Baby A Ridiculous Name
Musk and Grimes named their child X Æ A-Xii, merging their interests in mystery, AI, and CIA aircraft.
Grimes explained that ‘X’ represents the unknown variable, ‘Æ’ is the elven spelling for love and AI, and ‘A-Xii’ refers to the Lockheed A-12 OXCART, a reconnaissance vehicle. The ‘A’ is also linked to Archangel, a Burial track.
That Time He Claimed To Have Created A Bionic Pig
In August 2020, Musk introduced Gertrude, a pig with a working computer chip in its brain. Gertrude’s brain activity lit up as she prodded straw, with Musk claiming the Neuralink chip relayed her brain impulses to a computer.
He described it as a “Fitbit in your skull with tiny wires.” Critics labeled it neuroscience theater and a publicity stunt.
That Time He Got Into A Surreal Rivalry With Azealia Banks
In 2018, Azealia Banks stayed at Musk’s house to collaborate with Grimes, but Grimes never showed up. Banks posted odd messages, accusing Musk of inviting her for a threesome, tweeting while on acid, and calling him a “humanoid mutant caveman.”
Musk denied meeting her. Their rivalry subsided, but Banks later went viral for digging up and cooking her dead cat.
That Time He Possibly Committed Security Fraud For A Laugh
In August 2018, Musk tweeted about taking Tesla private at $420 per share, a joke referencing marijuana culture. The SEC sued him for fraud.
Musk admitted he rounded the price to impress his partner, calling it “not a great reason to pick a price.”
