Billionaire investor and entrepreneur Mark Cuban has revealed a contentious text message exchange with Elon Musk, claiming the Tesla CEO sent him an expletive-laden message after Cuban criticized the electric vehicle company. The revelation, shared by social media user KIEL, highlights the ongoing, often fiery, public and private disagreements between the two prominent figures. Cuban also stated that Musk has called him "racist" and a "poop emoji" multiple times.
The exchange reportedly began with a lighthearted congratulatory text from Cuban to Musk regarding the birth of another child, to which Musk replied, "Mars needs kids." However, the tone shifted dramatically after Cuban made a comment about Tesla. "I had his number and I texted him congrats on your 97th kid and he text me back ‘Mars needs kids.’ then I said something about a Tesla and he just sends me a text saying fuck you,” Cuban recounted, according to the tweet.
This alleged private interaction underscores a long-standing public rivalry marked by frequent clashes over technology, business, and political views. Cuban has often challenged Musk on various platforms, including X (formerly Twitter), regarding topics such as artificial intelligence, free speech on social media, and Musk's political endorsements. Their disagreements have spanned from Musk's vision for humanoid robots, which Cuban has publicly called "wrong," to Musk's call for more positive content on X, met with Cuban's retort, "You first."
The Dallas Mavericks owner further stated that Musk's personal attacks, including being called "racist" and a "poop emoji," only serve to fuel his willingness to engage further. "He’s called me racist, he’s called me poop emoji multiple times... that just gives me license to f*uck with him even more,” the tweet quoted Cuban. While Cuban has expressed respect for Musk's entrepreneurial drive, he has also been a vocal critic of Musk's leadership style and public conduct.
Their dynamic is characterized by a blend of mutual respect for each other's business acumen and a willingness to publicly challenge one another. Cuban has previously criticized Musk's empathy and perceived influence on government, while Musk has often responded to critics with direct and sometimes unconventional remarks. This latest alleged text exchange adds another layer to their complex and highly scrutinized relationship in the public eye.
