Musk gained control of Twitter in October 2022, and tensions started to flare between him and Zuckerberg when words emerged about Instagram’s plan to create a similar platform. Musk proposed a cage match and Zuckerberg too agreed to the showdown.
After Elon Musk issued a challenge to Mark Zuckerberg on social media last month, Dana White, the President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, received a text message the next day.
The message was sent by Mr. Zuckerberg, Meta’s chief executive. He consulted Mr. White, the leader of the globe’s foremost mixed martial arts tournament, to confirm Mr. Musk’s genuine interest in a fight.
On his Twitter platform, Mr. Musk posted a message suggesting his readiness for a cage fight. In response, Mr. Zuckerberg responded by sharing a screenshot of the tweet and included the statement “send me location”.
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Musk countered Zuckerberg’s statement by asserting that he spent the entire day working out so that he can gear up for the upcoming showdown. Musk added that the funds generated would be donated to a charity benefitting veterans and he unveiled plans to broadcast the fight on Twitter and outside official U.F.C jurisdiction and rights deals.
Immediately after, Zuckerberg announced his readiness to face Musk in a contest, proposing that the event be streamed on a different platform to benefit charity.
While Zuckerberg mentioned August 26 as a possible date for the fight, Musk has not officially validated this timing.
Mr. Musk who’s turning 52 this month, also tweeted a humorous insight:” I’ve got this fun move I call ‘The Walrus’, where I lay on top of my opponent and chill”.
At the same time, 39 years old Mr. Zuckerberg has been dedicating himself to mixed martial arts (MMA) training and is impressing by securing wins in jiu-jitsu tournaments.
The cage fight might be more than just a joke
Fight Sports journalist and broadcaster Nick Peet believes that there is a fair possibility it will move forward, citing Elon Musk’s strong personality and unique character. Musk’s history suggests he’s not one to easily step down.
During the last ten days, Mr. White has mentioned that he, alongside Mr. Musk and Mr. Zuckerberg, supported by advisors, have been in negotiations privately and are gradually approaching a physical confrontation.
While the certainty of an actual match is not guaranteed yet, the basic structure of an event is beginning to form.
Further contributing to the discussion, Musk shared a health update, clarifying that his C5/C6 fusion is stable, but he’ll have to undergo minor surgery for his right shoulder blade rubbing against his ribs. It will take a few months to recover fully.
Linda Yaccarino, the head of X, also raised concerns about the genuineness of Musk and Zuckerberg’s proposals. This week, she remarked that the discussions surrounding a potential match “could simply be a playful banter between Zuck and Musk”. She also humorously characterized the potential fight as a “golden opportunity for brand sponsorship”.
If their rivalry transcends beyond mere banter, Mr. White, raised valid concerns about the substantial physical differences existing between the billionaire duo. Apart from their notable 13-year age gap, it’s been reported that Mr. Musk carries a weight advantage of at least 70 pounds over Zuckerberg.
In the world of mixed martial arts, athletes are typically paired according to their weight classes.
Venue Quest: Where Could the Event Take Place?
The match is expected to take place at the UFC Apex enterprise, Nevada, USA. But, Elon Musk, in a tweet has proposed to relocate the event to the Grand Colosseum in Rome, Italy. He also added a link to the memorable fight scene from the opening of Monty Python’s Life of Brian (1979).
In consideration of probable venues, the Italian Minister of Culture, General Sanguiliano stated that he was exploring the possibility of hosting a match that fully honors the reverence of the chosen location; however, Rome would not be selected as the host city.
The Colosseum’s seating capacity has blenched over a few hundred individuals due to the earthquake and the pilfering of its stone for spolia. Consequently, there have been limited occurrences of noteworthy events taking place within its premises in recent times.
On August 11, Musk posted a tweet having spoken with Sanguiliano, who later disclosed that the conversation had not advanced beyond logistical queries.
In spite of their very public disagreements, both tech tycoons are reaching new heights in their financial success this year. Zuckerberg’s wealth has surged by a higher percentage, while Musk has added a larger sum to his already vast fortune.
Since the start of 2023, Zuckerberg’s net worth has leaped by an incredible 137% going from $43.8 billion to an impressive $103 billion.
During the same time, Musk’s net worth has risen by a respectable 68%, climbing from $146.5 billion to a phenomenal $246 billion.
Ranking second and third in the S&P 500’s performance chart for the first half of 2023, Meta and Tesla, the major components of their portfolio, have experienced a substantial growth of 141% and 123% individually.
Musk has retaken his position as the world’s wealthiest person, ending a six-month stint at No.2. A boost of $8.2 billion in his net worth this week is credited to a 5% rise in Tesla’s stock. Over the weekend, the premier electric vehicle brand globally announced a new record for quarterly deliveries, nearly 500,000 sedans, and crossovers, surpassing projections of price reduction.
Musk, who owns 20% of the company, is set to reap substantial rewards from this accomplishment.
On the other hand, Zuckerberg rejoined the ranks of the world’s top ten richest individuals after more than a year.
The launch of Threads and Meta’s cost-cutting strategy, including considerable layoffs since late 2022 contributed to an impressive stock price increase from its low point in November 2022.
If we are talking about tech billionaire CEOs physically in a brawl, the pinnacle excitement would be Musk pitted against Zuckerberg.
No ifs or buts about it, a Musk-versus-Zuckerberg fight would undeniably rank as one of the most enthralling contests ever. This is a moment that demands realization- they should not shrink away from this challenge.
However, Elon Musk’s mother- Maye Musk, seems to lack enthusiasm for the clash. In a recent tweet, she expressed disharmony stating “Let’s not promote this battle”. The statement was further accompanied by two frowning emojis.
