Elon Musk and Xavier Niel Trade Insults Over Past Legal Troubles

Tensions escalate as Musk calls Niel a 'pimp,' while Niel challenges Musk to settle their differences at a Lidl store.

Xavier Niel called Elon Musk 'complex' and 'sometimes a jerk' during an interview on French television, sparking a heated exchange on social media.
Elon Musk responded by referencing Niel's past legal issues, inaccurately accusing him of being a 'pimp' despite Niel being cleared of proxénétisme charges in 2005.
Niel humorously replied on X, suggesting they 'settle it at Lidl,' a nod to a previous lighthearted online exchange involving the supermarket chain.
The public feud comes as both billionaires attend a major international summit on artificial intelligence in Paris this week.
Niel's past legal troubles stem from his investments in sex-shops in the early 2000s, leading to a conviction for financial misconduct but not for proxénétisme.