Overview
- Elon Musk wrote on X that if Bill Gates has not fully closed a roughly eight‑year Tesla short, he "had better do so soon."
- The warning followed disclosure that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation sold about 65% of its Microsoft stake in Q3, divesting roughly $8.8–$9 billion.
- Whether Gates still holds the short is unclear, as he has not publicly updated his position since 2022.
- Leaked texts from April 2022 — later confirmed by Musk — showed Gates acknowledging a $500 million short and discussing philanthropy with Musk.
- Tesla shares recently traded around $404, off recent highs yet up about 26% over 12 months and roughly 148% over five years, with some recent selling by ARK Invest noted in filings.