After Tesla CEO Elon Musk claimed that Bill Gates is betting in the stock market against the electric automaker, we tried to find out if it was true.
Now Gates is almost admitting to shorting Tesla’s (TSLA) stock.
As we reported earlier, Musk and Gates don’t always come face to face.
Gates has previously made some comments about electric trucks like the Tesla Semi being unviable, and Musk recently challenged those comments, but he also added that he believes Gates will have a major short position in Tesla at some point (TSLA ) had.
That was a startling claim: One of the richest and most influential men on the planet, who also happens to be a big voice in the climate change community, is literally betting against Tesla.
Recently, Microsoft’s founder has better things to say about Tesla and Elon Musk while on tour to promote his new book.
We reported on him that “what Elon did with Tesla is one of the greatest contributions to climate change anyone has ever made” on the Sway podcast last week.
But everyone is asking him if it is true that he shorted Tesla’s stock, and Gates has somewhat dodged the question.
Now, in a new interview on Bloomberg, Gates almost admitted shorting Tesla’s stock when asked directly about it:
You know, I think Tesla is a great company. I wish I had more or been more on the long side (laughs), but it’s great. I have many family members who own Tesla’s that I’ve helped buy for them, so nothing but positive thoughts about Tesla and its role.
Nothing but positive thoughts, but he does not deny shorting Tesla, and he did not talk “on the long side,” might admit he was shorting.
Here’s the relevant part of the interview:
Gates got another chance a week ago to dismiss his rumored Tesla short position on CNBC and he crawled around it.
Electrektake it
I am surprised and disappointed by Gates here. As I mentioned earlier, I didn’t think he would be the type to crack Tesla.
Unlike Elon and a lot of people in the audience who followed what happened to Gamestop, Reddit and Robinhood, I don’t really have a problem with short circuits. I think there are artificial pumps and fraudsters out there, and I think it’s okay to bet against them.
But when it comes to shorting Tesla, it’s a bit different for me.
I understand if you believe the company is overvalued and you want to make money off of a correction, but I think betting on Tesla’s stock is also betting against accelerating the electrical transition.
Tesla has used its high valuation to raise money and accelerate its mission.
I wouldn’t bet against that, and it sounds like Gates is okay with that at some point.
But to be fair, it sounds like he changed his mind. Maybe other Tesla shorts should do the same.
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