In a rather explosive proclamation, an investigative book that follows the messy acquisition of Twitter by Elon Musk claims that the now CTO of X bought the social media platform and fired former Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal because of Elon Musk’s feud with a college student which was tracking his private jet. The book also sheds light on some of the other motivations behind the billionaire’s $44 billion purchase.
According to excerpts from “Battle for the Bird,” a new book on Musk’s takeover published by Bloomberg, the tech mogul’s frustration with a Twitter account monitoring his private plane sparked his decision to buy shares of the social media platform. Musk had reportedly lobbied then-CEO Agrawal to remove the account to no avail, prompting him to initiate his takeover bid.
The book delves into the power dynamics within Twitter, now rebranded as X, during the tumultuous years leading up to Musk’s acquisition. The book suggests that personal grievances, such as the tracking of his private jet, played a significant role in Musk’s strategic move.
While Musk has publicly cited “free speech” as his primary motive for purchasing Twitter, his actions tell a different story.
Prior to assuming the position of interim CEO before he hired Linda Yaccarino, Musk actively sought to silence the college student behind the @elonjet account, which shared publicly available flight information.
Musk’s acquisition of Twitter, therefore, appears to have been fueled not just by a commitment to free expression but rather by a desire to exert control over personal disputes.
Despite Musk’s assurances that accounts like ‘@elonjet’ would not be banned under his leadership, the account was ultimately removed from the platform.
The individual behind ‘@elonjet’, Jack Sweeney, gained notoriety for tracking the private jets of high-profile figures, including Musk and Taylor Swift. Sweeney’s case highlights the tension between Musk’s proclaimed values and his actions as a powerful figure in the social media landscape.
Musk’s acquisition of Twitter has been viewed as controversial, with critics arguing that it has diverted his attention from other ventures such as Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI. His focus on promoting right-wing speech and settling personal disputes has raised questions about the strategic direction of the platform under his leadership.
(With inputs from agencies)