Bill Gates Says Despite Elon Musk Being Mean to Him, He’s Still ‘In Awe’ of His Work — ‘He’s Brilliant, He’s Rich, He’s Influential’

Billionaires can admire each other’s achievements without agreeing on much else. Microsoft (MSFT) co-founder Bill Gates and Tesla (TSLA) and SpaceX (SPCX) CEO Elon Musk have clashed over investing, philanthropy, and politics, but Gates says Musk’s accomplishments are too significant to ignore.

In an interview with The Independent published on Feb. 3, 2025 — one day before the release of his memoir, “Source Code” — Gates discussed his complicated relationship with Musk. “He’s been nice to me at times, and mean to me at times,” Gates said. “I will try and work with him because he’s brilliant, he’s rich, he’s influential.”

Gates also praised Musk’s contributions to electric vehicles (EVs) and space exploration, even as their disagreements over Tesla stock and charitable giving have complicated their relationship.

Gates Praises Tesla’s Impact on the Auto Industry

Bill Gates acknowledged Musk’s role in pushing the auto industry toward electric vehicles, a shift that has forced established automakers to compete more aggressively in the EV market.

“I’m in awe of the great work he did at SpaceX and Tesla,” he told The Independent. “The fact that Tesla kind of forced the car industry to do great EVs is a gigantic contribution.”

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The comments recognized Tesla’s influence in making EVs a bigger priority for traditional manufacturers. Musk’s work at SpaceX has also helped transform commercial spaceflight, with the company developing reusable rockets and expanding its launch business.

Still, Gates expressed reservations about Musk’s political views and the growing influence of technology executives in government. In the same interview, Gates said he was surprised by the range of political views emerging from Silicon Valley, particularly the support some business leaders had shown for President Donald Trump.

The comments highlighted a broader difference between the two billionaires. Gates has devoted much of his post-Microsoft career to philanthropy through the Gates Foundation, while Musk has concentrated on businesses spanning electric vehicles, space exploration, and artificial intelligence (AI).

The Tesla Short Bet That Sparked a Feud

The tension between Gates and Musk became especially public in 2022, when Musk learned that Gates had taken a short position against Tesla stock.

Short-selling involves borrowing shares and selling them in the hope of buying them back at a lower price. Gates’ position was reportedly worth about $500 million when the dispute came to light.

In March 2022, the two men discussed philanthropy, including climate-related initiatives. The conversation turned contentious when Musk raised the Tesla short position.

Musk argued that Gates’ bet against Tesla conflicted with his stated commitment to fighting climate change. In an exchange that later became public, Musk said he could not take Gates’ climate philanthropy seriously while Gates held a substantial short position against the company.

The dispute resurfaced in September 2023, when Walter Isaacson’s biography of Musk detailed the clash. Gates acknowledged that Musk had reacted harshly after learning about the investment.

“Once he heard I’d shorted the stock, he was super mean to me,” Gates told Isaacson. “But he’s super mean to so many people, so you can’t take it too personally.”

Gates explained that his decision was based on his expectation that EV supply could eventually outpace demand, putting pressure on prices. It was an investment judgment rather than a rejection of electric vehicles as a technology.

The dispute revealed how differently the two men viewed Tesla. Gates approached the company as an investment with risks and potential returns. Musk viewed the bet as inconsistent with Gates’ public support for climate action.

Gates Still Wants to Work With Musk

Despite the public disagreement, Gates’ February 2025 comments showed that he remained open to working with Musk.

Their interests overlap in areas such as climate technology, scientific research, and innovation. Gates’ philanthropic work and Musk’s businesses have different goals, but both have invested resources in projects that could shape future industries.

For investors, the episode offers a reminder that admiration for a company’s impact and confidence in its stock are two different things. A business can reshape an industry while its shares remain subject to changing expectations, competition, and valuation concerns.

Gates’ comments ultimately show that business rivalries rarely fit neatly into a story of simple admiration or outright hostility. Musk has frustrated Gates, but his work at Tesla and SpaceX has earned recognition from one of the world’s best-known technology entrepreneurs. 

On the date of publication, Caleb Naysmith did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.