Carlos Slim cancels his collaboration with Elon Musk's Starlink(mexicodailypost.com)
mexicodailypost.com
Carlos Slim cancels his collaboration with Elon Musk's Starlink
https://mexicodailypost.com/2025/02/24/carlos-slim-orders-to-cancel-his-collaboration-with-elon-musks-starlink/
282 comments
> Elon needs to take rejections way less personally.
That's putting it mildly. For someone with that much power and influence to have some petty vengeful tendencies is extremely dangerous. It's like the "off with your head" tyrants of old.
That's putting it mildly. For someone with that much power and influence to have some petty vengeful tendencies is extremely dangerous. It's like the "off with your head" tyrants of old.
I wonder if he had done more than insulted or fired people. With his wealth, he could inflict more damage to his enemies.
He sent private detectives to dig up dirt on the caver he called "pedo guy" and told journalists they were defending an abuser of children with very specific, totally invented, details to the accusation.
He also then got away with it in court because he claimed he wasn't making an accusation, just using a generic insult.
He also then got away with it in court because he claimed he wasn't making an accusation, just using a generic insult.
Looking at his mental and physical health I'm inclined to think that people just fantasize way too much about what wealth can really buy.
In the case of health, I can see how having too much money can potentially be detrimental. If he tries hard, he can find doctors prescribing unnecessary pills or surgeries.
I sincerely doubt he has to try hard at all.
I naively think that the best doctors (that he has access too) would do what's best for the patient and would push back unreasonable requests.
"The best doctors he can afford" != "the best doctors he's willing to listen to".
Consider for example Steve Jobs: despite his wealth, he resisted his doctors' recommendations for medical intervention for nine months in favor of alternative medicine.
Consider for example Steve Jobs: despite his wealth, he resisted his doctors' recommendations for medical intervention for nine months in favor of alternative medicine.
When Elon Musk Tried to Destroy a Tesla Whistleblower https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2019-03-13/when-elon...
> Elon needs to take rejections way less personally.
taking things personally is the hallmark of the trump administration. see the press conference with Zelenskyy yesterday.
taking things personally is the hallmark of the trump administration. see the press conference with Zelenskyy yesterday.
marcusverus(6)
> Elon needs to take rejections way less personally.
True, but Elon needs to worry most about the fact that when all the MAGA voters who aren't independently wealthy fully realize the current administration is throwing all the poors under the bus and not just the brown ones he is the useful idiot that is going to take the public fall to try to create some distance between the political fallout and the GOP.
Its pretty obvious to anyone with any political acumen that they are allowing him to be the public facing figurehead for all of this "efficiency" specifically to allow him to fill that role when the time comes.
That said, he'll be fully deserving of everything that happens IMO. I ain't saying any of this to try to warn him, I don't think his ego would allow him to believe it in any case.
True, but Elon needs to worry most about the fact that when all the MAGA voters who aren't independently wealthy fully realize the current administration is throwing all the poors under the bus and not just the brown ones he is the useful idiot that is going to take the public fall to try to create some distance between the political fallout and the GOP.
Its pretty obvious to anyone with any political acumen that they are allowing him to be the public facing figurehead for all of this "efficiency" specifically to allow him to fill that role when the time comes.
That said, he'll be fully deserving of everything that happens IMO. I ain't saying any of this to try to warn him, I don't think his ego would allow him to believe it in any case.
I'm absolutely opposed to Musk and happy to see anyone trying to diminish his power... But, Slim having some connections to organized crime (cartels) seems much less far fetched than other Musk outbursts.
> I'm absolutely opposed to Musk and happy to see anyone trying to diminish his power
Midterms!!
Midterms!!
I can't see why the midterms would do anything to unseat him. Thus far what we've gotten from the current administration is exactly what they promised. I don't see why anybody would change their vote (or decision not to vote).
The House is close enough that the ordinary midterm power shifts could suffice to change it. And that would at least enable a certain amount of investigation-cum-harassment. But it's less likely to change both houses, and unless that happens with a substantial margin, it'll be hard to pass significant legislation to change anything.
The House is close enough that the ordinary midterm power shifts could suffice to change it. And that would at least enable a certain amount of investigation-cum-harassment. But it's less likely to change both houses, and unless that happens with a substantial margin, it'll be hard to pass significant legislation to change anything.
> I can't see why the midterms would do anything to unseat him.
Hopefully, today, you realized what midterms will do to unseat him. The mockery of what US stands for has been going on since Jan/20 and people have been watching.
Hopefully, today, you realized what midterms will do to unseat him. The mockery of what US stands for has been going on since Jan/20 and people have been watching.
So let's be clear, Musk, when a deal seems possible, "Cartels? None of my business, not my problem, let's make a deal."
Musk, when it falls through, "Oh, he's just in bed with the cartels. I wouldn't want to do business with him."
He and Trump have a lot alike in that regard. "Best people, smartest people" when they're new and still in favor. "Who?" "Stupid person, who hired him?" when not.
Musk, when it falls through, "Oh, he's just in bed with the cartels. I wouldn't want to do business with him."
He and Trump have a lot alike in that regard. "Best people, smartest people" when they're new and still in favor. "Who?" "Stupid person, who hired him?" when not.
It didn't seem to bother Musk beforehand...
Why?
I don’t really know - but the power of the Mexican Cartels suggests they have connections into the Mexican oligarchy.
More credible than a random guy in Thailand being “a pedo” because he disagreed with Musk.
More credible than a random guy in Thailand being “a pedo” because he disagreed with Musk.
[deleted]
Musk, who has personal calls with Putin. But you were saying ?
A billionaire Asperger high on ketamine, can't stay out of the limelight for a single day, and for every stupid thought, media gives him some more attention. It's a vicious cycle.
harry8(3)
Good!!! I just finished porting my number off of T-Mobile since I canceled my service with them mid-Superbowl when I learned they were collaborating with StarLink; I don't want to support a man advocating for my erasure because he's mad at his daughter for disowning him. I made it explicitly clear why I was cancelling, citing Elon and StarLink
by name.
Glad to see others participating in the "free" market and "voting with our wallets" before that ends up being the only way we can vote. Even more glad Slim is costing him billions compared to my pennies.
Glad to see others participating in the "free" market and "voting with our wallets" before that ends up being the only way we can vote. Even more glad Slim is costing him billions compared to my pennies.
It would be amazing if Elon became recognized as the toxic figure that he is, and that had real economic impact on his companies.
I do wonder though, when I see so many famous people on Joe Rogan, for example, if the world isn't pass that somehow. Remember Neil Young as the absolutely solitary voice trying to pressure Spotify? It doesn't matter if you think Rogan should be boycotted; there are people that clearly should be doing it, to be honest with their own values, but aren't.
Edit: small correction.
Edit: small correction.
Since Trump started his term, Rogan has fallen from the top podcast in the charts to number two with a 32% drop in downloads over the past month. I guess its something?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgd9v3r69qo
> Shares in electric car maker Tesla have slumped more than 9% after EU and UK sales fell by almost half in January.
> Shares in electric car maker Tesla have slumped more than 9% after EU and UK sales fell by almost half in January.
That _may_ be happening, with fairly dramatic Tesla sales declines in Europe, though that also might just be competition.
Well, there's a lot in the news today about the FAA cancelling a 2.4 billion dollar contract with Verizon and awarding it to Starlink.
So look like Musk may have gotten a good deal with the couple hundred million he spent to help get Trump elected.
So look like Musk may have gotten a good deal with the couple hundred million he spent to help get Trump elected.
[deleted]
LanceJones(3)
> In 1938, Ford was awarded Nazi Germany's Grand Cross of the German Eagle, a medal given to foreigners sympathetic to Nazism
~ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Ford#Honors_and_recognit...
By US standards, Musk is pretty good. And I doubt there'll be any economic consequences for him no matter what ideologies he holds. The literal next line on Wikipedia is "The United States Postal Service honored Ford with a Prominent Americans series (1965–1978) 12¢ postage stamp".
~ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Ford#Honors_and_recognit...
By US standards, Musk is pretty good. And I doubt there'll be any economic consequences for him no matter what ideologies he holds. The literal next line on Wikipedia is "The United States Postal Service honored Ford with a Prominent Americans series (1965–1978) 12¢ postage stamp".
I'm not going to research historical Nazi's to try and what, understand???, why current day nazi's aren't so bad. Fuck all Nazi's.
Actually before WW2 many Americans were somewhat sympathetic to the Nazis; Hitler didn't seem so bad until he started invading other countries and stepped up his persecution of the Jews and Roma in 1938. Other recipients of that award were Charles Lindburgh and the chairman of IBM.
Curious about what this is about. I don't pay very close attention to the news cycle.
I assume they are referring to this partnership:
https://www.t-mobile.com/news/network/t-mobile-starlink-beta...
"T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) introduced the next big thing in wireless — T-Mobile Starlink — to tens of millions of football fans. Now in public beta, this breakthrough service, developed in partnership with Starlink [...]"
https://www.t-mobile.com/news/network/t-mobile-starlink-beta...
"T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) introduced the next big thing in wireless — T-Mobile Starlink — to tens of millions of football fans. Now in public beta, this breakthrough service, developed in partnership with Starlink [...]"
I got that part. It was the "wants to eliminate my people" part I'm missing. Is Musk talking genocide?
Ah, yeah, he's making the 'this is mental illness' argument that has been a mainstay in psychology for the last century or so.
Mainstream acceptance was slow up until the last 10 years or so.
I doubt he'll succeed in his efforts. I don't think he cares as much as the people he's targeting care.
Mainstream acceptance was slow up until the last 10 years or so.
I doubt he'll succeed in his efforts. I don't think he cares as much as the people he's targeting care.
> a man advocating for my erasure
What do you mean?
What do you mean?
rayiner(2)
huang_chung(2)
blastonico(1)
Looks like Elon's tweet may have been retaliatory, in response to Slim's decision not to continue business with Starlink (but build out more land-based networks), rather than prompting Slim's decision (though it no doubt solidified it).
See https://expansion.mx/tecnologia/2025/02/26/america-movil-cor... (Spanish)
See https://expansion.mx/tecnologia/2025/02/26/america-movil-cor... (Spanish)
Terrestrial networks have their issues, but they don't have to continuously launch. Curious to know which is better for the environment.
Seems like accusing someone of ties to organized crime is a bit of a reverse Pascal's Wager.
I'm amazed at how the other space companies have failed to offer competition to starlink just the same as the auto industry can't seem to compete with tesla and make a good and profitable EV. They've had a decade to figure it out, so where are they?
Everyone has become cynical and no one is willing to invest in the future and build new things.
Everyone has become cynical and no one is willing to invest in the future and build new things.
I drive a VW ID.4. It's profitable for VW (modulo some boondoggles early on in production), and it's the best car I've ever driven, even solid for road trips.
If I wanted, I could have gotten a Hyundai or a Chevy equally well. Tesla just isn't the only or even best game in town, and hasn't been for years.
If I wanted, I could have gotten a Hyundai or a Chevy equally well. Tesla just isn't the only or even best game in town, and hasn't been for years.
> If I wanted, I could have gotten a Hyundai or a Chevy equally well. Tesla just isn't the only or even best game in town, and hasn't been for years
I'm yet to find an EV with the same range, acceleration and price point as the model 3 LR. Many seem to beat it on two but not three points. The Polstar is close. The ID.4 has less range, double the time 0-100 and (prices not confirmed yet in Australia but) expected to be $10-20k more expensive.
I'm yet to find an EV with the same range, acceleration and price point as the model 3 LR. Many seem to beat it on two but not three points. The Polstar is close. The ID.4 has less range, double the time 0-100 and (prices not confirmed yet in Australia but) expected to be $10-20k more expensive.
You don't need 0-60 in under 6 seconds.
I say this as a driver of a Polestar. It's just silly.
In fact it's mostly dangerous. I won't pay for the upgrade to the "performance" package because 4.5 seconds is already crazy enough.
Also consider we non-Tesla owners get luxuries like an actual dashboard, turn stalk... and body panels that fit together properly.
I say this as a driver of a Polestar. It's just silly.
In fact it's mostly dangerous. I won't pay for the upgrade to the "performance" package because 4.5 seconds is already crazy enough.
Also consider we non-Tesla owners get luxuries like an actual dashboard, turn stalk... and body panels that fit together properly.
> an actual dashboard
My biggest dislike in Teslas. I won't entertain buying one until they decide that an iPad is not in fact an appropriate way to handle user interface in a car...
My biggest dislike in Teslas. I won't entertain buying one until they decide that an iPad is not in fact an appropriate way to handle user interface in a car...
TBH, this is something that scares me about Teslas. Most people can’t handle a car that accelerates that fast. Granted, I know they have safety features that prevent you from running over people… but safeguards fail, this is just a game we shouldn’t be playing at all.
On the track? Go crazy. Long stretches of road by yourself? It’s your life, just don’t crash and don’t get caught. Around other people, though?
On the track? Go crazy. Long stretches of road by yourself? It’s your life, just don’t crash and don’t get caught. Around other people, though?
> Also consider we non-Tesla owners get luxuries like an actual dashboard, turn stalk... and body panels that fit together properly
Personally speaking I have an indicator stalk, I like the minimal cockpit and my panels fit fine.
Personally speaking I have an indicator stalk, I like the minimal cockpit and my panels fit fine.
I'd bet that you could pick three points about any EV where the model 3 LR is only able to beat the alternative on two of the three.
For example The ID.4 has body work that lines up and paint that is the same color.
Completely agree, but these are the things I'm personally interested in, and we're discussing "best", which is subjective.
In a thread about cynicism, a poster wonders why don't more cars come with dangerous features
Acceleration? Anything with 6s or faster 0-60 is plenty fast unless you're just measuring dick size.
Actual range is matched by Hyundai/Kia EVs, and pricing is quite good as well (especially used). Also these vehicles support V2L, charge faster, and
Don't get me wrong - Tesla has some amazing tech, but they blew their lead in the past few years on that useless Cybertruck instead of iterating their most popular models.
Actual range is matched by Hyundai/Kia EVs, and pricing is quite good as well (especially used). Also these vehicles support V2L, charge faster, and
Don't get me wrong - Tesla has some amazing tech, but they blew their lead in the past few years on that useless Cybertruck instead of iterating their most popular models.
> Acceleration? Anything with 6s or faster 0-60 is plenty fast unless you're just measuring dick size.
"Fun", is my reasoning, the same reason (I assume) why most people buy fast cars.
> Also these vehicles support V2L, charge faster
V2L doesn't interest me. My understanding is in North America charging is an issue, but in Australia mine charges at 250KW.
> Don't get me wrong - Tesla has some amazing tech, but they blew their lead in the past few years on that useless Cybertruck instead of iterating their most popular models.
Completely agree RE the cybetruvk - a small "model 2" would be a market changer, cybertruck is weird Elon wank. But every other electric I've driven so far I find inferior, I'm not sure they've lost their lead yet.
"Fun", is my reasoning, the same reason (I assume) why most people buy fast cars.
> Also these vehicles support V2L, charge faster
V2L doesn't interest me. My understanding is in North America charging is an issue, but in Australia mine charges at 250KW.
> Don't get me wrong - Tesla has some amazing tech, but they blew their lead in the past few years on that useless Cybertruck instead of iterating their most popular models.
Completely agree RE the cybetruvk - a small "model 2" would be a market changer, cybertruck is weird Elon wank. But every other electric I've driven so far I find inferior, I'm not sure they've lost their lead yet.
Fast is a single feature that a car has. The target market that values "very fast" over "fast enough" is much smaller than the opposite.
I also own an ID4, I'm actually on my second lease (had a 2021, now a 2024). I originally had some skepticism from friends since I went non-Tesla, but I love the car. I also appreciate that it's not tied to Musk (and has Android Auto).
The ID4 software is so bad VW is basically buying rivian. I don't factor politics into car purchases, just value for money.
I use Android Auto so even if it were bad, I never really use what's natively in the car.
My friend’s Tesla drives itself with no hands on the steering wheel from door to door. It is a totally different product category than a regular EV from VW, come on.
Take a look at the sales trends of different brands EVs. Tesla does not look like the long term winner at the moment.
I'd give them a ton of credit for their initial success though. Starting a car company is clearly very difficult.
I'd give them a ton of credit for their initial success though. Starting a car company is clearly very difficult.
Tesla is doing better than most other brands still. Somehow all the articles claiming Tesla sales falling in Europe is due to politics are missing that the missing sales basically almost fully shifted to Chinese EVs and not other European or American brands. In other words, people are buying the cheapest thing. If the politics mattered they would probably not support Xi.
> Somehow all the articles claiming Tesla sales falling in Europe is due to politics are missing that the missing sales basically almost fully shifted to Chinese EVs and not other European or American brands.
... Wait, where are you getting that? BYD saw substantial percentage year on year growth for Jan 2025, but from a very low base. Growth seems to largely be accruing to VW AG, BMW, and, oddly, Toyota (for all that reviewers panned the bZ4X, _consumers_ seem to like it).
... Wait, where are you getting that? BYD saw substantial percentage year on year growth for Jan 2025, but from a very low base. Growth seems to largely be accruing to VW AG, BMW, and, oddly, Toyota (for all that reviewers panned the bZ4X, _consumers_ seem to like it).
There are probably better sources that go deeper, but here’s one I just got from a quick search (https://www.npr.org/2025/02/27/nx-s1-5311609/tesla-sales-eur...)
> In January, according to the ACEA data, Tesla clocked the largest — by far — decrease in sales of any auto manufacturer in Europe. The largest increase, at 36.8%, was for SAIC Motor, a Chinese automaker whose brands include MG.
> In January, SAIC Motor sold more than twice as many vehicles in Europe as Tesla did, according to the ACEA data.
> In January, according to the ACEA data, Tesla clocked the largest — by far — decrease in sales of any auto manufacturer in Europe. The largest increase, at 36.8%, was for SAIC Motor, a Chinese automaker whose brands include MG.
> In January, SAIC Motor sold more than twice as many vehicles in Europe as Tesla did, according to the ACEA data.
Yeah, so SAIC is 2.3% of the _total_ car market, up from 1.7%. Tesla is 1% down from 1.8%.
So if SAIC only made BEVs, then it would indeed be one of the bigger sellers of electric cars. However, SAIC makes lots of things. SAIC/MG is not in the top ten BEV brands for Jan 2025.
(This seems to have been a common mistake made in reporting, and people often do think of MG as a BEV brand, but it actually sells a lot of hybrids, too.)
So if SAIC only made BEVs, then it would indeed be one of the bigger sellers of electric cars. However, SAIC makes lots of things. SAIC/MG is not in the top ten BEV brands for Jan 2025.
(This seems to have been a common mistake made in reporting, and people often do think of MG as a BEV brand, but it actually sells a lot of hybrids, too.)
So not purely electric but they have batteries and motors in them - is that the distinction you’re making?
Are you also disagreeing that car sales are shifting mostly to cheap Chinese vehicles not European or American brands? To me it still looks like if people are moving away from Tesla for political reasons, they apparently align with the CCP. Which doesn’t make sense to me since China is a dictatorship.
Are you also disagreeing that car sales are shifting mostly to cheap Chinese vehicles not European or American brands? To me it still looks like if people are moving away from Tesla for political reasons, they apparently align with the CCP. Which doesn’t make sense to me since China is a dictatorship.
I am disagreeing with that, yes. If you look at BEV sales, there are no Chinese vendors in the top ten; looks like the Tesla sales went to BMW, VW AG, and Toyota. Maybe Nissan to some extent. Tesla sales would generally shift to other BEVs, not hybrids.
MG is basically just noise in the broader market. Like, a whole 2.3%!
One piece of context that you may be missing is that hybrids are the single biggest chunk of the European market, about 40% (I gather they’re way smaller in the US), so MG’s 2.3% isn’t hugely impressive.
MG is basically just noise in the broader market. Like, a whole 2.3%!
One piece of context that you may be missing is that hybrids are the single biggest chunk of the European market, about 40% (I gather they’re way smaller in the US), so MG’s 2.3% isn’t hugely impressive.
Why do you think Tesla sales would shift to other BEVs not other types of cars? I feel like this is more about the whole car market and where sales are going. Is there data showing an equivalent increase in BEV sales specifically from European or American brands that equals Tesla’s lost sales?
Electric car sales are up in Europe year on year. Tesla sales are down. Chinese cars are not a significant part of the BEV market. I mean, come on, now, do the maths.
I didn't say anything about politics.
> I'm amazed at how the other space companies have failed to offer competition to starlink
Revenue estimated in the 7-8bn range last year. That's pretty tiny for a telecom, especially one with global scope; it's about the size, say, of France's fourth largest telecom. Profitability would be almost impossible to estimate (to what extent should rocket development costs be laid upon it, say?) but realistically you wouldn't expect it to be profitable.
Like, it is not necessarily a business you'd want to be in.
Revenue estimated in the 7-8bn range last year. That's pretty tiny for a telecom, especially one with global scope; it's about the size, say, of France's fourth largest telecom. Profitability would be almost impossible to estimate (to what extent should rocket development costs be laid upon it, say?) but realistically you wouldn't expect it to be profitable.
Like, it is not necessarily a business you'd want to be in.
Well SpaceX does not need outside financing anymore, even while continuing to build out Starlink and developing Starship. Seems like a bold claim to say Starlink is not profitable.
But it is still not a business you would want to be in, because it is enabled by super cheap rockets, which no one else has.
But it is still not a business you would want to be in, because it is enabled by super cheap rockets, which no one else has.
> the auto industry can't seem to compete with tesla and make a good and profitable EV. They've had a decade to figure it out, so where are they?
This talking point is 5 years old. As of 2022, legacy auto has matched Tesla in enough respects to be worthy competitors. Sure Tesla's electronics are a bit better, but in terms of being a good car, other manufacturers have Tesla beat.
This talking point is 5 years old. As of 2022, legacy auto has matched Tesla in enough respects to be worthy competitors. Sure Tesla's electronics are a bit better, but in terms of being a good car, other manufacturers have Tesla beat.
Launch support. Starlink launches are effectively subsidized by SpaceX launch missions (private and government, so US taxpayers helped a lot here). To compete and develop a similar LEO network you need to be able to launch a lot of satellites, and if you don't own the launch system and piggyback your satellites on launches supporting other customers it's a major expense.
> no one is willing to invest in the future and build new things.
The markets have been so warped by the power of existing monopolies that most investors are only interested in trying to find the next golden goose (as we can see in the crypto, AI, metaverse and countless other bubbles).
The markets have been so warped by the power of existing monopolies that most investors are only interested in trying to find the next golden goose (as we can see in the crypto, AI, metaverse and countless other bubbles).
Their planned satellites still aren’t on par. They have to be twice as high in orbit it because they don’t have the launch tech to hit lower orbits. Bad news for the world though - if they have issues, space debris at that altitude will take hundreds of years to fall back down. Starlink satellites take a max of 5 years to fall back and burn up. China is creating a huge risk of space debris issues.
Two industries filled with old companies with entrenched management wanting to keep the status quo, not wanting to take risks and innovate.
[deleted]
Elon Musk is responsible for making EVs a real alternative with a meaningful market share but if you compromise moral values and ethics each time money, success, or progress comes up you'll create a horrible world
The timing seems weird. Did Elon know the deal was about to fall through and tweeted out of sour grapes?
If he knew, why didn’t he tweet something that did not make him seem like an impulsive fool?
because he is an impulsive fool? a leopard can't change its spots.
not only that but he historically never really took much of a hit for his idiotic impulsive life choices
That assumes it's a possibility for him
It would be very on character. seems to be SOP for these stooges
It's unlikely the rift will have any real impact:
"In 2025, Quilty forecast that it [Starlink] will count 7.8 million people around the world as customers and generate $11.8 billion in sales."
It is currently and likely will continue to be the biggest revenue driver for SpaceX, Mexico or not.
"In 2025, Quilty forecast that it [Starlink] will count 7.8 million people around the world as customers and generate $11.8 billion in sales."
It is currently and likely will continue to be the biggest revenue driver for SpaceX, Mexico or not.
>generate $11.8 billion in sales.
This was an investment worth twice that, and you think it is not of "real impact"? Care to expand on your thinking?
This was an investment worth twice that, and you think it is not of "real impact"? Care to expand on your thinking?
There's no way the numbers in the article are real.
See Ukraine
See Ukraine
[deleted]
> The fallout between Slim and Musk was further exacerbated by a controversial tweet from Musk, which implied connections between Slim and organized crime.
Lets hope Slim wipes the "business floor" with Musk with his initiative.
Lets hope Slim wipes the "business floor" with Musk with his initiative.
Musk would probably not tweet that if Slim was really involved with drug cartels, as insulting someone like that could end up with kinetic retaliation in physical world.
I find it doubtful he’ll send Mexican gangsters after Musk, but I admit it would be an extremely amusing development.
It's crazy to me how acceptable (or just prevalent) it's become to openly wish for murder online, even on this site.
I was being sarcastic. It is, after all, very much unlikely Mr. Slim would send a bunch of sicários to torment Elon Musk.
If, indeed, Musk were right (he isn’t) it’d be amusing, simply for the unlikely event he was, for the first time, right on one of his many drug-induced late night tweets.
If, indeed, Musk were right (he isn’t) it’d be amusing, simply for the unlikely event he was, for the first time, right on one of his many drug-induced late night tweets.
no need to wish for it, but it's not a hard thing to imagine. if the Trump admin starts to go after cartels in a way that starts to affect them, do we honestly think they will not retaliate?
rayiner(2)
As long as you target medias' current cartoon villain, nothing's over the top these days.
So Musk amplified an unsubstantiated tweet making accusations of “his main partner in 25 countries”, which not only made him “lose 7 billion dollars” but also “an investment of 22 billion dollars”? And this is the guy people are trying to convince us is some kind of business genius?
People forget that Elon impulse bought twitter and tried to reverse the deal through the bogus bot angle [1]. The only way in which the acquisition has been a success is as a way to force his political agenda.
[1] https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-twitter-inc-technology-...
[1] https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-twitter-inc-technology-...
Do people forget that? It was highly publicised and he even admitted he only went through with it because he thought he’d be forced to. The political angle is clearly something he hadn’t realised at the time.
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43077177
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43077177
> Do people forget that?
If you mean people on HN, maybe not. If you mean people in general, then a lot of people don't know it at all let alone forgetting it. The vast majority of people do not pay attention to what CEOs do, if they even know who they are. The vast majority of people don't want to be tuned in like that and are using social media to deliberately check out. It's one of the reasons they are so susceptible to the algos
If you mean people on HN, maybe not. If you mean people in general, then a lot of people don't know it at all let alone forgetting it. The vast majority of people do not pay attention to what CEOs do, if they even know who they are. The vast majority of people don't want to be tuned in like that and are using social media to deliberately check out. It's one of the reasons they are so susceptible to the algos
Thank you. I got this Nate Silver article in my inbox on how Musk is some sorta special genius because he was born to wealth and won the PayPal lottery, and thought I was going insane.
https://www.natesilver.net/p/elon-musk-and-spiky-intelligenc...
https://www.natesilver.net/p/elon-musk-and-spiky-intelligenc...
And factually inaccurate. Musk in no way founded or co-founded PayPal. The trademarks were registered, the MVP was running, when the company building it merged with Musk's failing online banking plan.
He was then made CEO by virtue of being the biggest shareholder. For four months.
Four months later, the Board fired him in his absence on the morning he left for his honeymoon.
How badly do you have to fuck up to not be asked to resign but fired, and fired two days after your wedding, leaving for your honeymoon? Well, Musk tried by insisting the Java app that was up and running was trashcanned and PayPal was rewritten in Classic ASP, because Musk understood that and not Java - that'll do it, apparently.
He was then made CEO by virtue of being the biggest shareholder. For four months.
Four months later, the Board fired him in his absence on the morning he left for his honeymoon.
How badly do you have to fuck up to not be asked to resign but fired, and fired two days after your wedding, leaving for your honeymoon? Well, Musk tried by insisting the Java app that was up and running was trashcanned and PayPal was rewritten in Classic ASP, because Musk understood that and not Java - that'll do it, apparently.
Musk wasn't even born to wealth...
Perhaps not egregious wealth, but the average person does not have >£320K.
https://www.independent.co.uk/space/elon-musk-made-money-ric...
https://www.independent.co.uk/space/elon-musk-made-money-ric...
That's well within something you can earn without being an exec
None of those points are accurate. He is not his main partner in 25 countries. He did not lose 7 billion dollars from anything related to this. That is a completely made up story.
Carlos Slim is literally a bit player authorized reseller. There are no major investments this guy has made in Starlink.
Carlos Slim is literally a bit player authorized reseller. There are no major investments this guy has made in Starlink.
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Musk really seems to have lost his mind and any kind of filter. He hears about something and tweets it without any thought. Pretty much the same approach he is using with DOGE. Look at something for five minutes max and if you don’t like it understand it, cancel it.
My theory is that anybody who engages a lot on X for a while gets their perception of reality totally distorted. If US leadership keeps passing off the whole world I think the real winner of “America first” will be China and Russia.
My theory is that anybody who engages a lot on X for a while gets their perception of reality totally distorted. If US leadership keeps passing off the whole world I think the real winner of “America first” will be China and Russia.
>I think the real winner of “America first” will be China and Russia.
Indeed.
>An hour later, Slim announced that he would transfer his projects for the next 5 years with Starlink, an investment of 22 billion dollars, to companies in China and Europe.
Indeed.
>An hour later, Slim announced that he would transfer his projects for the next 5 years with Starlink, an investment of 22 billion dollars, to companies in China and Europe.
Brings to mind a meme that's quickly become a favorite of mine since Jan 20th. It's a picture of a "gigachad" Xi Jinping with the caption "Do nothing. Win."
https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/002/352/212/95b...
https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/002/352/212/95b...
I find that meme super funny - because China is doing a LOT of things that simply aren't getting noticed by (or being ignored by) the media in the West. Belt & Road, New Silk Road, solar panels everywhere, etc.
They're not doing nothing - they're just not being idiots.
They're not doing nothing - they're just not being idiots.
Perhaps you've seen this, or maybe not. It's worth mentioning that you're not the only one to make that connection -- Jaron Lanier called it "Twitter Poisoning":
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/11/opinion/trump-musk-kanye-...
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/11/opinion/trump-musk-kanye-...
That was interesting.
I certainly see similar situations where people I knew seem terrified of trans related topics, one couple I knew are on a sort of anti porn crusade.
I ask them all and they have ZERO personal run ins with what they fear and tweet / post about… but it doesn’t end and when the topics come up they can’t imagine that you’re not deep in the middle of their social media memes and conversations and so on.
It’s a wild situation, there’s nothing in their life that supports their ideas and fears but they’re all in.
I certainly see similar situations where people I knew seem terrified of trans related topics, one couple I knew are on a sort of anti porn crusade.
I ask them all and they have ZERO personal run ins with what they fear and tweet / post about… but it doesn’t end and when the topics come up they can’t imagine that you’re not deep in the middle of their social media memes and conversations and so on.
It’s a wild situation, there’s nothing in their life that supports their ideas and fears but they’re all in.
Definitely seems like a drug problem to me. He seems strung out of his mind if this article's sourcing is correct: https://www.wired.com/story/katie-stephen-miller-elon-musk-t...
The problem is that when someone gets to that level of wealth there's really nobody left to say "no". Likely nobody in his circle has the guts to tell him what he needs to hear. This in addition to the alleged drug issues and his excessive time on X (which is also kind of a drug) is how we got here.
Or maybe, just maybe, someone who obsesses over hardcore work and tries to manage 20 different companies, while also trying to be perpetually online, is probably sleep deprived and/or is on medications to keep up with everything.
That kind of lifestyle would do that to you long term.
That kind of lifestyle would do that to you long term.
That would be a cause but he's been like this for over two years. Wouldn't there be a point where he reflects on the past and analyzes his behavior?
When you’re in it, you can’t reflect unless you’re no longer in it.
Some people postulate his mental decline might be drug related.
I think he's trying to generate engagement on X through controversy.
The recent change to search, which now shows posts from people you've blocked (with no options to turn it off) suggests this too.
The problem with this strategy is that you have to keep escalating otherwise it gets boring fast, and it attracts people no one wants to advertise to. My feed is full of racebaiters and anti-woke culture crap despite telling the algorithm I’m not interesting. I’m not sure there's much else left.
The problem with this strategy is that you have to keep escalating otherwise it gets boring fast, and it attracts people no one wants to advertise to. My feed is full of racebaiters and anti-woke culture crap despite telling the algorithm I’m not interesting. I’m not sure there's much else left.
That’s why I stopped: just being there is giving him money and if you interact with anyone else you’re incentivizing them giving him money, too. I signed up in 2006 but that was a sunk cost I couldn’t stomach growing.
> My feed is full of racebaiters and anti-woke culture crap despite telling the algorithm I’m not interesting. I’m not sure there's much else left.
I'm sincerely curious, why do you still have a twitter account?
I'm sincerely curious, why do you still have a twitter account?
I read the timelines of people who only use twitter. Local journalists and people who talk about about specific issues.
> My feed is full of racebaiters and anti-woke culture crap despite telling the algorithm I’m not interesting. I’m not sure there's much else left.
Why even keep using the platform?
Why even keep using the platform?
There are circles of people that I like still on the platform. Plus, lots of great discussion on AI and entrepreneurship, both of which BlueSky takes a hostile attitude towards.
In addition, I take the general zeitgeist of X to be something like the Freudian id of the MAGA coalition, which is a useful thing to be tuned into, given that they run the country currently.
In addition, I take the general zeitgeist of X to be something like the Freudian id of the MAGA coalition, which is a useful thing to be tuned into, given that they run the country currently.
I read the timelines of people who only use twitter. Local journalists and people who talk about about specific issues.
If enough people leave Xitter then those people "who only use twitter" will either leave as well, or it indicates that they're just fine being on a "racebaiting" platform. I really don't get why people are staying there other than it means they're just fine with Musk's antics and the rage farming.
There's plenty of evidence now based on his aberrant behavior in public that he has a serious drug problem.
Look at the video of him on the stage at the event where he told all the x advertisers "fine, don't advertise, go fuck yourself".
If you are wealthy enough you can certainly find enough licensed medical professionals to provide you with basically whatever substance you want, and in unlimited quantities. Exact same sort of thing that ended in the death of Michael Jackson.
Look at the video of him on the stage at the event where he told all the x advertisers "fine, don't advertise, go fuck yourself".
If you are wealthy enough you can certainly find enough licensed medical professionals to provide you with basically whatever substance you want, and in unlimited quantities. Exact same sort of thing that ended in the death of Michael Jackson.
The onset of some prescription stimulants is extremely euphoric and leads to immediate mania in some.
techorange(1)
He's Tweeting >500 times a day. There is almost no hour of the day he does not Tweet now. He is either paying someone to Tweet or he's literally no longer sleeping.
Here's a graph about third of the way down:
https://www.natesilver.net/p/elon-musk-and-spiky-intelligenc...
(Elon Musk's Tweets by time of day)
Here's a graph about third of the way down:
https://www.natesilver.net/p/elon-musk-and-spiky-intelligenc...
(Elon Musk's Tweets by time of day)
Anecdotal, but I've noticed some men lose the need for sleep as they get older.
It's typically not that people lose the need for sleep as they older, but that aging negatively impacts the ability to sleep, which leads to individuals suffering from both age-related decline along with the impacts of their sleep's impaired restoration.
techorange(7)
Will this be questioned by the FAFO offices?
I'm surprised even hacker news is getting suckered in by this. This is a tabloid website and no legitmate source is reporting on this. The article also lies significantly. Carlos Slim's company was only a Starlink authorized reseller. There was no significant investment.
Near the end of the article, the cause is described:
>>Elon Musk shared a post on his social network stating that Slim could have ties to criminal groups, and five minutes later, Carlos Slim canceled all business collaborations with Starlink in Latin America, which made Musk lose 7 billion US dollars.
>>Elon Musk shared a post on his social network stating that Slim could have ties to criminal groups, and five minutes later, Carlos Slim canceled all business collaborations with Starlink in Latin America, which made Musk lose 7 billion US dollars.
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It doesn’t really matter since the USA will invade Mexico in the next year as part of a new anti-terrorisim initiative initially aimed at drug cartels. As that escalates many things will get carved out for corporate interests.
I’m not saying I support this. But this is the reality.
I’m not saying I support this. But this is the reality.
What's the CEOs fiduciary duty again?
SpaceX is a private company. Tesla is public, but the board is not independent, still trying to give Musk a pay package of $50 B.
CEO answer to the board, but a board can be controlled by the founder in one way or another. For example, Zuck control shares with more votes and Bezos have vote rights over his ex-wife shares. The CEO can also fill the board with loyalists, as Jobs did on his return.
CEO answer to the board, but a board can be controlled by the founder in one way or another. For example, Zuck control shares with more votes and Bezos have vote rights over his ex-wife shares. The CEO can also fill the board with loyalists, as Jobs did on his return.
In what world Elon is the founder of Tesla? He's just a CEO and about 20% shareholder who stuffed the board with his cronies in ways that should interest legislature so that laws can be written to prevent something like that from happening again.
This world.
He sued the original founders into granting him the title. Although it really shouldn't be that big a deal he's labeled as founder. When you're the CEO you can just generate titles anyways so he could be called the The Excellent Supreme Leader Always (TESLA) and it'd be allowed.
In layman terms he's not a founder of Tesla but titles aren't required to fit a layman's definition.
He sued the original founders into granting him the title. Although it really shouldn't be that big a deal he's labeled as founder. When you're the CEO you can just generate titles anyways so he could be called the The Excellent Supreme Leader Always (TESLA) and it'd be allowed.
In layman terms he's not a founder of Tesla but titles aren't required to fit a layman's definition.
> When you're the CEO you can just generate titles anyways so he could be called the The Excellent Supreme Leader Always (TESLA) and it'd be allowed.
https://ir.tesla.com/corporate/elon-musk
> Elon is Technoking of Tesla
https://ir.tesla.com/corporate/elon-musk
> Elon is Technoking of Tesla
So, he's "The Founder" (title) but not "the founder" (concept). Got it.
I get a laugh out of HN comments maybe 5 times in a good year. You got me with this one!
Tesla would in principle be so much better off without the connection to Musk and all the bad publicity that results, even without him constantly siphoning value from the company. However, if they were able to somehow get rid of him now, there'd be the potential retribution from the US government to worry about.
Pay package is over $100 Billion now due to stock price increase.
To not deal with flaky people whose word is worthless and whose ethics are worth even less.
The numbers in the article make no sense and it's surprising people accept it uncritically
> ... Carlos Slim canceled all business collaborations with Starlink in Latin America, which made Musk lose 7 billion US dollars.
Uhhh.. what? Can anyone explain that line? Where did this 7B come from? Did Musk lose it or did SpaceX? This makes it sound like it was forefit like Musk just gave Slim $7B for free. What is actually going on there?
Uhhh.. what? Can anyone explain that line? Where did this 7B come from? Did Musk lose it or did SpaceX? This makes it sound like it was forefit like Musk just gave Slim $7B for free. What is actually going on there?
> Elon Musk shared a post on his social network stating that Slim could have ties to criminal groups, and five minutes later, Carlos Slim canceled all business collaborations with Starlink in Latin America, which made Musk lose 7 billion US dollars.
Is there a source for this?
Is there a source for this?
> Is there a source for this?
For the claim that Slim had criminal ties? No, not really.
The immediate source was this tweet, which asserted, without any clear basis, that Slim has "significant ties to the drug cartels in Mexico": https://x.com/wallstreetmav/status/1882255277551972619
The linked NYT article in the reply-to was https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/22/world/americas/mexico-car... (archived: https://archive.ph/6Sn0Y), which doesn't mention Slim at all.
For the claim that Slim had criminal ties? No, not really.
The immediate source was this tweet, which asserted, without any clear basis, that Slim has "significant ties to the drug cartels in Mexico": https://x.com/wallstreetmav/status/1882255277551972619
The linked NYT article in the reply-to was https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/22/world/americas/mexico-car... (archived: https://archive.ph/6Sn0Y), which doesn't mention Slim at all.
Here is Elon's quote of that tweet with the monocle emoji https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1882301283090190520
Probably not possible to be the richest person in Mexico without some incidental connection or accidental involvement with organised crime.
So it really hardly matters, unless you get a lot of details.
So it really hardly matters, unless you get a lot of details.
> Probably not possible to be the richest person in Mexico without some incidental connection or accidental involvement with organised crime.
Honestly this sounds like a cartoonish understanding of a country
Can you say the same about the US ?
Where does Elon get his psychodelics ?
Did Silk Road use AWS ?
Honestly this sounds like a cartoonish understanding of a country
Can you say the same about the US ?
Where does Elon get his psychodelics ?
Did Silk Road use AWS ?
I don't doubt that's often the case, but there's still a big difference between a general statement and a specific claim.
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I haven’t seen any clear connection. maybe it links to this article that is claiming it’s bad to represent cartels as terror orgs as some loose indicator it is slim trying to push that narrative to benefit the cartels since I did see he owned 17% share in NYT?
Do you think anyone does serious business in Mexico and doesn't run into the cartels?
I get some animal farm vibe reading this. I'm looking at the US gov and I'm looking a the cartels, and I can't figure out which one is which.
The way this US gov is operating, they pretty much operate likes cartels "we are the boss, you stfu and you do as we say, or else".
American car companies?
Lol, what do you guys think the cartels are ?
The cancellation of business with Starlink was announced in the Mexican media weeks ago. See this article in Spanish:
https://expansion.mx/tecnologia/2025/02/26/america-movil-cor...
https://expansion.mx/tecnologia/2025/02/26/america-movil-cor...
That article is dated 26 Feb 2025, not weeks ago.
From the article:
> "It is better to put our towers, plants and optical fiber to link them," said the business magnate in his press conference held on February 10.
> Two days later, Daniel Hajj, CEO of América Móvil, confirmed the decision in a conference call with analysts, where he announced an investment of 22 billion dollars over the next three years to expand its infrastructure. With this move, the possibility of a collaboration with SpaceX was ruled out.
> "It is better to put our towers, plants and optical fiber to link them," said the business magnate in his press conference held on February 10.
> Two days later, Daniel Hajj, CEO of América Móvil, confirmed the decision in a conference call with analysts, where he announced an investment of 22 billion dollars over the next three years to expand its infrastructure. With this move, the possibility of a collaboration with SpaceX was ruled out.
It's like mush lives in a glass house and just hangs out online all day chunking rocks. I don't know Carlos Slim so maybe this is or maybe it isn't the pot calling the kettle black. Unless someone has evidence that can paint Carlos Slim with the same brush as the one mush uses on himself then I tend to believe that Slim's friends are a lot less shady than mush's.
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hereme888(3)
Instant flashback when Elon called Thai cave diver a "pedo guy" when they declined his help. Elon needs to take rejections way less personally.