Elon Musk and Twitter boss’s messages show how pair fell out
Newly published messages between Elon Musk and the CEO of Twitter, Parag Agrawal, show that their relationship appeared to be blossoming before it dramatically soured, with the Tesla boss tweeting: “Is Twitter dying?”
The series of text messages, disclosed in a Delaware court filing, suggest that the two men were for a short period bonding, including over their shared love of engineering, after Agrawal got in touch with him, weeks before Musk revealed his offer to buy Twitter.
The communications give an insight into the careful negotiations that were privately taking place. At the time, the billionaire had invested in shares in the social media company and was suggesting ideas for its improvement – or proposing starting his own social network – in public.
A trial, starting on 17 October, will decide whether the world’s richest man will have to complete the $44bn acquisition of the social media company he has agreed to. Musk could be required to testify as early as next week.
“Hey Elon – great to be connected directly. Would love to chat,” wrote Agrawal on 27 March, the BBC reported. The filings show that Musk liked the message and that they arranged to meet at about 8pm. A few days later, on 31 March, they arranged to meet for dinner near San Jose, as momentum around the deal accelerated.
A message to Musk from Bret Taylor, the chair of Twitter’s board, said the proposed location at an Airbnb near the airport, which he said was home to tractors and donkeys, was “the weirdest place I’ve had a meeting recently”.
Afterwards, Agrawal said the dinner was “memorable for multiple reasons”, adding that he “really enjoyed it”.
When, a few days later, it was announced that Musk would join the board, Agrawal said he was “super excited”.
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