@enmodo @coregaze Ugh. That was NEVER an option. I don't know that myth keeps making the rounds.

The $1B was not a "walk away" penalty. He could not just pay it and get out of the deal. The deal called for "specific performance" meaning he had to complete the deal.

The $1B penalty was ONLY in the case that some OUTSIDE factor somehow killed the deal. Not Musk walking away.

@mmasnick @enmodo Honestly, if he'd bought it and immediately sold it for what it was worth he'd only have lost 24 billion dollars, whereas... yeah, he's wiped 800 billion off of Tesla's market cap, ruined his own reputation, burned three major banks, pissed off Saudi royalty and his buddy Larry, and- as if that weren't enough- lost about $150 billion of his own net worth.

Astonishing how he's managed to unbound the downside potential of a deal by flapping his god damned stupid mouth.

@coregaze @mmasnick @enmodo He could've just did Bezos of buy it, keep banning Nazis, and shut his mouth.

Advertisers would've stayed, he could transition to Blue with a proper advisory team, etc etc.