Amazon Founder’s Social Media Purchase Plan: A Fabricated Claim

False Claim: Jeff Bezos Plans to Purchase Elon Musk’s Social Media Platform

Claim:

A viral social media post alleges that Jeff Bezos announced a plan to buy the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) from its owner, Elon Musk, for $333 million. The post claims that Musk responded angrily to the announcement.

Fact Check:

There is no evidence to support this claim.

A thorough investigation by USA TODAY’s Fact-Check Team has revealed no record of any such announcement from Bezos or of the social media exchange referenced in the post.

• Neither of Bezos’ verified social media accounts, Instagram and X, contains any posts containing the purported announcement.
• Musk’s X account does not show any angry responses to such an announcement.
• Major media outlets would have reported on such a significant transaction, but there are no legitimate news sources that have published anything about this alleged offer or the supposed exchange between the men on social media.

Context:

The false claim appears to exploit the public’s interest in the rivalry between Bezos and Musk, the two richest people in the world. The claim is likely a fabrication to generate attention and clicks on social media.

Additional Details:

• Musk purchased Twitter in 2022 for $44 billion and renamed it X.
• The company is currently seeking investment, valuing it at $44 billion, according to Bloomberg News.
• If Bezos had announced a plan to buy it for $333 million (a 99% discount), it would contradict the company’s valuation and make no financial sense.

Similar False Claims:

USA TODAY has previously debunked other false claims about Elon Musk, including:

• Musk allegedly refusing to sell Cybertrucks to the "pride" community
• Musk donating $10 million to support the families of Jan. 6 defendants

Conclusion:

The claim that Jeff Bezos is planning to purchase X for $333 million and that Elon Musk responded angrily is false. This claim lacks any credible evidence and appears to be an attempt to exploit public interest in the rivalry between the two billionaires.