There is no agreed or objective ranking of Elon Musk’s most outrageous tweets. This selection focuses on posts that drew broad public reaction, were documented in major news reporting, and had context or consequences worth understanding. It spans crude insults, provocative jokes, pandemic-era statements and posts linked to legal or financial fallout. The examples are historical; retrospective lists published through 2022 do not establish a definitive or current top ten.
The posts appeared on Twitter, now called X. They are presented here as notable episodes, not as a claim that every one was equally offensive or consequential.
1. “Funding secured” and the Tesla take-private plan
In August 2018, Musk tweeted that he was considering taking Tesla private at $420 per share and said funding was secured. The claim became a major securities-regulation story: Reuters reported that financing had not been lined up and that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission sued. The National later reported a $40 million fine connected with the episode. The post stands apart from a throwaway provocation because it concerned a company’s publicly traded shares and prompted regulatory action. The National’s 2022 retrospective and Reuters’ factbox recount the episode.
2. The insult aimed at cave diver Vernon Unsworth
In 2018, after British cave diver Vernon Unsworth criticized Musk’s proposal to help rescue children trapped in a Thai cave with a mini-submarine, Musk called him a “pedo guy” on Twitter. Unsworth had participated in the rescue effort; the insult was widely condemned. The Guardian reported that Musk apologized and deleted the posts, later repeated the claim, and was ultimately exonerated at trial in Unsworth’s defamation case. The sequence matters: public criticism of the insult and the eventual legal outcome are not the same thing. The Guardian’s account of the case describes the dispute and its resolution.
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3. COVID-19 posts and the “FREE AMERICA NOW” demand
During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Musk posted remarks that downplayed the disease and opposed lockdown measures. In April 2020 he tweeted “FREE AMERICA NOW,” a slogan that turned a public-health dispute into a political demand. The posts drew criticism because they challenged restrictions during a fast-moving outbreak, when governments were trying to limit transmission. They are historical statements from the first phase of the pandemic, not medical guidance. Euronews’ 2022 review and The Guardian’s retrospective discuss the posts.
4. “Tesla stock price is too high imo”
On May 1, 2020, Musk tweeted, “Tesla stock price is too high imo.” Reuters reported that Tesla shares fell 9% after the post. That is a reported event-specific movement, not proof that the tweet alone explains every change in the share price or its long-term effect. Its significance lies in the unusual directness with which a chief executive publicly commented on the price of his own company’s stock. Reuters’ factbox reports the post and the subsequent fall.
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5. The “pronouns suck” post
Musk posted “pronouns suck” in 2020, prompting criticism from people who saw the remark as dismissive of transgender and nonbinary people. He later offered an explanation. The point here is the reaction to the post and the public dispute it triggered; criticism of its impact should not be presented as proof of a particular private intention. The Independent’s coverage and Euronews’ retrospective describe the post and the later explanation.
6. “Nuke Mars!”
On August 16, 2019, Musk posted “Nuke Mars!” He later elaborated on the idea of using nuclear explosions to warm the planet. The slogan was provocative and easy to mistake for a serious proposal, but the cited coverage describes it as an idea, not an operation or a mission underway. It belongs on a list of outlandish posts for the audacity of the concept and its blunt phrasing. Euronews’ review dates the post and recounts the follow-up.
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7. The Ukraine peace-plan poll
In October 2022, Musk posted a proposed set of terms for ending Russia’s war in Ukraine and asked followers to vote on them. The proposal included repeating referendums in Russian-occupied areas under United Nations supervision, recognizing Crimea as part of Russia, and a neutral status for Ukraine. The poll drew sharp public backlash, particularly because the suggested terms concerned Ukraine’s territory and sovereignty while Russia’s invasion was ongoing. The criticism is a documented reaction, not by itself a verdict on every aspect of the proposal. The National’s report and Euronews’ retrospective cover the proposal and response.
8. The Coca-Cola purchase joke
Musk joked on Twitter about buying Coca-Cola, tying the mock announcement to a promise to put the “cocaine” back in the drink. It was a gag, not a documented acquisition announcement. Its ridiculousness comes from the deliberately absurd premise and the way a high-profile account can make even a joke resemble business news at first glance. Reuters’ factbox includes the post among Musk’s notable tweets.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.9. The Manchester United joke
Musk also tweeted that he was buying Manchester United, then clarified that it was a joke and that he was not buying any sports teams. The episode illustrates how quickly a joke about a famous club can be read as a possible announcement when it comes from a billionaire entrepreneur. Reuters included it in a factbox of Musk’s notable tweets; it should not be confused with a completed deal or a genuine bid. Reuters’ factbox recounts the joke and clarification.
10. The fake Fortnite purchase-and-delete image
In 2018, Musk shared a fake image suggesting he had bought the video game Fortnite and then deleted it. The joke played on the familiar internet format of a purchase followed by a claim that the product was ruined. It was not evidence of an actual acquisition. Reuters included the image among the tweets that attracted attention, making it a lighter but plainly absurd entry beside the posts with legal or political consequences. Reuters’ factbox describes the image.
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How these tweets differ in consequence
These ten examples are not interchangeable. Some were crude or deliberately silly; others touched on public health, identity, war, or the market value of a publicly traded company. The clearest documented consequences in this selection are the SEC action over the 2018 Tesla take-private statement, the defamation case arising from the Unsworth insult, and Reuters’ report of a share-price fall after the May 2020 Tesla post. A post’s controversy, its author’s intent, and its legal or financial outcome are separate questions.
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