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From Twitter deal to providing internet access to Ukrainians: A look at Elon Musk’s eventful year as he turns 50

The billionaire is quite active on the platform he wishes to acquire and also holds a massive fan following. This is pretty evident as Musk now has over 100 million followers on Twitter. The number increased significantly after he announced his Twitter acquisition deal on April 25, which has been put on hold .

ET Now Digital

Updated Jun 28, 2022, 14:54 IST

New Delhi: World’s richest man and Tesla chief executive Elon Musk has had quite an eventful last year of his life. From making a deal to buy the microblogging site Twitter, then joking about buying Coca-Cola next to providing internet to the Ukrainians amid war with Russia, the billionaire’s 50th year was marked with some extraordinary events.

As the Tesla boss turns 51 on Tuesday, here’s a look at some of the biggest events from his year gone by:

- Twitter deal

The world's richest man on April 25 inked a $44-billion deal to buy Twitter and notified of his plans after acquiring the social media giant. However, less than a month after on May 13, he said that the deal has been temporarily put on hold.

The deal was kept on hold pending details supporting calculation that spam/fake accounts do indeed represent less than 5 per cent of users. Musk wants details on bots and spam accounts on the platform before moving forward with the acquisition.

- 100 million followers on Twitter

- Jokes about buying Cola-Cola

Soon after announcing his Twitter deal, Musk tweeted that he wishes to buy the beverage giant Coca-Cola and the reason will make you laugh! Expressing that he intends to take over Coca-Cola next, Musk tweeted, “Next I’m buying Coca-Cola to put the cocaine back in.”

- Internet access to Ukrainians

The billionaire earned huge praise on social media after his aerospace company SpaceX activated its Starlink service in Ukraine on February 26, days after a government minister urged Elon Musk to provide internet access.

- Challenges Putin to ‘single combat’

In a move that could be viewed as showing support to Ukraine, the Tesla chief challenged Russian President Vladimir Putin for single combat, days after he launched an attack on the neighbouring country.

Several users mocked him for the challenge with one asking if he will be surprised if Putin accepted the challenge. Musk responded that he would be 'honoured'.

- Don’t forget the death threat

The billionaire, who is vocal on almost every topic, in May sent social media in a tizzy with a tweet about his death. "If I die under mysterious circumstances, it's been nice knowin ya," Musk tweeted. However, Musk assured that he will do his best to stay alive after his mother Maye said, “That’s not funny😠😠.”

- Abandons plans to enter Indian market

In May, Musk clarified that Tesla will not manufacture its products locally unless it is allowed to first sell and service its cars in the country. In a tweet responding to a user asking about Tesla setting up a manufacturing plant in India, he said, "Tesla will not put a manufacturing plant in any location where we are not allowed first to sell & service cars."

- Tesla job cuts

The Tesla CEO earlier this month said that Tesla will fire 10 per cent of its employees. The billionaire added that the electric car-making company will lay off these employees in the next 3 months.

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