Tesla shares just wrapped up their fifth straight day of gains—even as Elon Musk ramps up his war of words (and legal threats) against Apple. On Wall Street, it appears a little drama goes a long way for investor excitement, especially when superstars like Musk and Apple are locked in a dance as tense as a slow Wi-Fi connection during a live stock ticker update.
Tesla Climbs While Tensions Rise
Tuesday saw Tesla finish the session with another notch on its green streak, closing up 0.5% at $340.84. Not bad for a company whose CEO seems to juggle more controversies than conference calls. For context, both the S&P 500 and Dow Jones also marked a solid 1.1% gain, but all eyes were on Tesla as the saga unfolded.
The Musk-Apple Showdown: Legal Sparks Fly
What’s fueling the fire? The answer lies in Elon Musk’s pointed threat to take legal action against Apple. Musk claims Apple is using underhanded tactics in the App Store to limit competition. As Musk colorfully put it on his own social platform X: « Apple hasn’t just put their thumb on the scale, but their whole body. » There’s never a dull moment when Musk gets poetic about big tech rivals.
Now, while the dispute isn’t officially between Tesla and Apple—more on that subtlety in a second—the market is, predictably, watching every twist. The real protagonists are Musk’s AI company xAI and Apple, as xAI’s X and Grok apps are available on the App Store. But when Musk speaks, Tesla’s fate is never far behind, especially with investors scrutinizing every move with the intensity of a lifeguard eyeing a crowded pool.
Competitors, Critics, and Complications
Apple, following the time-honored tradition of saying nothing while everyone else argues, hasn’t commented. But the dispute got spicier when Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, jumped in. Altman threw some shade back, remarking, “Remarkable, given what I’ve heard about how Elon uses X to benefit himself and harm competitors.” In Silicon Valley, even peanut gallery commentary comes from billionaires.
Meanwhile, Musk has previously hinted that Tesla could take a stake in xAI. That’s muddied the already blurry line between the two companies, leaving observers wondering if there’s any clear separation left at all. Both Tesla and xAI are hungry for AI talent—technology advancement is the name of their high-stakes game.
Market Snapshot: The Contrasts Grow Sharper
- While Tesla’s stock is soaring, Apple is down 8.7% for the year, though it boasts a modest 3.4% climb over the past 12 months.
- Investors seem edgy about Apple due to slow AI innovation, looming import tariffs, and persistent antitrust investigations.
If Musk’s threat turns into a genuine lawsuit, it could become yet another entry in Big Tech’s ever-lengthening encyclopedia of antitrust cases. Just last August, a US judge found Google held a monopoly on general search services, and that decision could spell the end of Google’s exclusive search deal with—yes—Apple. For the record, Google paid Apple $20 billion for the privilege of exclusivity in 2022. (No, you didn’t misread. Billion, with a “B.”)
As Tesla’s momentum builds, and as Apple fends off pressure from rivals, judges, and headline-chasing CEOs, the only guarantee is that tomorrow will bring more fireworks in Big Tech—legal or otherwise. Investors and tech-watchers alike would be wise to stay tuned, keep their popcorn handy, and perhaps remember that in Silicon Valley, fortunes (and feuds) can turn as quickly as a trending hashtag.
John is a curious mind who loves to write about diverse topics. Passionate about sharing his thoughts and perspectives, he enjoys sparking conversations and encouraging discovery. For him, every subject is an invitation to discuss and learn.
