• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

31-year-old millionaire has zero sympathy for unemployed Gen Z's ‘excuses’—he says 'it is scarily easy' to build a business and get rich right now

2

The heiress of $10 billion Perdue Farms and the $12 billion Sheraton Hotels empire wore hand-me-downs, still rides the subway, and flies economy

3

Iran's president admits 'we have many problems' and missiles 'are of no use' as the U.S. chokes its economy while weakening Tehran's grip on Hormuz

1

31-year-old millionaire has zero sympathy for unemployed Gen Z's ‘excuses’—he says 'it is scarily easy' to build a business and get rich right now

2

The heiress of $10 billion Perdue Farms and the $12 billion Sheraton Hotels empire wore hand-me-downs, still rides the subway, and flies economy

3

Iran's president admits 'we have many problems' and missiles 'are of no use' as the U.S. chokes its economy while weakening Tehran's grip on Hormuz
Elon Musk

Elon Musk Is Trying to Laugh His Way Out of Tesla’s Worst Month in 7 Years

By
Hallie Detrick
Hallie Detrick
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Hallie Detrick
Hallie Detrick
Down Arrow Button Icon
April 2, 2018, 6:32 AM ET
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Tesla just had its worst month in more than seven years, but Elon Musk isn’t letting that keep him from his fun.

On Sunday Musk tweeted an April Fools joke indicating Tesla (TSLA) had gone bankrupt.

Tesla Goes Bankrupt
Palo Alto, California, April 1, 2018 — Despite intense efforts to raise money, including a last-ditch mass sale of Easter Eggs, we are sad to report that Tesla has gone completely and totally bankrupt. So bankrupt, you can't believe it.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 1, 2018

Hours earlier he had teased the “news” saying on Twitter that there would be an “important announcement in a few hours. He later followed up by tweeting an image of himself “passed out against a Tesla Model 3”, apparently using Tesla packaging as a blanket.

Elon was found passed out against a Tesla Model 3, surrounded by "Teslaquilla" bottles, the tracks of dried tears still visible on his cheeks.

This is not a forward-looking statement, because, obviously, what's the point?

Happy New Month! pic.twitter.com/YcouvFz6Y1

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 1, 2018

But regulators and shareholders don’t think late deliveries, the recall of 123,000 Model S sedans, or the death of Model X driver are any laughing matter. March saw a 22% decline in Tesla’s stock price in the wake of these crises, leading Moody’s to cut Tesla’s rating further into junk status.

On Sunday, the National Transportation Safety Board said it was “unhappy” with the details Tesla disclosed about the death of a Model X driver in a car crash. Following the incident, in which the car maker’s “Autopilot” feature reportedly played a role, Elon Musk said in a blog post that computer logs showed the driver didn’t have his hands on the wheel of the car for six seconds prior to the collision, even though the same computer logs reportedly showed he would have had five seconds to respond. The NTSB said the public discussion of details of the crash was “premature” on Tesla’s part.

Autopilot has played a role in other Tesla crashes leading to questions about whether drivers understand its intended purpose; it is not meant to act as a fully self-driving system.

About the Author
By Hallie Detrick
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in


Most Popular

Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

    Latest in


    Most Popular

    © 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
    FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.