Elon Musk said on Wednesday that he was joking when he tweeted to his 103 million followers that he was buying English soccer team Manchester United.
The billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX sent the internet ablaze with his surprise announcement on Tuesday that he was purchasing the storied team, only to clarify that it was a joke four hours after his initial tweet.
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“To be clear, I support the left half of the Republican Party and the right half of the Democratic Party!” Musk tweeted on Tuesday, and he immediately followed that up by saying, “Also, I’m buying Manchester United ur welcome.”
Also, I’m buying Manchester United ur welcome
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 17, 2022
The tweet quickly generated over 100,000 retweets and 400,000 likes and sent Manchester United fans into a frenzy speculating on what the world’s richest man’s fortune could do to the floundering team, which is last in the English Premier League standings.
Elon Musk programming Ronaldo to go back to his prime years #MUFC pic.twitter.com/OTXXZIYLXH
— Xirociroc♂️ (@canelo____) August 17, 2022
I for one welcome our new Tesla overlords. pic.twitter.com/5ojiCF2V4S
— Paddy (@OddsOnFPL) August 17, 2022
The excitement was short-lived, with Musk later clarifying that his shock announcement was a joke.
“No, this is a long-running joke on Twitter. I’m not buying any sports teams,” Musk tweeted when asked by a Twitter user if he was serious.
No, this is a long-running joke on Twitter. I’m not buying any sports teams.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 17, 2022
“Standup is my side-hustle,” added Musk, who has a habit of making jokes, sharing memes, and trolling on Twitter.
Standup is my side-hustle
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 17, 2022
Manchester United was ranked earlier this year in a study by Betsperts as the world’s second most popular sports team. The club, known as the “Red Devils,” is valued at $4.6 billion by Forbes, well within reach for Musk, whose estimated net worth is $268 billion, according to Bloomberg. It is owned by the six children of the late owner Malcolm Glazer, an American, and the team features a starting lineup that includes Portuguese great Cristiano Ronaldo, a five-time winner of the Ballon d’Or, soccer’s greatest individual award.
Musk’s joke comes as he seeks to back out of a $44 billion deal to buy Twitter four months after announcing on the social media platform he would buy the company, which is in the process of taking Musk to court over his change of heart.
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The business tycoon offered Manchester United supporters hoping he will indeed someday purchase the team a glimmer of hope by tweeting that if he were to buy a team, it would be Manchester United.
“Although, if it were any team, it would be Man U. They were my fav team as a kid,” Musk tweeted.
Although, if it were any team, it would be Man U. They were my fav team as a kid.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 17, 2022
