On April 10, 2025, an unexpected turn in the world of celebrity and business made headlines when Hollywood star Robert De Niro launched a vicious attack on tech billionaire Elon Musk. The reason for this was the dramatic collapse of Tesla shares, which fell by 15% in a matter of hours after reports of production problems and supply chain crises emerged. De Niro, known for his outspoken manner, used the opportunity to publicly mock Musk, leaving no doubt about his glee in an interview with Variety: “He deserves to take this, that bastard…” The actor’s words, which rubbed salt in the wounds of the beleaguered entrepreneur, triggered a wave of reactions and brought the tensions between the two powerful figures into the spotlight.
The context of this verbal attack goes back a long way. De Niro and Musk have been on opposing sides for years, particularly since Musk’s acquisition of Twitter (now X) in 2022 and his increasingly conservative political stance. De Niro, a vocal critic of Donald Trump and an advocate of liberal values, had repeatedly called Musk “dangerous,” particularly for his support of certain political figures and his controversial statements on issues such as freedom of speech and climate change. Musk, in turn, had in the past dismissed De Niro as an “out-of-touch Hollywood guy” who was ignorant of the real world. This feud, which had long simmered beneath the surface, now exploded as Tesla’s stock price plummeted.
The collapse of Tesla shares came at an inopportune time for Musk. The company, once considered untouchable, has been struggling with challenges for months: Production delays for the new Cybertruck line, rising battery costs, and increasing competition from Chinese electric car manufacturers like BYD have shaken investor confidence. On April 9, Bloomberg published a report revealing internal problems at Tesla, including strikes at a key factory in Shanghai and quality defects in its latest models. The news triggered an immediate stock market reaction, and Tesla’s market value shrank by billions. For Musk, who has invested a large portion of his wealth in Tesla, this was a personal and financial blow.
De Niro’s comments came just hours after the stock market crash, when reporters at an event in Los Angeles asked him about the situation. The 81-year-old actor, known for his roles in classics such as “The Godfather Part II” and “Taxi Driver,” didn’t hold back: “I don’t feel sorry for him,” he said with a gleeful smile. “He put himself in this situation with his arrogance and bad decisions. He deserves to take it, the bastard.” De Niro went even further, criticizing Musk’s leadership style: “He thinks he can rule the world, but now he sees reality catching up with him. Maybe he’s finally learning the meaning of humility.”
Reactions to De Niro’s words were divided. Musk’s followers on X passionately defended him and accused De Niro of taking credit for a man who had revolutionized the world of technology. “De Niro should be concerned with his movies, not with things he doesn’t understand,” wrote one user. Others, however, agreed with the actor and saw Musk’s backlash as a kind of poetic justice. “Musk has made many enemies,” commented another. “Now he’s paying the price.” The debate raged on social media, and hashtags like #DeNiroVsMusk and #TeslaCrash became global trends.
For Musk, the day marked another low point in an already difficult year. In addition to the problems at Tesla, he is also under pressure due to recent revelations about his Platform X, which is embroiled in a scandal involving the release of sensitive data. Sources close to Musk report that he took De Niro’s criticism personally but has not yet responded publicly. Instead, he is focused on regaining investor confidence, promising in a press release to resolve Tesla’s production issues “as quickly as possible.”
The feud between De Niro and Musk demonstrates how deep the rifts between Hollywood and the tech world can be. While De Niro openly displays his glee, Musk faces the challenge of saving his empire—and perhaps his reputation. The world is watching with bated breath to see if Musk can recover from this setback or if De Niro’s words were prophetic. One thing is certain: this feud is far from over, and the tension between the two will continue to dominate headlines.
