Get All Access for $5/mo

Elon Musk Sets Record Straight on Potential Purchase of Professional Sports Team: 'They Were My Fave Team as a Kid' The billionaire took to Twitter to discuss potentially acquiring the Manchester United soccer club.

By Emily Rella

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Win McNamee | Getty Images

Leave it to Elon Musk to anger yet another group of people on Twitter via his bold claims.

The Tesla CEO took to Twitter on Tuesday evening to brazenly claim that he would be purchasing Premier League soccer team Manchester United.

"Also, I'm buying Manchester United ur welcome," the billionaire told his 103 million followers.

Musk's stark announcement was quickly met with many asking him if he was "serious" before he eventually quipped back about two hours later confirming that no, he was not in fact actually purchasing the soccer team.

"No, this is a long-running joke on Twitter. I'm not buying any sports teams," Musk said bluntly. "Although, if it were any team, it would be Man U. They were my fav team as a kid."

Many Manchester United fans have had it rough the past few years, as the team hasn't won a title since 2013 and has gone through a whopping eight coaches in a 10-year period.

Some were urging Musk to change his mind, seeing him as the potential savior to invest in the team that is currently owned by the Glazer family, who also own the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"Please buy Manchester United," one user wrote to Musk. "Save us. The only hope is @elonmusk."

"Couldn't even let us have hope for even a day," another fan lamented.

It's estimated that Manchester United is worth $4.6 billion with an operating income of $128 million, according to Forbes.

Of course, this purchase would be significantly less than Musk's initial (and legally ongoing) bid to purchase Twitter for an estimated $44 billion, a bind that he's currently being sued for trying to back out of.

Musk also Tweeted early Wednesday that "standup" is his "side hustle," presumably pointing to the other purchases he's joked about making on Twitter, like Coca-Cola in which he claimed he would put illicit drugs back into the beverage upon his acquisition.

As of Wednesday morning, Musk's net worth was an estimated $266.5 billion.

Emily Rella

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Starting a Business

He Started a Business That Surpassed $100 Million in Under 3 Years: 'Consistent Revenue Right Out of the Gate'

Ryan Close, founder and CEO of Bartesian, had run a few small businesses on the side — but none of them excited him as much as the idea for a home cocktail machine.

Franchise

The Top 10 Coffee Franchises in 2024

From a classic cup of joe to a creamy latte, grab your favorite mug and get ready to brew up success with the best coffee franchises.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Business News

'Jaw-Dropping Performance in 2024,' Says a Senior Analyst as Nvidia Reports Earnings

Nvidia reported its highly-anticipated third-quarter earnings on Wednesday.

Business News

'Do You Sell Cars?': Tesla CEO Elon Musk Trolls Jaguar Rebrand on X

The team running Jaguar's X account was working hard on social media this week.

Marketing

How Small Businesses Can Leverage Dark Social to Drive Word-of-Mouth Marketing

Dark social accounts for 70% of social media shares and is crucial for small businesses. Here's how you can tap into this hidden marketing opportunity.