Elon Musk Doubles Down on Recession Fears, Says It Is 'Inevitable' The billionaire spoke on the possibility of a looming recession at the Qatar Iconic Forum in Doha on Tuesday.

By Emily Rella

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Looming fears of an economic recession have plagued Wall Street and the country as a whole, and billionaire Elon Musk's latest comments will not help to ease any worry.

In an interview with Bloomberg at the Qatar Iconic Forum in Doha on Tuesday, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO spoke about the possibility of an upcoming recession.

"A recession is inevitable at some point," he told Bloomberg News Editor-in-Chief John Micklethwait. As to whether there is a recession in the near term, that is more likely than not … It is not a certainty, but it appears more likely than not."

Related: 'Bankruptcies Need to Happen': Elon Musk Sounds Off on Potential Economic Recession

In late May, Musk addressed the matter on Twitter after one of his followers asked him whether or not the billionaire thought the U.S. was approaching a recession.

"Yes, but this is actually a good thing. It has been raining money on fools for too long. Some bankruptcies need to happen," he said somewhat optimistically.

Musk then followed up by saying he expected the economy to suffer for 12 to 18 months and noted that companies with a negative cash flow needed to fold in order for this to happen so that they can "stop consuming resources."

The billionaire CEO echoes comments made by JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon who warned that an economic "hurricane" was on the horizon earlier this month thanks to inflation and rising interest rates.

"We just don't know if it's a minor one or Superstorm Sandy," he said at a financial conference. "You better brace yourself."

Related: Tesla Is Cutting 10% of Workforce, Elon Musk Says He Has a 'Super Bad Feeling' About the Economy

Musk himself is feeling the pressure — in early June, he wrote an email to Tesla employees saying he had a "super bad feeling" about the state of the economy and planned to cut 10% of the company's total workforce.

As per an end of year SEC filing Tesla was employing 99,290 people worldwide by the end of 2021.

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.

Innovation

4 Ways Market Leaders Use Innovation to Foster Business Growth

Forward-thinkers constantly strive to diversify and streamline their products and services, turning novelties into commodities desired by many.

Business News

'Nobody Ever Gave Me Anything': More Boomers Say They're Not Transferring Wealth to Family Until They're Dead

A new survey from Charles Schwab found boomers are more hesitant to distribute their wealth than other generations.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Science & Technology

10 Apps and Tools to Make Your Small Business Better and More Efficient

When you don't have the resources to build custom solutions, you can rely on these affordable (or free) fixes.

Business News

Fans of Costco's $1.50 Hot Dog Combo Are In for a Big Surprise

Costco CEO Ron Vachris announced a change that's coming soon to the company's food courts.

Leadership

How a Mindfulness Practice Can Help You Beat Tech Overwhelm

This article explores how mindfulness can transform your tech choices, ensuring technology serves your business goals without adding unnecessary complexity.