Elon Musk's tweet hinting at drug ties costs him 7 billion dollars

The Mexican magnate Carlos Slim Helú, the main shareholder of América Móvil, sought to collaborate with Elon Musk and his company Starlink to expand telecommunications coverage in Mexico.

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However, a controversial tweet from Musk, in which he suggested that Slim had ties to drug trafficking, led the businessman to withdraw from the negotiations, resulting in a loss of approximately 7 billion dollars for Musk.

The public exchange took place in a context of tensions between the United States and Mexico, where Musk, now an influential figure in the U.S. government, seems to have deeply affected the trade relationship.

Goodbye to a contract for “big mouth”

After the breakup with Starlink, Slim has decided to increase his investment in telecommunications infrastructure to a total of 22 billion dollars, opting to develop his own network instead of relying on a collaboration with Musk.

The CEO of América Móvil, Daniel Hajj, has left open the possibility of collaborating with companies from China or Europe for the implementation of new infrastructure, stating that “we are always open to synergies that make sense for us.”

This stance adds to a context where the 25% tariffs imposed by the United States on imports strongly impact bilateral relations.

Moreover, the situation highlights the complicated dynamics of power and trust between companies and governments today, especially in an environment where communication and public relations can quickly change the course of large investments.

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In this regard, the incident between Slim and Musk is a clear example of how a single message can significantly alter the business landscape.