Ever wonder what happens when the guy who wants to colonize Mars picks a fight with the man who basically owns the internet in Latin America? It’s not a pretty sight. Honestly, it’s a mess. Most people think billionaires just play golf and agree on everything, but the drama between Elon Musk and Carlos Slim proves that even at that level of wealth, things can get incredibly petty.
The two have been orbiting each other for years. One is a Silicon Valley disruptor who thrives on chaos and 3:00 AM tweets. The other is a classic industrialist who built a telecommunications empire through steady, monopolistic precision. They’re opposites in every way that matters.
The $7 Billion Retweet
Things went south fast in early 2025. You might have missed it, but it changed the map of global internet access. Musk did what Musk does: he posted something impulsive. He retweeted a post that suggested Slim had connections to the criminal underworld in Mexico, adding a cryptic detective emoji.
Big mistake. Huge.
In the U.S., billionaires trade insults like trading cards. In Mexico, reputation is everything. Slim didn't wait around for a clarification or an apology. Within days, his company, América Móvil—the titan that dominates telecom from Mexico City to Buenos Aires—axed its partnership with SpaceX’s Starlink project.
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That one tweet supposedly wiped out a projected $70 billion collaboration. It also cost Musk an estimated $7 billion in immediate value and his biggest partner in 25 different countries. That's a lot of money for an emoji.
Why Carlos Slim is the Billionaire You Shouldn't Mess With
Carlos Slim Helú isn't just "rich." At one point, he was the richest person on the planet, beating out Bill Gates before the tech boom made $200 billion look like pocket change. As of early 2026, he’s still the undisputed king of Latin American business, with a net worth hovering around $100 billion.
His strategy is simple: find a "bottleneck" industry and own it.
- Telephones: He bought Telmex when it was a state monopoly.
- Retail: He owns Sanborns and Sears Mexico.
- Infrastructure: His companies build the roads, the pipelines, and the buildings.
While Elon Musk is gambling on the future—AI, robots, and rockets—Slim is making money off things you use every single day. If you live in Mexico, you are likely giving Carlos Slim money several times a day without even realizing it.
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Musk’s wealth is famously volatile. In January 2026, reports put his net worth at a staggering $726 billion, largely thanks to the surge in Tesla and xAI. But that wealth is tied to stock prices. Slim’s wealth is tied to the actual flow of physical goods and services. He’s the old guard, and he doesn’t like being disrespected by the new money.
The Great Satellite War: Starlink vs. Everyone Else
When Slim pulled the plug on Starlink, he didn't just walk away. He went to the competition. He redirected that $22 billion investment toward AST SpaceMobile and several European and Chinese firms.
This isn't just a business tiff; it’s a geopolitical shift. By pushing Slim away, Musk inadvertently handed the keys to the Latin American internet market to competitors. China is more than happy to fill the gap that SpaceX left behind.
Musk is currently dealing with a flood of controversies in 2026, including regulatory heat over his Grok AI chatbot and plummeting ad revenue on X. Losing a partner like Slim, who provides the boots-on-the-ground infrastructure in dozens of countries, is a massive strategic blunder.
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Two Different Worlds
| Feature | Elon Musk | Carlos Slim |
|---|---|---|
| Philosophy | "First principles" and disruption. | "Patience and buying low." |
| Core Asset | Tesla, SpaceX, xAI, X. | América Móvil, Grupo Carso. |
| Social Presence | Extremely active, often controversial. | Almost non-existent; very private. |
| Relationship to Gov | Contentious, loves to fight regulators. | Very close to the Mexican state; "Plan Mexico" partner. |
What Most People Get Wrong About This Rivalry
People think this is about who has more money. It's not. It's about how they use that money to exert power.
Musk uses his wealth to try and dictate the future of the human race. He wants to change how we think, how we drive, and where we live. Slim uses his wealth to stabilize the present. He wants to ensure that the infrastructure of the world stays firmly under his control.
When Elon Musk and Carlos Slim clashed over that tweet, it was a collision of two different eras of capitalism. Slim represents the 20th-century model of physical monopolies. Musk represents the 21st-century model of digital influence.
Actionable Takeaways from the Musk-Slim Fallout
If you're looking at this from a business or investment perspective, there are a few real-world lessons you can take to the bank:
- Cultural Intelligence Trumps Innovation: You can have the best tech in the world (Starlink), but if you don't understand the cultural nuances of your partners (like Slim's value on reputation), you will lose the contract.
- Diversification is Survival: Musk’s reliance on his personal brand is his greatest strength and his biggest weakness. Slim’s boring, diversified conglomerate (Grupo Carso) makes him nearly untouchable by market swings or social media PR disasters.
- Watch the Competition: Keep an eye on AST SpaceMobile and Chinese telecom firms in the coming months. They are the primary beneficiaries of this billionaire breakup.
- Reputation is a Currency: In Latin American markets, business is personal. A single social media post can destroy decades of relationship building in five minutes.
The fallout is still settling. While Musk focuses on his "Robotaxi" vision for 2026, Slim is doubling down on natural gas deals and 5G infrastructure. They might never speak again, but their shadow war will determine who controls the internet for hundreds of millions of people.