More trouble for intolerant Musk

SECURITIES FRAUD CHARGES: MISLEADING TWEET

He smoked a joint during an interview and insulted a Thailand cave rescue diver.

The founder and chief executive of Tesla and other companies now faces securities fraud charges over a tweet which regulators said misled investors about taking the electric automaker private.

The charges come with Musk facing increased scrutiny over his volatile behaviour that has included smoking marijuana during a podcast interview and assailing a Briton involved in the Thailand cave rescue as a “pedo guy.”

Musk has built the widely-admired auto-manufacturer with global ambitions Tesla, along with the private space exploration firm SpaceX, the brain-computer interface startup Neuralink and Boring Company – designed to build tunnels that could transform mass transportation.

This month, SpaceX said it would send Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa to fly around the moon as early as 2023.

But his eccentric behaviour has fuelled concerns in recent months over his ability to manage his vast empire.

“At times, Musk appears to be working against himself,” said analyst Gene Munster.

Born in South Africa, Musk has also had a stormy personal life, having been divorced three times – twice from the same woman – and has five living sons. – AFP