Elon Musk has just placed an eye-watering $97 billion bid to acquire OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT.
While this move is making headlines across the tech world, Tesla investors are worried—and for good reason.
If Musk needs cash to fund the deal, history suggests he may sell a significant portion of his Tesla shares, just like he did when he bought Twitter in 2022.
So, how much Tesla stock could Musk sell? And what does this mean for TSLA shareholders? Let’s break it down.
Will Musk Sell Tesla Shares to Fund the OpenAI Deal?
Yes, Elon Musk is the richest person in the world, with a net worth of over $400 billion. But most of his wealth is not liquid—it’s tied up in Tesla, SpaceX, X (formerly Twitter), and other ventures.
Here’s the key issue:
- Tesla is the only publicly traded company in Musk’s portfolio.
- If Musk needs quick cash, he will likely sell Tesla shares.
Currently, Musk owns 412 million Tesla shares, valued at $150 billion—or 13% of the company.
But this wasn’t always the case.
Before buying Twitter in 2022, Musk owned nearly 17% of Tesla.
- To fund the Twitter deal, Musk sold around $29 billion worth of Tesla stock.
Tesla Investors Are Concerned – And With Good Reason
Tesla investors still remember 2022, when Musk’s stock sales led to wild price swings.
What happened last time?
- Tesla shares tumbled by 10-18% in just a few days—without any apparent reason.
- It was only later revealed that Musk was offloading billions in Tesla stock to fund his Twitter acquisition.
The problem for Tesla investors:
- Musk selling Tesla shares puts downward pressure on the stock.
- More shares in circulation = less scarcity = lower stock price.
- Even Musk’s biggest supporters should be concerned about this dilution.
Tesla Stock Is Already Reacting
- As news of Musk’s OpenAI bid spread, Tesla shares dropped from an intraday high of $360 to $347.
Did Elon’s Brother, Kimbal Musk, Know About the Deal?
Another red flag for Tesla investors. Kimbal Musk, Elon’s brother and Tesla board member, sold 75,000 Tesla shares worth $27 million—just one day before the OpenAI news broke.
Coincidence?
- Maybe.
A sign that he knew what was coming?
- Highly likely.
Why This Matters:
- Kimbal still owns 1.4 million Tesla shares worth $500 million, so this was a small sale for him.
- But Kimbal has a history of selling Tesla stock at the top, often right before major news events.
And he wasn’t the only one selling Tesla stock.
- Other top Tesla executives, including Tesla’s chairwoman and CFO, also dumped millions of dollars worth of TSLA shares in the past week.
Who Else Is Backing Musk’s OpenAI Deal?
Musk isn’t going into this alone. He has lined up a group of high-profile investors, including:
- Venture capital firms
- Sovereign wealth funds
- Banks and financial institutions
- Billionaire friends (like Larry Ellison)
Why This Matters for Tesla Investors
- Hundreds—if not thousands—of people already knew about the $97 billion OpenAI deal before the public did.
- These insiders could have adjusted their Tesla positions ahead of the news.
- Some investors may have already been front-running Musk’s Tesla stock sales.
Tesla stock has been falling since December 5
- TSLA peaked at $470 per share and has been declining ever since.
How Bad Will This Be for Tesla Shareholders?
Right now, it’s too early to tell how Musk’s OpenAI deal will affect Tesla long-term.
Possible Risks:
- Musk selling billions in Tesla stock again could trigger another sell-off.
- More shares in circulation = dilution = weaker stock price.
- Institutional investors may lose confidence if Musk appears too distracted by other ventures.
Possible Upsides:
- If Musk secures outside funding without selling much Tesla stock, the impact may be limited.
- Tesla’s long-term growth story remains strong despite short-term turbulence.
- If OpenAI becomes a massive success under Musk’s leadership, Tesla could benefit indirectly from his AI advancements.
Should Tesla Investors Be Worried?
Elon Musk is making moves that could reshape AI and technology.
But his actions could also create chaos for Tesla investors—just like in 2022.
If Musk sells billions in Tesla stock, expect a repeat of past volatility.
For now, Tesla shareholders should stay alert—because things are about to get interesting.
What do you think? Will Musk’s OpenAI bid hurt Tesla shareholders? Drop your thoughts in the comments.
