Warren Buffett's BYD surpasses Elon Musk's Tesla as top EV seller

Warren Buffett and Elon Musk, two of the world’s most influential business figures, have a complex relationship marked by mutual respect and contrasting approaches. Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, has praised Musk as a "brilliant, brilliant guy" with solid ambitions but has expressed no desire to compete directly with him. Meanwhile, Musk has been openly critical of Buffett’s investment style, calling it "pretty boring" and emphasizing his own focus on engineering and manufacturing rather than capital allocation. Their differing philosophies highlight a fundamental contrast—Buffett as a strategic investor and Musk as a hands-on technologist.

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Elon Musk criticizes Warren Buffett for missing Tesla investment, praises BYD Bet

Musk has also suggested that Buffett missed a major opportunity by not investing in Tesla when its market capitalization was just $200 million. Instead, Berkshire Hathaway invested in BYD, a Chinese electric vehicle company that has since surpassed Tesla in global EV sales. Despite this, Musk has publicly encouraged Buffett to reconsider Tesla, though Buffett has remained steadfast in his long-term value investment strategy. This divergence in decision-making further illustrates their differing approaches to business growth and financial management.

Their public exchanges have been a mix of critique and admiration. While Musk has challenged Buffett’s cautious investment philosophy, Buffett has never shown interest in Tesla, sticking to companies that align with his principles of predictable, long-term value. At times, Musk has suggested that Buffett’s cautious style limits his ability to capitalize on disruptive technologies. However, Buffett has repeatedly emphasized that his approach focuses on steady, well-established businesses rather than high-risk, high-reward ventures.

Warren Buffett and Elon Musk: Two titans, two strategies shaping global business

Despite their differences, both men remain dominant figures in their respective industries. Buffett continues to influence global markets with his value-driven investments, while Musk leads groundbreaking technological advancements with Tesla, SpaceX, and other ventures. Their contrasting strategies showcase the diverse paths to success in the business world, reinforcing that both long-term value investing and disruptive innovation can yield immense rewards.

If you were referring to a specific acquisition or business deal between Buffett and Musk, no verifiable information supports such a claim. However, their ongoing rivalry and occasional interactions continue to shape discussions on investment, risk-taking, and technological advancement.