On April 10, 2025, an unexpected turn in the world of celebrity and business made headlines when Hollywood star Robert De Niro launched a vicious attack on tech billionaire Elon Musk. The reason was the dramatic collapse of Tesla’s stock, which fell 15% in a matter of hours following reports of production issues and a supply chain crisis.

De Niro, known for his outspokenness, took the opportunity to publicly mock Musk, making his delight clear in an interview with Variety: “That motherfucker deserves this…” The actor’s words, which rubbed salt in the wounds of the beleaguered entrepreneur, triggered a wave of reactions and highlighted the tension between the two powerful figures.

The context for this verbal attack is very old. De Niro and Musk have been feuding for years, especially since Musk acquired Twitter (now X) in 2022 and his increasingly conservative political stance.

De Niro, a staunch critic of Donald Trump and defender of liberal values, had repeatedly called Musk “dangerous,” particularly for his support for certain political figures and his controversial statements on issues such as freedom of speech and climate change. Musk, in turn, had called De Niro “an outdated Hollywood guy” who was ignorant of the real world. This long-simmering dispute erupted with the collapse of Tesla’s stock price.

Tesla’s stock plunge came at an inopportune time for Musk. The company, once considered untouchable, has been grappling with challenges for months: production delays for the new Cybertruck line, rising battery costs, and increasing competition from Chinese electric car makers like BYD have undermined investor confidence.

On April 9, Bloomberg published a report revealing internal problems at Tesla, including strikes at a key Shanghai factory and quality defects in its latest models. The news sparked an immediate stock market reaction, and Tesla’s market value fell by billions. For Musk, who has invested much of his wealth in Tesla, this was a severe personal and financial blow.

De Niro’s comments came just hours after the stock market crash, when reporters at an event in Los Angeles asked him about the situation. The 81-year-old actor, known for his roles in classics like “The Godfather Part II” and “Taxi Driver,” didn’t hold back: “I don’t feel sorry for him,” he said with a cheerful smile.

“He got himself into this situation with his arrogance and bad decisions. He deserves it, the son of a bitch.” De Niro went even further, criticizing Musk’s leadership style: “He thinks he can rule the world, but now he’s seeing reality catch up with him. Maybe he’s finally learning the meaning of humility.”

Reactions to De Niro’s comments were mixed. Musk’s followers on X vehemently defended him and accused him of taking credit for a man who had revolutionized the world of technology. “De Niro should worry about his movies, not things he doesn’t understand,” wrote one user. However, others agreed with the actor and considered Musk’s reaction a kind of poetic justice. “Musk has made a lot of enemies,” commented another. “Now he’s paying the price.” The debate erupted on social media, and hashtags like #DeNiroVsMusk and #TeslaCrash became global trends.

For Musk, the day marked another low point in an already difficult year. In addition to the problems at Tesla, he is also under pressure due to recent revelations about its Platform X, which was embroiled in a scandal over the disclosure of sensitive data.

Sources close to Musk report that he took De Niro’s criticism personally but has yet to respond publicly. Instead, he is focused on regaining investor confidence, promising in a press release to resolve Tesla’s production issues “as soon as possible.”

The dispute between De Niro and Musk demonstrates just how deep the divisions between Hollywood and the tech world can run. While De Niro openly displays his joy, Musk faces the challenge of saving his empire, and perhaps his reputation. The world is watching with bated breath to see whether Musk can recover from this setback or if De Niro’s words were prophetic. One thing is certain: this dispute is far from over, and the tension between the two will continue to make headlines.