Numerous rumors and claims about Elon Musk, the founder and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, have been widely circulated on social media over the past month. The latest viral rumor claims the world’s richest billionaire had acquired CNN for $3 billion. This rumor has gained significant traction online, generating a multitude of reactions, comments, and shares. However, our investigation has confirmed that the claim is false.
SOCIAL MEDIA CLAIM
A widely circulated claim on social media in recent days suggests that Canadian-American billionaire Elon Musk has acquired the U.S. media giant CNN for $3 billion. This move is purportedly seen as an attempt by the world’s richest person to reshape the media landscape in the U.S.
This claim has garnered significant attention on social media, accumulating a large number of shares, reactions, and comments. Many users have engaged with the post, expressing their belief in its authenticity.
Below is a snapshot of the widespread claim posted on Facebook on November 10, 2024, saying “Elon Musk agrees to $3 billion to buy CNN. Elon Musk reportedly eyeing the CNN acquisition. I’ll fix media, one network at a time.”
As this claim has gone viral on social media, it can be found in various posts: Link 1 (archived), Link 2 (archived), Link 3 (archived), Link 4 (archived), or Link 5 (archived).
The same claim has been widely spreading on other social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter) and Meta’s newly created Threads.
Below is a snapshot of the claim on X from November 09, 2024, stating, “Elon Musk makes a hostile bid to acquire CNN for $3b.”
Below is a snapshot of the claim on Threads from November 07, 2024, stating, “Breaking News: Elon Musk agrees to $3 billion to buy CNN. Elon Musk reportedly eyeing the CNN acquisition. I’ll fix the media, one network at a time.”
After the claim spread widely in English on social media, it has also gone viral in the Khmer language, shared extensively by Khmer-speaking users in recent days.
On November 9, 2024, a claim circulated on Facebook stating, “Elon Musk, owner of SpaceX, has acquired CNN for $3 billion.”
A senior member of the Cambodian Royal Government also posted this claim on Facebook yesterday. The post suggested that if Elon Musk, who has political affiliations with U.S. President-elect Donald J. Trump, acquires CNN, the media battleground in the U.S. will shift from “fact to popularism.”
Below is a snapshot of the November 9, 2024, Facebook post from Huy Vannak, who is the Secretary of State and President of the Union of Journalist Federations of Cambodia (UJFC).
As the claim has gone viral on social media, it can also be found in the Khmer language: Link 1 (archived), Link 2 (archived), and Link 3 (archived).
FACT CHECK
Fact Crescendo initiated the debunking process by examining credible news reports from internationally reputable media outlets in the United States of America. This thorough investigation revealed the following facts.
As of November 11, major international media outlets, including the BBC in the UK, ABC in the U.S., and other reputable sources, have not reported this news at all.
As of November 11, 2024, CNN has not reported any bid submitted by billionaire Elon Musk.
CNN, a television network based in Atlanta, Georgia, is part of Warner Bros. Discovery, following their merger in 2022.
Upon searching CNN’s newsroom, there is no official announcement from Warner Bros. Discovery regarding a bid for CNN by Elon Musk as of November 11, 2024.
The world’s richest billionaire, Elon Musk, has not mentioned anything about a bid for CNN on his X (formerly Twitter) account either.
Instead, we found debunked reports published by USA TODAY, stating that the viral claim about Elon Musk acquiring CNN is satirically false.
The American media outlet reached this conclusion after finding no official announcements from Warner Bros. Discovery or Elon Musk.
Another fact-checking media outlet, Snopes, has also reached the same conclusion regarding this viral rumor.
Both debunked reports stated that the rumor was baseless and lacked any factual support, having been spread without proper attribution.
According to a Forbes report, Elon Musk, 53, founder and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, saw his fortune surpass $300 billion after Donald J. Trump was re-elected as the next U.S. President.
The South Africa-born billionaire fully acquired the social media platform Twitter for $44 billion in 2022, later renaming it to X.
CONCLUSION
Fact Crescendo has determined that the viral claim mentioned above is false. Our investigation revealed that there has been no official announcement from CNN’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, or Elon Musk regarding a bid for the television network. This conclusion is supported by the absence of any credible reports or statements from either party involved.
Title:Viral Rumor Claims Elon Musk Has Acquired CNN for $3 Billion
Written By: Jay UdomResult: False
