They are two of the richest people in the world.
They have even each worn the symbolic crown of the richest person in the world in the past.
They are both serial entrepreneurs.
In addition to the rankings of the big fortunes of the planet, they also compete in the conquest of space, as they have set up companies that are in competition with each other. They are Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. The first is the CEO of automaker Tesla (TSLA), the founder of SpaceX and the owner of Twitter. The second is the founder of Amazon (AMZN) and Blue Origin.
Musk is 51 and Bezos is 59. While they are both disruptors, they nevertheless have a different lifestyle. Musk is less flamboyant. Bezos loves the spotlight and red carpets. Musk is the second richest person in the world with a net worth valued at $169 billion, as of May 7, by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. He is preceded by the French tycoon Bernard Arnault, whose wealth is estimated at $206 billion. Bezos is third in this ranking with an estimated net worth of $129 billion.
The Two Billionaires Visiting Formula One
On May 6, the two billionaires were at the same place. They were both visiting the 2023 Formula One Miami Grand Prix at the Miami International Autodrome. But they were guests of two different teams, during the final practice lap, before the race which took place this Sunday.
Musk, who was accompanied by his 3-year-old son X, visited the Red Bull team of outgoing world champion Max Verstappen. Pictures circulated of him with X in his arms, chatting with the team leaders and looking closely at the cars. He wore a cap and a khaki t-shirt.
Bezos, accompanied by his girlfriend Lauren Sanchez, wore a black t-shirt revealing his muscles, and jeans. He and Sanchez visited the McLaren team. Nothing indicates that the two billionaires and rivals actually met.
Still, Musk took advantage of a tweet from a user on May 7, showing a Bezos interview with Jay Leno from 1999, to criticize his billionaire peer by commenting on his physique. In the 1999 video, Bezos appears less physically imposing. Musk made a point of emphasizing this aspect.
"Jeff Bezos 1999 on The Jay Leno Show," the Twitter user said.
"Now he’s super buff," Musk commented, adding a picture of Bezos and Sanchez walking holding hands at the 2023 Formula One Miami event.
Bezos has yet to respond.
Musk Scolds Bezos
This isn't the first time Musk has criticized or mocked his rival's lifestyle. In May 2022, Musk scolded his billionaire peer by asking him to make an important choice. It happened after he was asked by a Twitter user the following question: "Do you think Bezos is (generally) a good person?"
"He’s fine, I guess," Musk said. He then took the opportunity to send a flurry of criticism to Bezos.
"Does seem like he’s spending a lot of time in the hot tub these days," he added, referring probably to press articles in the tabloids chronicling the holidays of Bezos and his girlfriend Lauren Sanchez in St. Barts.
"If he wants to get to orbit, less partying and more work would be advisable," Musk concluded.
