Musk vs. Zuck
There will never be a cage match between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg.
Regardless of the hype, public taunting, and negotiations, neither Elon Musk nor Mark Zuckerberg will ever lay a hand on the other.
Why? Because on so many levels, the myriad and substantial risks of a legitimate, violent, potentially physically harmful Musk vs. Zuckerberg fight far outweigh any possible benefits.
I am not a prophet, futurist, or fortune teller. However, with over thirty years of experience advising leaders in government, the military, sports, religious organizations, and global companies on crisis management, risk mitigation, corporate communications, and public relations, I can say a Zuck vs. Musk physical fight has the potential for catastrophe. And they both know it.
The first rule in crisis and reputation management is identifying and prioritizing risks. Successful organizations spend countless hours and resources before potentially damaging events and circumstances to plan and prepare for the worst. This exercise starts with listing the facts – what is known – and then using various tools to identify worst-case scenarios.
Next is an analysis of the most likely outcomes and to prioritize the most significant threats and risks to human life and well-being, property, public exposure, and reputation.
The future is unknowable, and in professional crisis management, we know that anything can occur and never dare tempt fate by saying, “It will never happen.”
Benjamin Franklin said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail."
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” — Ben Franklin
In a Musk vs. Zuck fighting match, first, the facts:
Elon Musk is 52, the father of at least six children, and the wealthiest person in the world, with an estimated net worth of over $225 billion. Musk is the CEO of the publicly traded automotive company Tesla, Inc., the founder and chairman of SpaceX, the owner of the social network X (formerly known as Twitter), the founder of The Boring Company, and the co-founder of Neuralink and OpenAI. Musk’s companies employ over 100,000 people, along with the countless other constituencies benefiting from Musk being alive and active.
Mark Zuckerberg is 39, married, and the father of three children. Zuckerberg’s net worth is estimated at approximately $107 billion. Zuckerberg is the co-founder, executive chairman, CEO, and controlling shareholder of Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook, Inc.), one of the world’s most valuable companies and one of the ten most publicly traded corporations in the United States. As of June 2023, Meta employs approximately 80,000 people. There is a tangible benefit to Zuckerberg being vital and well.
Imagine a legitimate Mixed Martial Art (MMA) fight between Musk and Zuck. Both train, both feel ready, and both are intent on winning. It is, as promoted, the fight of the century. Blows are thrown, the crowd goes wild, and then it happens; one slips, falls, and breaks their neck. Or, a punch results in the other in a coma. A kick to the groin results in embarrassment or infertility. A punch to the face results in disfigurement or loss of sight. Even a loss of consciousness could have dire consequences. And worse, in front of millions, possibly billions of people, after a series of devastating blows, one of the opponents dies.
In this scenario, one of the leaders is dead or injured, and the other is the perpetrator, the aggressor. Who then takes over the leadership role for the fighter’s organizations? With no clear public succession plan for either company, turmoil and chaos would ensue.
If Musk or Zuckerberg were killed or severely hurt due to this fight, the challenging CEO causing the harm could face potential criminal charges, including manslaughter, assault, or even murder, depending on the public display leading up to that fatal moment.
The injured leader, their family, organizations, and others may file civil lawsuits against the opposing leader and possibly the companies involved. This could lead to claims for damages, medical expenses, loss of income, and potentially punitive damages.
Employees, shareholders, family, colleagues, and others worldwide would undoubtedly be affected emotionally and psychologically by such a violent and disturbing display.
Regulatory bodies, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the United States, may investigate whether the incident reveals any violations of securities laws, corporate governance, or disclosure requirements.
The list of potential corporate, regulatory, reputational, insurance, legal, financial, supply chain, and employee trauma risks is incalculable. What laws were broken due to potential violations of security laws, safety regulations, and fiduciary responsibilities? Not to mention the reputational hit to both individuals, their leadership, respective brands, and their overall public perception.
The former professional boxer Mike Tyson famously said, “Everyone has a plan, ‘till they’re punched in the mouth.”
“Everyone has a plan, ‘till they’re punched in the mouth.” — Mike Tyson
Despite the much-hyped cage match fight between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, they will never publicly be placed in a situation where they can potentially hurt each other.
The buzz of Zuck vs. Musk may have already served its purpose, generating late-summertime, lighthearted PR. Still, the proposed fight is a terrible idea, and it will never, should never, happen.
Note: I am not currently advising either man or their companies.
Robbie Vorhaus
Robbie Vorhaus is a critical issues advisor, supporting global leaders to successfully navigate consequential crises, reputational issues, and communications challenges. Robbie is a media contributor, best-selling author, entrepreneur, ordained minister, and LGBTQ-friendly wedding officiant based in Austin, Texas. He is happily married to the artist, Candace Connors Vorhaus.
Further Reading
Elon Musk’s Creep Show by Casey Newton