Tech billionaire Elon Musk has mocked the fourth of July video of Mark Zuckerberg. The Meta CEO's clip quickly gained traction on Instagram, amassing over 800,000 likes and millions of views.
Elon Musk Responds to Mark Zuckerberg's Viral Fourth of July Video
Mark Zuckerberg posted the video on Instagram on Thursday showing him surfing in a tuxedo, holding an American flag, and enjoying a drink to celebrate the fourth of July.
While many of his followers praised his unique and light-hearted celebration of Independence Day, Elon Musk took a different view. Musk said he preferred to work rather than "have fun" with leisurely activities like yachting, implying a contrast in Zuckerberg's priorities and lifestyles.
"May he (Zuckerberg) continue to have fun on his yachts. I prefer to work," the tech billionaire said in his X post on Friday.
Musk's statement also came a day after Threads, a rival of X, reached 175 million monthly active users. The video marks part of a rebrand that has shifted Zuck's image from computer nerd to billionaire persona.
In 2020, Zuckerberg faced criticism after photos surfaced of him on a similar board to the one seen in Thursday's video, wearing a blue hoodie, shorts, and a sunscreen-covered face.
Zuckerberg's 40th birthday celebration also took an unexpected twist when his wife organized a distinctive photoshoot. Against a backdrop of retro technology, Zuckerberg exudes a relaxed and cool vibe.
He sports a thick gold chain around his neck, accentuating his bold graphic tee emblazoned with gothic-style texts that read: "Carthago delenda est," which means "Carthage must die."
This departure from his typical attire marks a noticeable shift in Zuckerberg's fashion choices. Zuckerberg's recent change in style has sparked widespread discussion. For years, he has been known for his consistent gray shirt and jeans attire, reflecting his focus on more substantial issues beyond fashion trends.
In April, an Instagram video highlighting updates to Meta's AI assistant shifted attention not only to technological advancements but also to Zuckerberg's previous fashion statement.
Despite Zuckerberg's original intent to share updates about Meta AI, the altered image quickly captured the imagination of fans and followers. The simplicity of Zuckerberg's attire in the video and adding a beard in the altered photo sparked a wave of creative comparisons and memes across social media platforms.
Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg Rivalry
Elon Musk has taunted Mark Zuckerberg on multiple occasions. Their rivalry intensified in 2023 following a dispute involving a satellite mishap.
Musk and Zuckerberg had even proposed a cage fight, though Zuckerberg later canceled it, citing Musk's failure to confirm a date. By launching Threads, Zuckerberg entered direct competition with Musk, who owns X, formerly known as Twitter. It added fuel to their rivalry.
Since Musk acquired X, the social media platform has seen a decline in performance compared to its competitors. However, Musk maintained that the micro-blogging site remains popular, boasting 550 million monthly active users.
In March, it was reported that the number of people using X daily had dropped by 23% since Musk bought it in late 2022. Threads reportedly surpassed X by April, with 28 million daily users compared to X's 22 million.
Since Threads was unveiled, Zuckerberg has promoted the platform as a "calmer" option to X and a more positive type of social media for the public. Musk brought up the cage fight issue again on Zuckerberg's 40th birthday in May.
He expressed willingness to fight Zuckerberg anywhere and under any rules but received no response. However, Zuckerberg seemed to have moved on as the Meta CEO urged the public to focus on other matters. He said: "I think we can all agree Elon isn't serious and it's time to move on."
