LinkedIn Founder Reid Hoffman Angrily Denies Orchestrating Attacks on Elon Musk, Mocks Tesla’s Stock Crash

In a storm of allegations, denials, and not-so-subtle personal jabs, a very public feud between two tech titans has exploded into the open. Elon Musk, the mercurial and often confrontational CEO of Tesla and owner of X (formerly Twitter), has turned his attention toward Reid Hoffman, the billionaire founder of LinkedIn and fellow PayPal Mafia alumnus.

At the center of the firestorm is Musk’s dramatic claim that Hoffman is secretly bankrolling disruptive protest groups to target Tesla dealerships nationwide. Musk insists that an “investigation” has uncovered a sinister network of anti-Tesla activity funded through the Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue—linking both Hoffman and investor George Soros to these actions.

The Tesla CEO has labeled the link as “100 percent certain,” doubling down on his accusations in a post that’s since gone viral on his own platform.

Hoffman, for his part, hasn’t taken the attack lying down. In a rapid-fire exchange on X, the LinkedIn founder fired back with fierce sarcasm and some choice mockery. His response wasn’t just a denial—it was a public dressing-down of the world's richest man. “The probability many, many people don’t like you? 100 percent,” Hoffman wrote. “Probability that Tesla polls need to be rigged by bots to cover up the fact that people don’t like you? 100 percent.”

The war of words began after a post from an X user—who identified themselves as a Tesla shareholder—claimed Hoffman was reimbursing protesters up to $200. The claim, which appears to have originated from a fringe corner of the internet, was swiftly amplified by Musk, who used it to lay the groundwork for a conspiracy implicating both Hoffman and Soros.

Musk has alleged that these protests—some of which have been fiery and disruptive—are not organic expressions of dissent but rather coordinated attacks financed by his political and ideological opponents.

Musk elaborated on the accusation, listing five activist groups allegedly linked to the protests: Troublemakers, Disruption Project, Rise & Resist, Indivisible Project, and the Democratic Socialists of America. According to Musk, these groups receive funding via ActBlue, a digital fundraising tool commonly used by progressive causes.

He went on to claim that ActBlue is currently under investigation for potentially accepting foreign and illegal donations, violating campaign finance laws. To Musk, this isn’t just political mischief—it’s criminal.

“This week, 7 ActBlue senior officials resigned, including the associate general counsel,” Musk posted ominously, urging his massive audience to share any insider information they might have.

Hoffman, unsurprisingly, has flatly rejected the narrative. In direct response to a user who challenged his earlier statements, Hoffman emphasized: “I am denying Elon’s specific allegation.” And that denial was loud and clear.

Still, he didn’t stop at denial. Hoffman followed up with a savage image post aimed squarely at Musk’s Achilles’ heel: Tesla stock. He shared a chart showing the dramatic rise and sharp fall of the company’s shares, quipping, “I don’t know about islands but here’s your least favorite mountain.” The jab was clearly in response to Musk’s cryptic and caustic message: “Describe your favorite island vacation,” a not-so-veiled reference to Hoffman’s alleged ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

That line—seemingly pulled from the darker corners of Musk’s imagination—points to a deeper rift between the two men. Musk has previously hinted that Hoffman is fearful of the Epstein client list being released, a claim that has zero corroboration but has nonetheless become a popular talking point among Musk’s followers.

While Hoffman has not engaged with the Epstein innuendo beyond his Tesla stock joke, the exchange underscores just how bitter this feud has become. What began as a disagreement over politics and protests has spiraled into personal insult, speculative accusations, and full-scale character assassination.

Adding to the drama is the fact that Hoffman and Musk once worked together at PayPal, making their current hostility all the more bitter. Once part of the same elite tech circle, their paths have diverged dramatically over the past two decades.

Hoffman has become a prominent Democratic donor and public intellectual, while Musk has leaned into a more combative, populist persona—using his platform on X to promote free speech absolutism, criticize the media, and regularly battle with critics and regulators alike.

Musk's core argument—that the protests at Tesla dealerships are funded and orchestrated by his enemies—taps into a growing narrative he’s been constructing: that powerful political figures, NGOs, and elite donors are working behind the scenes to sabotage his companies and reputation. For Musk’s supporters, this theory resonates as a David vs. Goliath battle, with Musk standing alone against the “woke mob” and corrupt institutions.

But for critics, the narrative looks more like scapegoating. Rather than confront rising dissatisfaction with Tesla—be it over labor practices, pricing strategies, or product concerns—Musk is pointing the finger outward, blaming liberal donors and shadowy groups.

Soros, long a bogeyman in right-wing circles, has denied any involvement in the protests through his Open Society Foundations. A spokesperson issued a firm statement: “We are not funding these protests or attacks. Any claims suggesting otherwise are false. We do not coordinate, train, or strategize with protest organizers or participants.”

Hoffman has struck a similar tone, making it clear he neither condones violence nor believes in manufacturing dissent. However, he does acknowledge that there is real, widespread anger directed at Musk—and that Musk’s refusal to acknowledge this truth is part of the problem.

“It’s easier to explain away their anger, than to accept that actions have consequences,” Hoffman wrote in a separate post.

As the back-and-forth continues, the public has front-row seats to a dramatic clash between two of Silicon Valley’s most recognizable figures. The stakes are high—not just reputationally, but potentially financially and legally.

Musk is betting on the power of his following to expose what he believes is a coordinated campaign against him. Hoffman, meanwhile, is using his platform to push back with ridicule, wit, and brutal reminders of Tesla’s faltering stock performance.

It’s a feud that reveals more than just political differences. It showcases how quickly tech industry disputes can devolve into scorched-earth personal warfare. In the age of social media, where every insult can become a headline and every accusation can go viral, the boundaries between fact, speculation, and defamation are increasingly blurred.

For now, the battle lines are drawn. Musk continues to demand answers. Hoffman continues to deny and deflect with a knowing smirk. And the internet, ever eager for spectacle, watches as the war of billionaires escalates—with Tesla’s stock, Musk’s reputation, and Hoffman’s legacy all hanging in the balance.