Twitter takeover
The acquisition and subsequent radical operational overhaul of Twitter (now X) by Elon Musk. This event is cited as the strategic playbook and inspiration for DOGE's approach to government reform, focusing on rapid cost-cutting and challenging existing organizational structures.
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8/20/2025, 4:41:31 AM
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Summary
Elon Musk initiated the acquisition of Twitter, Inc. on April 14, 2022, completing the $44 billion deal on October 27, 2022, after a period of negotiation and a legal battle initiated by Twitter to enforce the agreement. Musk's initial involvement began in January 2022 with share purchases, leading to him becoming the largest shareholder by April. Despite an initial board invitation and a subsequent "poison pill" defense against a hostile takeover, Twitter's board ultimately accepted Musk's offer. Musk's stated goals for the platform included introducing new features, open-sourcing algorithms, combating bots, and promoting free speech, envisioning it as the foundation for an "everything app" named X. Following the acquisition, Twitter was taken private and merged into X Corp., with Musk assuming the role of CEO and implementing significant changes, including executive firings and workforce reductions. Linda Yaccarino was later appointed CEO of X Corp., and in July 2023, Twitter was rebranded as X. The takeover received mixed reactions, with some praising Musk's vision for free speech and others expressing concerns about potential increases in misinformation, harassment, and hate speech. While conservatives largely supported the acquisition, liberals and former Twitter employees voiced apprehension. Musk has faced criticism for his management of the company, including account suspensions. The aggressive cost-cutting strategies employed during the Twitter takeover reportedly influenced the establishment of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) within the Trump Administration.
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View on WikipediaAcquisition of Twitter by Elon Musk
Businessman and U.S. political figure Elon Musk initiated an acquisition of the American social media company Twitter, Inc. on April 14, 2022, and concluded it on October 27, 2022. Musk had begun buying shares of the company in January 2022, becoming its largest shareholder by April with a 9.1 percent ownership stake. Twitter invited Musk to join its board of directors, an offer he initially accepted before declining. On April 14, Musk made an unsolicited offer to purchase the company, to which Twitter's board responded with a "poison pill" strategy to resist a hostile takeover before unanimously accepting Musk's buyout offer of $44 billion on April 25. Musk stated that he planned to introduce new features to the platform, make its algorithms open-source, combat spambot accounts, and promote free speech, framing the acquisition as the cornerstone of X, an "everything app". In July, Musk announced his intention to terminate the agreement, asserting that Twitter had breached their agreement by refusing to crack down on spambot accounts. The company filed a lawsuit against Musk in the Delaware Court of Chancery shortly thereafter, with a trial scheduled for the week of October 17. Weeks before the trial was set to begin, Musk reversed course, announcing that he would move forward with the acquisition. The deal was closed on October 28, with Musk immediately becoming Twitter's new owner and CEO. Twitter was taken private and merged into a new parent company named X Corp. Musk promptly fired several top executives, including previous CEO Parag Agrawal. Musk has since proposed several reforms to Twitter and laid off half of the company's workforce. Hundreds of employees then resigned from the company after Musk issued an ultimatum demanding they commit to "extremely hardcore" work. Linda Yaccarino was appointed CEO of X Corp. In July 2023, the Twitter service was rebranded as X. Reactions to the buyout were mixed, with praise for Musk's planned reforms and vision for the company, particularly his calls for greater free speech, but criticism over fears of a potential rise in misinformation and disinformation, harassment, and hate speech on the platform. Within the United States, conservatives have largely supported the acquisition, while many liberals and former Twitter employees have voiced concerns about Musk's intentions. Since becoming owner, Musk has faced backlash for his handling of the company and account suspensions, including the December 2022 suspensions of ten journalists.
Web Search Results
- Elon Musk takes control of Twitter in $44bn deal - BBC
Mr Agrawal and two other executives were escorted out of Twitter's San Francisco headquarters on Thursday evening, said Reuters. The completion of the deal brings to an end months of legal wrangling but it has prompted questions over the platform's future direction. A filing was made with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday, confirming the takeover. [...] # Elon Musk takes control of Twitter in $44bn deal Getty Images Tesla chief executive Elon Musk addresses guests at a conference in Norway. The world's richest man, Elon Musk, has completed his $44bn (£38.1bn) takeover of Twitter, according to a filing with the US government. Mr Musk tweeted "the bird is freed" and later said "let the good times roll". A number of top executives, including the boss, Parag Agrawal, have reportedly been fired. [...] Earlier this week, Mr Musk said that he doesn't want the platform to become an echo chamber for hate and division. "Twitter obviously cannot become a free-for-all hell-scape, where anything can be said with no consequences!" he tweeted. The takeover has prompted discussion among Twitter users over what the platform will look like under Mr Musk's ownership.
- Acquisition of Twitter by Elon Musk - Wikipedia
On April 14, 2022, Musk made an unsolicited and non-binding offer to Twitter to purchase the company for $43 billion, or $54.20 per share, and take it private.( Though the offer was made to company management, the bid was described as a hostile takeover attempt because of the implied threat to purchase the outstanding stock if management declined.( The board responded that it would "carefully review the proposal".( [...] Twitter's board responded with a "poison pill" strategy to resist a hostile takeover before unanimously accepting Musk's buyout offer of $44 billion on April 25. Musk stated that he planned to introduce new features to the platform, make its algorithms open-source, combat spambot accounts, and promote free speech, framing the acquisition as the cornerstone of X, an "everything app". [...] Businessman and U.S. political figure Elon Musk initiated an acquisition of the American social media company Twitter, Inc. on April 14, 2022, and concluded it on October 27, 2022. Musk had begun buying shares of the company in January 2022, becoming its largest shareholder by April with a 9.1 percent ownership stake. Twitter invited Musk to join its board of directors, an offer he initially accepted before declining. On April 14, Musk made an unsolicited offer to purchase the company, to which
- Elon Musk's Twitter: Changes Since Takeover, How X Is Doing Today
From strolling into Twitter's San Francisco headquarters with a bathroom sink, to renaming the company X, here's a timeline of how Musk's chaotic takeover of the company unfolded, and how his reign has impacted workers and users alike: ## October 2022 On October 28, 2022, same day Musk officially acquired Twitter, the billionaire ousted a number of its executives, including CEO Parag Agrawal, CFO Ned Segal, chief legal officer Vijaya Gadde, and senior legal counsel Sean Edgett. [...] By the spring of 2022, Musk had acquired a 9% stake in Twitter and made an offer to buy it outright for $44 billion. Initially, Twitter responded with a "poison pill" to dilute Musk's stake and stave off a hostile takeover. But by late April, Musk and Twitter struck a deal for $44 billion. [...] # Elon Musk bought Twitter 2 years ago. Here's a timeline of everything that's happened since. Elon Musk, who owns X, smiles in front of a purple backdrop. Elon Musk bought Twitter for $44 billion in late 2022, following a tumultuous, months-long legal battle. Since then, the billionaire has implemented a number of controversial changes that have made both the website and the company nearly unrecognizable.
- A timeline of Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter - NBC News
Form 1st). [...] - [x] checkbox label label - [x] checkbox label label Confirm My Choice Image 9: Powered by Onetrust Image 10 [...] A timeline of Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter ============================================= The serial entrepreneur's journey to acquiring the social media platform spanned many months and included a lawsuit, layoffs and a chaotic transition. Image 1: Elon Musk Elon Musk.Patrick T. Fallon / Bloomberg via Getty Images file NBC News Sitemap Closed Captioning Advertise Select Shopping ©2025 NBCUniversal Media, LLC
- Why Elon Musk Finally Bought Twitter - Fordham Law News
(applewebdata://F6F212AF-9D72-424E-A9C4-FBFAF1EB7F1C#_ednref31) Id. (applewebdata://F6F212AF-9D72-424E-A9C4-FBFAF1EB7F1C#_ednref32) Adam Satariano & Lauren Hirsch, Musk Says His Twitter Takeover Is ‘On Hold,’ Then Says He’s ‘Still Committed’, N.Y. Times (May 13, 2022), (applewebdata://F6F212AF-9D72-424E-A9C4-FBFAF1EB7F1C#_ednref33) See generally Snow Phipps Grp., LLC v. KCAKE Acquisition, Inc., No. 2020-0282-KSJM, 2021 Del. Ch. LEXIS 84 (Del. Ch. Apr. 30, 2021). [...] (applewebdata://F6F212AF-9D72-424E-A9C4-FBFAF1EB7F1C#_ednref3) Lauren Hirsch & Kate Conger, Twitter Counters a Musk Takeover With a Time-Tested Barrier, N.Y. Times (Apr. 15, 2022), (applewebdata://F6F212AF-9D72-424E-A9C4-FBFAF1EB7F1C#_ednref4) Twitter Inc., Elon Musk to Acquire Twitter, Cision (Apr. 25, 2022), (applewebdata://F6F212AF-9D72-424E-A9C4-FBFAF1EB7F1C#_ednref5) Id. (applewebdata://F6F212AF-9D72-424E-A9C4-FBFAF1EB7F1C#_ednref6) See @elonmusk, Twitter (May 13, 2022, 5:44 AM),