In the race for the 2024 presidency, billionaires Mark Cuban and Elon Musk are making headlines as they rally support for their preferred candidates—Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, respectively.
Mark Cuban, known for being the owner of the Dallas Mavericks and a one-time investor on Shark Tank, is openly backing Harris. He champions her as the pro-business choice who is particularly favorable to small businesses and the overall economy.
During a recent spot on CNBC’s Squawk Box, he declared, “It’s the Harris campaign versus Elon, not even versus Trump. This is a battle for entrepreneurs.” He highlighted Harris’s commitment to not increase taxes for those earning $400,000 or less, along with her agenda to reduce healthcare and pharmaceutical costs, which he believes would ease inflation for households.
Conversely, Elon Musk, the brains behind Tesla and SpaceX, is a major supporter of Trump, having contributed nearly $75 million to America PAC, a super PAC he co-founded. Musk is also innovating with his voter outreach initiatives, which include offering $1 million daily to voters in swing states who support First and Second Amendment rights.
Cuban and Musk: A Battle of Wits
The rivalry between Cuban and Musk is heating up, with both billionaires exchanging barbs on social media. Musk has made fun of Cuban’s looks, while Cuban has branded Musk’s giveaways as “innovative” but somewhat “desperate.”
Cuban recently responded on X (formerly Twitter), “You can’t stop thinking about me @elonmusk. If I supported a candidate that was so incompetent I had to take over and fund their ground game, I would be looking for a distraction too.”
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He also raised concerns regarding the legality of Musk’s voter petition tactics, sharing insights from political analyst Norman Ornstein who suggested that Musk’s approach could warrant intervention from the Justice Department. Cuban pointed out potential violations of both voting and gambling laws in Pennsylvania.
In a cheeky comeback, Cuban teased Musk about being obsessed with him and suggested he find “a friend and take the blue pill,” humorously linking to a listing for Viagra from his online pharmacy, CostPlus.
With Musk having mocked Cuban’s glasses during a recent Twitter exchange, it’s evident that their feud is far from over.
What Do Harris and Trump Think of Their Billionaire Supporters?
On October 17, Cuban opened for Harris at a rally in La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he praised her vision to expand small businesses significantly. Harris acknowledged Cuban’s support, stating, “Mark Cuban, thank you for being all that you are and for being a part of it.”
In a similar vein, Trump has spoken highly of Musk, recognizing his contributions to innovation and political support. Trump recently mentioned plans to appoint Musk as head of a “government efficiency commission” if he returns to office, to which Musk expressed his enthusiasm for serving without needing recognition or compensation.
Though Musk remains a high-profile figure within Trump’s camp, Cuban is not alone in supporting Harris. He stands among a roster of notable endorsements, including LinkedIn’s Reid Hoffman, Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz, and Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings, all lending their voices against the backdrop of Trump’s billionaire backers like Stephen Schwarzman and Marc Andreessen.
As the election approaches, both Cuban and Musk seem poised to influence their respective camps significantly, no matter how their banter unfolds.