Bill Gates Hopes Elon Musk Will Focus on Climate Issues, but says the Tesla CEO will ‘talk about whatever he feels like’

Elon Musk and Bill Gates have a history of disagreeing on many topics. Susan Walsh/AP; Mike Cohen/Getty Images for The New York Times

Bill Gates believes Tesla is a “super important” contribution to combatting the climate crisis, but he hopes Elon Musk will discuss it more.

Gates, who sat down with Bloomberg to talk about his climate tech investments, told the publication that he spoke to Musk during the Breakthrough Prize award ceremony in April.

Bloomberg Senior Executive Editor John Fraher then asked the former Microsoft CEO whether he was “disappointed that Elon doesn’t really seem to talk much about climate these days.”

“He’s sort of more interested in talking about culture wars and other issues,” Fraher said.

Gates replied: “He talks a lot. I hope he’ll talk more about climate. You know, he’s very, very smart. He’s made a contribution within that area that is super important.”

Fraher also asked the billionaire climate tech advocate if there were topics he wished Musk would touch on.

“I don’t think he’ll listen to anybody telling him what to talk about,” Gates said. “He’s unique, and he’ll talk about whatever he feels like.”

Gates and Musk have a history of commenting on each other during press interviews — and they disagree on many topics. Gates once questioned Musk using his considerable fortune on getting humans to Mars, saying he would rather spend his own money funding vaccines to “save lives.” However, he complimented Musk and said he would be a great philanthropist one day.

Gates also told journalist Walter Isaacson that Musk once acted “super mean” toward him when he learned that Gates shorted Tesla stock.

“Once he heard I’d shorted the stock, he was super mean to me, but he’s super mean to so many people, so you can’t take it too personally,” Gates told Isaacson, later adding that he apologized to Musk.

During the Bloomberg interview, Gates spoke about his climate investments and AI — which Musk once said Gates has a “limited” knowledge of. Gates also admitted his own climate vices.

“Flying from place to place is where I’d have my biggest footprint,” Gates said.

Representatives for Musk and Gates did not immediately respond to a request for comment.