Elon Musk's Twitter texts

Sep 29, 2022

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Jack Dorsey texts Elon Musk

March 26, 2022

Jack Dorsey
Yes, a new platform is needed. It can't be a company. This is why I left.

Jack Dorsey
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1507777913042571267?s=20&t=8z3h0h0JG5ntB6Zuxd6lWg

Elon Musk
Ok

Elon Musk
What should it look like?

Jack Dorsey
I believe it must be an open source protocol, funded by a foundation of sorts that doesn't own the protocol, only advances it. A bit like what Signal has done. It can't have an advertising model. Otherwise you have surface area that governments and advertisers will try to influence and control. If it has a centralized entity behind it, it will be attacked. This isn't complicated work, it just has to be done right so it's resilient to what has happened to twitter.

Elon Musk
Super interesting idea

Jack Dorsey
I'm off the twitter board mid May and then completely out of company. I intend to do this work and fix our mistakes. Twitter started as a protocol. It should have never been a company. That was the original sin.

Elon Musk
I'd like to help if I am able to

Jack Dorsey
I wanted to talk with you about it after I was all clear, because you care so much, get it's importance, and could def help in immeasurable ways. Back when we had the activist come in, I tried my hardest to get you on our board, and our board said no. That's about the time l decided I needed to work to leave, as hard as it was for me.

Elon Musk
Do you have a moment to talk?

Jack Dorsey
Bout to head out to dinner but can for a minute

Jack Dorsey
I think the main reason is the board is just super risk averse and saw adding you as more risk, which I thought was completely stupid and backwards, but I only had one vote, and 3% of company, and no dual class shares. Hard set up. We can discuss more.

Elon Musk
Let's definitely discuss more

Elon Musk
I think it's worth both trying to move Twitter in a better direction and doing something new that's decentralized

Jack Dorsey
It's likely the best option. I just have doubts. But open

Parag Agrawal texts Elon Musk

April 9, 2022

Parag Agrawal
You are free to tweet "is Twitter dying?" or anything else about Twitter - but it's my responsibility to tell you that it's not helping me make Twitter better in the current context. Next time we speak, l'd like to you provide you perspective on the level of internal distraction right now and how it hurting our ability to do work. I hope the AMA will help people get to know you, to understand why you believe in Twitter, and to trust you - and l'd like the company to get to a place where we are more resilient and don't get distracted, but we aren't there right now.

Elon Musk
What did you get done this week?

Elon Musk
I'm not joining the board. This is a waste of time.

Elon Musk
Will make an offer to take Twitter private.

April 9, 2022

Bret Taylor
Parag just called me and mentioned your text conversation. Can you talk?

Elon Musk
Please expect a take private offer

Bret Taylor
I saw the text thread. Do you have five minutes so I can understand the context? I don't currently

Elon Musk
Fixing twitter by chatting with Parag won't work

Elon Musk
Drastic action is needed

Elon Musk
This is hard to do as a public company, as purging fake users will make the numbers look terrible, so restructuring should be done as a private company.

Elon Musk
This is Jack's opinion too.

Bret Taylor
Can you take 10 minutes to talk this through with me? It has been about 24 hours since you joined the board. I get your point, but just want to understand about the sudden pivot and make sure I deeply understand your point of view and the path forward

Elon Musk
I'm about to take off, but can talk tomorrow

Bret Taylor
Thank you

Bret Taylor
Hey — can you speak this evening? I have seen your tweets and feel more urgency about understanding your path forward

April 10, 2022

Bret Taylor
Acknowledging your text with Parag yesterday that you are declining to join the board. This will be reflected in our 8-K tomorrow. I've asked our team to share a draft with your family office today. I'm looking forward to speaking today.

Elon Musk
Sounds good

Elon Musk
It is better, in my opinion, to take Twitter private, restructure and return to the public markets once that is done. That was also Jack's view when I talked to him.

April 13, 2022

Elon Musk
After several days of deliberation – this is obviously a matter of serious gravity – I have decided to move forward with taking Twitter private. I will send you an offer letter tonight, which will be public in the morning. Happy to connect you with my team if you have any questions. Thanks, Elon

Bret Taylor
Acknowledged

Bret Taylor
Confirming I received your email. Also, please use [REDACTED] going forward, my personal email.

Elon Musk
Will do

[These documents are from Twitter v. Elon Musk (2022).]

Links to original tweets: Jack Dorsey, Parag Agrawal