Joyce Carol Oates Sparks Controversy with Elon Musk Jab—But Her Stunning Clarification Changes Everything
Ever wondered what happens when one of America’s literary giants throws shade at the world’s most notorious billionaire? Well, buckle up! Joyce Carol Oates, famous for her sharp prose and even sharper tongue, just set the internet buzzing by calling Elon Musk “totally uneducated and uncultured” in a tweet that’s racked up over three million views. This wasn’t some random jab—it followed Musk’s heated social media showdown with Senator Roland Gutierrez about a compensation plan that might make Musk the first trillionaire. But here’s the kicker: Oates’s viral takedown quickly spiraled into a cultural debate about wealth, intellect, and what it really means to be “cultured” in the digital age. So, is Musk a misunderstood visionary or just missing a few pages in his own education? Let’s dive into this tweetstorm that’s got everyone talking! LEARN MORE
Joyce Carol Oates, one of America’s most acclaimed authors, has gone viral for an “unsolicited attack” on Elon Musk, calling the billionaire “totally uneducated and uncultured” in a tweet that has since amassed over three million views.
The comment came a day after Musk had a fiery exchange with Democratic Senator Roland Gutierrez on X, during which the Tesla CEO defended his shareholder-approved compensation plan, one that could make him the world’s first trillionaire.
When one of Musk’s supporters went viral for retweeting the exchange and celebrating the CEO for “annihilating” his opponent, Oates chimed in and went viral herself for a scathing attack on his character.
Author Joyce Carol Oates went viral for calling Elon Musk “uncultured” in a viral tweet
Image credits: Getty/Chip Somodevilla
Last Friday (November 7), Senator Roland Gutierrez accused Musk of enriching himself “on the backs of American taxpayers” while families “struggle to buy groceries.”
Before Musk could even reply, community notes corrected the senator, clarifying that his claim was false.
“The CEO compensation isn’t paid by taxpayers, or even by the company or customers. 100% of potential compensation is in the form of new shares. Shareholders voted overwhelmingly in favor,” the note read.
Elon Musk wants to become a trillionaire off the backs of American taxpayers while we are struggling just to pay for groceries. pic.twitter.com/x038iRgtjf
— Senator Roland Gutierrez (@RolandForTexas) November 6, 2025
Musk fired back, explaining the details surrounding his potential compensation package, noting that it would only materialize if Tesla met a series of ambitious milestones.
Image credits: teslamotors
“Regarding Tesla, the reality is that I have been given nothing,” Musk wrote.
“If I lead Tesla to become the most valuable company in the world by far and it stays that way for five years, shareholders voted to award me 12% of what is built. Anyone who wants to come along for the ride can buy Tesla stock.”
Image credits: Getty/Thos Robinson
“If Tesla ‘merely’ becomes a $1.999 trillion company, I get nothing,” he continued. “This is a great deal for shareholders, which is why they voted so overwhelmingly to approve this. And they did so by a margin far more than you won your political seat.”
The exchange drew over 3.3 million views, with supporters cheering Musk’s takedown.
“Hello, I would like to report a m*rder,” a fan joked in the viral post that would later become the starting point for the controversy.
Oates argued that, from her perspective, Musk’s online activity reflected that of a person who is “uneducated”
mage credits: JoyceCarolOates
The following day, Joyce Carol Oates replied to that fan post, steering the conversation in an entirely different direction that had nothing to do with politics or Tesla shareholders.
Oates argued that Musk’s online behavior reflected the mindset of someone detached from ordinary human interests.
She pointed out that, despite his wealth, he rarely shared anything suggesting appreciation for art, literature, nature, or personal connections.
Image credits: TED
From her perspective, his online behavior contrasted with that of everyday people who, in her view, find more beauty and meaning in life despite having considerably less resources.
Within hours, her post exploded. Musk’s opponents, particularly those who resent his past support for President Donald Trump, welcomed Oates’ assessment as fresh ammunition in his ongoing clash with the Democratic senator.
Others, however, blasted it as a pretentious and bitter rant from what they saw as an out-of-touch intellectual.
Defenders of Musk flooded the replies, accusing Oates of misunderstanding the nature of his public persona
Image credits: teslamotors
“If you watched the Tesla annual shareholder meeting, he referred to several sci-fi authors in reference to the future he aspires to create,” wrote one user. “I would wager he has read far more and far more broadly than you might dare to.”
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