An Unforgettable Encounter
In the lead-up to sealing the monumental $44 billion acquisition of Twitter, the tech tycoon Elon Musk embarked on a memorable dinner rendezvous with Parag Agarwal, the then-CEO of the social media giant. During this face-to-face encounter, Musk was charmed by Agarwal’s amiable nature, yet he held reservations about a crucial leadership quality he believed Twitter was lacking. This exclusive insight is divulged by Walter Isaacson in his upcoming book, ‘Elon Musk,’ published by the esteemed Wall Street Journal.
Elon Musk’s Candid Perspective
Musk candidly expressed his impressions of Agarwal during the dinner meeting. “He’s genuinely affable,” Musk remarked, acknowledging Agarwal’s friendly disposition. However, in Musk’s discerning perspective, affability alone did not align with the demands of effective leadership. He saw Twitter as needing a leader with a more assertive and decisive approach, referring to it as the requirement for a “fire-breathing dragon” – a quality he believed Agarwal lacked.
Unveiling the Insider Details
Isaacson’s forthcoming book, slated for release on September 12th, provides an in-depth account of the March meeting between Musk and Agarwal. Within these pages, readers can explore Musk’s candid assessment of Agarwal’s leadership style.
Elon Musk and Parag Agarwal
The Dinner Guests
Bret Taylor, who held the position of Twitter’s board chair at the time, also graced the dinner meeting with his presence, as revealed by Isaacson’s account.
Friendly Exchanges Amidst Tensions
Subsequent to their fateful dinner meeting, both Musk and Agarwal engaged in amicable exchanges, which became public knowledge in September 2022 during a lawsuit brought against Musk by Twitter. On March 27, 2022, Agarwal reached out to Musk, stating, “Hey Elon – great to be connected directly. Would love to chat.” Musk responded with warmth, saying, “Great dinner :).”
A Public Twitter Duel
In the months that followed, Musk took to Twitter, questioning the activity of several ‘top’ accounts and hinting at the decline of the platform. This prompted Agarwal to express his concerns directly to Musk via text message. He cautioned, “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.” Musk responded with a direct inquiry, asking, “What did you get done this week?” The Wall Street Journal characterized this exchange as a significant rebuke by Musk.
A Drastic Turn of Events
In a subsequent message, Musk made clear his lack of interest in joining Twitter’s board, firmly stating, “This is a waste of time. Will make an offer to take Twitter private.” Agarwal sought a conversation with Musk, and Twitter’s board chair also requested a “five-minute” discussion. However, Musk’s response was resolute: “Fixing Twitter by chatting with Parag won’t work. Drastic action is needed.”
The Game-Changing Agreement
Ultimately, in October, an agreement of seismic proportions was reached to take Twitter private. One of Musk’s initial moves as the new custodian of Twitter was the dismissal of Agarwal and other high-ranking personnel within the company.
A Paradigm-Shifting Dinner Meeting
Elon Musk’s dinner meeting with Parag Agarwal served as a pivotal moment in the tech world, culminating in a multi-billion-dollar acquisition and a significant transformation in the leadership of Twitter.
