An article claiming that Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway acquired Elon Musk’s Tesla for $1 trillion caused widespread confusion online on April 1, 2025. The post, which originated from a satirical piece on GOBankingRates, left many reeling until its nature as an April Fool’s prank was revealed. The article humorously quoted Buffett as saying during a fictional conference call, “While I’ve publicly maintained that I don’t understand tech companies, I’ve secretly been driving a Cybertruck around my Nebraska neighborhood at night.” It also joked that Musk would take on a new role as “chief meme officer.
Despite a disclaimer at the end of the piece stating that the story was entirely satirical, the joke quickly spread online, becoming a trending search on Google and appearing on various websites before being promptly corrected.
Yahoo! News later addressed the prank in a separate article highlighting other April Fools’ Day jokes. While Musk has publicly recommended that Buffett invest in Tesla, the “Oracle of Omaha” does not seem interested in the company.
April Fool’s prank spreads confusion
At Berkshire Hathaway’s annual conference in 2023, Buffett and his longtime business partner, the late Charlie Munger, stated they had no plans to invest in or acquire Tesla or any other electric vehicle company. The confusion reached such an extent that multiple media outlets began discussing the potential ramifications of the fictional deal, further amplifying the misinformation. Investors and Tesla shareholders frantically checked their news feeds, seeking truth amid the swirling rumors.
The hoax served as a reminder of the importance of information verification, especially on days prone to pranks and jokes. The resulting chaos underscored the speed at which false news can spread online, causing real-world anxiety among investors and the general public. In the end, it became clear that Buffett had no intention of acquiring Tesla anytime soon, leaving Tesla enthusiasts and financial markets to continue their usual business, free from the immense tides of confusion stirred up by a well-crafted April Fool’s joke.
Image Credits: Photo by Paul Steuber; Unsplash
