Archive · 25 Jan 2026
Bettors Profit from Wagers Against Elon Musk
Some people are making a lot of money by betting that Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, won't be able to do everything he says he will.
They use special websites to bet on things like whether Musk will start a new political party or launch a new type of car.
One person, David Bensoussan, has made over $36,000 just by betting against Musk.
Musk himself seems to find this funny and talks about it on his social media.
Experts say these betting websites help keep people honest about their big promises.
Online bettors are profiting by wagering against Elon Musk's ambitious plans.
Prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket allow users to bet on Musk's promises.
David Bensoussan, a top-ranked Polymarket user, has earned over $36,000 on Musk-related bets.
Musk's track record of missed deadlines and exaggerated timelines provides opportunities for bettors.
Prediction markets have surged in popularity since 2024 after federal appeals court clearance.
- Who
- Online bettors, Elon Musk, David Bensoussan
- What
- Betting against Elon Musk's ambitious plans
- When
- Since 2024, with recent activity in January 2026
- Where
- United States of America (USA)
- Why
- To profit from Musk's track record of missed deadlines and exaggerated timelines
- Elon Musk
- CEO of Tesla and SpaceX
- Prediction Markets
- Platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket
- Successful Bets
- Users earning thousands to millions
- David Bensoussan
- Top-ranked Polymarket user
- Bensoussan's Earnings
- $36,000 on Musk-related bets, $1.4 million total
- Musk's Reputation
- Known for bold achievements and ambitious promises
- Prediction Markets Popularity
- Surged since 2024 after federal appeals court clearance
- Musk's Reaction
- Amused, posts about prediction markets on X