'Taking Tesla Private' Creates Public Mess

Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk has had a rough year. His effort to get a relatively affordable electric car, the Model 3, to a mass market has been rocky. Profitability has been an ongoing issue. And his own sometimes bizarre behavior has gotten the attention of both gossip blogs and investors betting against the success of the company.

Amid a tumultuous time for Tesla, Musk sent out a tweet that sent investors scrambling: He had a plan to take the company private, and funding to back it up. An uproar followed with investors, his board and financial journalists asking a lot of questions. Then, less than three weeks later, Musk reversed course and scrapped the going-private plan.

So, what exactly is going on with Tesla’s famous leader, and what does it mean for the future of the electric car company?

This week on Money Talking, Charlie Herman speaks with two reporters who cover Musk and his business: Linette Lopez, senior finance correspondent for Business Insider, and Dan Primack, business editor at Axios.

C.E.O. Elon Musk may face serious consequences for a single tweet that sent investors and reporters scrambling.