- Musk and Bezos exchanged unexpected congratulations about recent rocket launches.
- Musk’s references to Will Ferrell’s cult comedy hinted at a friendlier vibe, suggesting a newfound “bromance” in the making.
- While both remain fiercely competitive business titans, their public displays of mutual support mark a lighter turn in their relationship.
Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, Silicon Valley bigwigs and the world’s two richest fellas, appear to have set aside a years-long rivalry thanks, in large and unexpected part, to an assist from comedic icon Will Ferrell. In a string of typically bombastic social media posts this week, Musk referenced Ferrell’s 2008 film Step Brothers, suggesting he and Bezos may have finally come to a friendly understanding. Here’s how sparks began to fly and a new bromance took flight following Blue Origin’s latest rocket launch.
Rivalry to Rocketship Revelry
On Thursday, Musk proffered a congratulatory shout-out on his X account to Bezos after the Amazon founder’s space exploration firm, Blue Origin, successfully launched its New Glenn rocket into orbit. In return, Bezos cordially wished Musk good luck with SpaceX’s launch of Starship later that day.
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Their exchange represented a pleasantly surprising detour from the protracted jabs they have exchanged in the past, with Musk “joking” in 2021 that he would ship Bezos a silver medal after surpassing him as the planet’s richest person.
The warm and fuzzy vibes continued when Musk followed up his initial congratulations with a few memes from Step Brothers, the iconic cult comedy starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly as grown men reluctantly forced to become roommates. First up, Musk posted the memorable “Did we just become best friends?” scene, calling it the “perfect meme” for his newly coined dynamic with Bezos.
He later referenced the film’s masterful “Catalina Wine Mixer” finale, comparing a clip of Ferrell and Reilly’s musical performance to “actual footage” of him and Bezos celebrating their newfound buddyship. Rounding out the nostalgic tip, Musk also shared an old photograph of the two now-billionaires from 2004, when both were far less wealthy and influential (though still very wealthy and individual).
A Meeting of Minds and Memes
While Ferrell himself has not yet stepped in to broker peace, Musk’s nod to Step Brothers has certainly reframed his relationship with Bezos in lighter terms than it had been previously. Just last month, the pair dined at Mar-a-Lago with former President Donald Trump, a moment that, in retrospect, acted as something of a teaser to the upcoming thaw in their once frosty interactions and their willingness to publicly support each other’s space ventures shows a further softening in tone.
Despite the more convivial spirit, their high-stakes rivalry is unlikely to disappear entirely. Musk’s net worth has recently swelled to $426 billion, thanks to his stakes in SpaceX, artificial intelligence venture xAI, and his flagship electric car manufacturer Tesla… as well as an almost suspiciously cozy relationship with the incoming president.
Bezos, meanwhile, is worth roughly $235 billion, with nearly 90% of his fortune tied to his 10% stake in Amazon. Both figures have come to embody the fierce competition that increasingly accompanies their business dealings as both vie for profits beyond the stratosphere.
But for now, the two titans have found common ground in celebrating one another’s cosmic achievements… and a shared fondness for Step Brothers which even this cynical writer can’t help but go in for. It remains to be seen if this friendship will stand the test of time (and further launches) but one thing is certain: if any comedic legend could bring these colossal egos together, it would be Mr Ferrell.
