Elon Musk likes going off-script with his tweets. From birth rates to the war in Ukraine, here are 20 of his most unusual posts from the second half of 2022.

Sam TabahritiJan 2, 2023, 20:45 IST

Elon Musk has never been afraid to speak his mind.Theo Wargo/WireImage<ul class="summary-list"><li>2022 was a very notable year for Elon Musk. </li><li>He became Twitter's new owner but also lost the title of "world's richest man."</li></ul>Elon Musk had an eventful year in 2022, which he entered as the world's richest man. But by the end of the year, he had not <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-twitter-ceo-stepping-down-tesla-stock-2022-12">only lost billions</a>, but also the confidence of many people <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-tesla-investors-plead-leave-twitter-2022-12">who invested in his companies</a>. The billionaire's <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-happened-with-elon-musk-twitter-timeline">acquisition of Twitter on October 27</a> left Tesla investors particularly weary. Some feared he was <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-twitter-ceo-stepping-down-tesla-stock-2022-12">neglecting the EV</a> company in favor of fixing the social-media platform.Analysts have also noted that Twitter is distracting Musk from Tesla and say his <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/investors-worried-elon-using-tesla-personal-atm-cover-twitters-losses-2022-12" rel>politicized tweets</a> have damaged the EV maker's brand.The billionaire, who is the first person to suffer from <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-12-30/elon-musk-becomes-first-person-ever-to-lose-200-billion">a $200 billion loss,</a> never shied away from controversies and likes to tweet his opinions on most topics. Let's a look at 20 of the most interesting things Musk said between June and December.

1. Life on Mars

Getty Images

"Humanity will reach Mars in your lifetime," wrote Musk on July 6.

The billionaire has been adamant that he wants to populate the red planet and that his rocket-building company, SpaceX, is a first step toward achieving that goal.

In 2020, Musk said he hoped to build 1,000 Starships over 10 years.

The billionaire's goal at the time was to launch an average of three Starships per day and make the trip to Mars available to anyone. "Needs to be such that anyone can go if they want, with loans available for those who don't have money," Musk wrote.

Humanity will reach Mars in your lifetime, wrote Musk on July 6.

The billionaire has been adamant that he wants to populate the red planet and that his rocket-building company, SpaceX, is a first step toward achieving that goal.

In 2020, Musk said he hoped to build 1,000 Starships over 10 years.

The billionaire's goal at the time was to launch an average of three Starships per day and make the trip to Mars available to anyone. Needs to be such that anyone can go if they want, with loans available for those who don't have money, Musk wrote.

2. Not enough babies on Earth

Elon Musk and son X Æ A-12 in New York.Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Musk signaled his intention to help tackle "the underpopulation crisis." But he also jokingly used his Mars exploration plans to justify the number of kids he has.

Musk currently has nine known children and often shares his concerns about potential underpopulation in the future. He once told The Wall Street Journal's annual CEO council that rapidly declining birth rates are "one of the biggest risks to civilization."

According to the billionaire, "a collapsing birth rate is the biggest danger civilization faces by far," that's why he is "doing my best to help the underpopulation crisis."

In late August, Musk said that low birth rates "is a much bigger risk to civilization than global warming."

Musk signaled his intention to help tackle the underpopulation crisis. But he also jokingly used his Mars exploration plans to justify the number of kids he has.

According to the billionaire, a collapsing birth rate is the biggest danger civilization faces by far, that's why he is doing my best to help the underpopulation crisis.

In late August, Musk said that low birth rates is a much bigger risk to civilization than global warming.

3. Sleep expert

4. Buzz Lightyear, is that you?

Steve Nesius/Reuters

It would appear Musk had new slogans for two of his companies, Tesla and SpaceX.

"Tesla is to protect life on Earth," the billionaire said on July 15, while "SpaceX to extend life beyond."

The latter sounded familiar and similar what Buzz Lightyear would say: "To Infinity and Beyond."

It would appear Musk had new slogans for two of his companies, Tesla and SpaceX.

Tesla is to protect life on Earth, the billionaire said on July 15, while SpaceX to extend life beyond.

The latter sounded familiar and similar what Buzz Lightyear would say: To Infinity and Beyond.

5. Keeping his head down

NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images

The billionaire is happy to speak his mind on most topics, including the scrutiny he attracts. "The amount of attention on me has gone supernova, which super sucks," he wrote.

"Unfortunately, even trivial articles about me generate a lot of clicks," he added. "Will try my best to be heads down focused on doing useful things for civilization."

Musk has never been a fan of the media. More recently, he slammed what he called "corporate journalism" and accused it of failing to side with "the people" over the Twitter Files.

Musk has been doubling down on his support for citizen journalism over large publications.

The billionaire is happy to speak his mind on most topics, including the scrutiny he attracts. The amount of attention on me has gone supernova, which super sucks, he wrote.

Unfortunately, even trivial articles about me generate a lot of clicks, he added. Will try my best to be heads down focused on doing useful things for civilization.

Musk has never been a fan of the media. More recently, he slammed what he called corporate journalism and accused it of failing to side with the people over the Twitter Files.

Musk has been doubling down on his support for citizen journalism over large publications.

6. Facing up to his critics

7. Twizzler

Avishek Das/Getty Images

Being in the middle of a legal battle with Twitter after attempting to walk away from a $44 billion takeover deal didn't stop him from making jokes about the situation.

Musk, who likes a "little nonsense," said combining Tesla with Twitter would produce "Twizzler."

Being in the middle of a legal battle with Twitter after attempting to walk away from a $44 billion takeover deal didn't stop him from making jokes about the situation.

Musk, who likes a little nonsense, said combining Tesla with Twitter would produce Twizzler.

8. Losing weight fast

Errol MuskDenver Post Photo by Cyrus McCrimmon

Musk said he used "flights as an opportunity to fast," before saying on August 29 that he's lost 20 pounds trying intermittent fasting. He also said he used a weight loss app called Zero and reacted to a user's tweet asking if he lifts weights.

His father Errol criticized his weight and told him to take weight loss pills, Insider previously reported.

Musk said he used flights as an opportunity to fast, before saying on August 29 that he's lost 20 pounds trying intermittent fasting. He also said he used a weight loss app called Zero and reacted to a user's tweet asking if he lifts weights.

His father Errol criticized his weight and told him to take weight loss pills, Insider previously reported.

9. Keeping the peace

10. Musk's true plan for Twitter

Twitter Headquarters in San Francisco, CaliforniaAnadolu Agency / Getty Images

A few weeks before Musk sealed the $44 billion deal to take over Twitter, he said that acquiring it would be the first step toward X, "the everything app."

Musk has previously teased X.com as a possible Twitter competitor. In August, Musk responded to a question asking if he'd launch his own site instead of buying Twitter by tweeting "X.com."

X.com was originally an online bank co-founded by Musk in 1999. The company later merged with another online payment system and became PayPal. In 2017, Musk bought the domain name and relaunched the site.

At the time, Musk claimed he had no plans for the site but the domain had "great sentimental value" for him. Currently, the website displays a small x if launched.

A few weeks before Musk sealed the $44 billion deal to take over Twitter, he said that acquiring it would be the first step toward X, the everything app.

Musk has previously teased X.com as a possible Twitter competitor. In August, Musk responded to a question asking if he'd launch his own site instead of buying Twitter by tweeting X.com.

At the time, Musk claimed he had no plans for the site but the domain had great sentimental value for him. Currently, the website displays a small x if launched.

11. Heaven scent

Elon Musk is selling bottles of a perfume called "Burnt Hair" for $100 a bottle.Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue; The Boring Company

As though Musk didn't have enough distractions, he decided to launch his own perfume.

He then joked that he needed people to buy his perfume so he could close the Twitter deal. "Please buy my perfume, so I can buy Twitter," before responding "srsly" to a user who shared a meme.

After reportedly selling 10,000 bottles, Musk said he couldn't wait "for media stories tomorrow about $1M of Burnt Hair sold."

As though Musk didn't have enough distractions, he decided to launch his own perfume.

He then joked that he needed people to buy his perfume so he could close the Twitter deal. Please buy my perfume, so I can buy Twitter, before responding srsly to a user who shared a meme.

After reportedly selling 10,000 bottles, Musk said he couldn't wait for media stories tomorrow about $1M of Burnt Hair sold.

12. Comedy club

13. Activist woes

14. Free speech memes

15. Mistakes will be made

Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

Musk rarely admits being at fault but has admitted that some changes being made to Twitter would not be particularly sensible.

"Please note that Twitter will do lots of dumb things in coming months," he wrote on November 9, after having implemented a few changes to the platform already. "We will keep what works & change what doesn't."

Musk rarely admits being at fault but has admitted that some changes being made to Twitter would not be particularly sensible.

Please note that Twitter will do lots of dumb things in coming months, he wrote on November 9, after having implemented a few changes to the platform already. We will keep what works & change what doesn't.

16. Back to a 'little nonsense'

17. Trump card

Donald Trump marked his return to Twitter with first post.Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Musk polled Twitter users to ask whether he should reinstate former President Donald Trump on the social-media platform.

After 51.8% voted in favor of the former president's return, Musk said: "The people have spoken. Trump will be reinstated. Vox Populi, Vox Dei," Musk wrote, using a Latin phrase that translates to "the voice of the people is the voice of God."

Musk polled Twitter users to ask whether he should reinstate former President Donald Trump on the social-media platform.

After 51.8% voted in favor of the former president's return, Musk said: The people have spoken. Trump will be reinstated. Vox Populi, Vox Dei, Musk wrote, using a Latin phrase that translates to the voice of the people is the voice of God.

18. Bedside manner

19. Twitter Files

Musk teased, and then released the Twitter Files, which focused on "free speech suppression" by the social-media platform before he acquired it.

He has since entrusted a few independent journalists to release parts of it each. Insider's Kali Hays previously reported how journalists Matt Taibbi and Bari Weiss – who've been working on the Twitter Files – were given access to Twitter's internal systems despite having no official role at the company.

20. Best decision yet?

Take a look inside a greenhouse on the rooftop of a Whole Foods in Brooklyn — reducing emissions and food waste

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Elon Musk likes going off-script with his tweets. From birth rates to the war in Ukraine, here are 20 of his most unusual posts from the second half of 2022.

1. Life on Mars

2. Not enough babies on Earth

3. Sleep expert

4. Buzz Lightyear, is that you?

5. Keeping his head down

6. Facing up to his critics

7. Twizzler

8. Losing weight fast

9. Keeping the peace

10. Musk's true plan for Twitter

11. Heaven scent

12. Comedy club

13. Activist woes

14. Free speech memes

15. Mistakes will be made

16. Back to a 'little nonsense'

17. Trump card

18. Bedside manner

19. Twitter Files

20. Best decision yet?