Table of Contents
- Who Is Aaron Greenspan?
- The Anti-Tech Bet That Defined a Decade
- Musk and the $420 Fiasco
- Why Greenspan Keeps Fighting
- Sources
Who Is Aaron Greenspan?
Aaron Greenspan isn’t your typical Silicon Valley success story. Once a promising tech entrepreneur in his own right, Greenspan has spent the better part of two decades not building startups—but tearing down tech titans. While others chased IPOs and venture capital, he chose a far more unusual path: shorting the very industry that made him wealthy.
Now in his 40s, Greenspan lives modestly—owning no car, skipping real estate, and famously ordering just five long-sleeved T-shirts on sale as his sole luxury. But behind that frugal exterior lies a relentless critic of Big Tech, with Elon Musk as his primary target.
The Anti-Tech Bet That Defined a Decade
Back in 2018, Greenspan found himself sitting on several million dollars. Instead of reinvesting in the next hot startup or buying a Malibu mansion, he did something radical: he bet against the entire tech bubble.
His portfolio included short positions on Facebook (now Meta), which he claimed was inflated by fake accounts, and Nvidia, due to its heavy exposure to the volatile crypto market. But his most sustained and passionate crusade has been against Tesla—and by extension, Elon Musk.
Musk and the $420 Fiasco
The turning point came in August 2018, when Musk tweeted that he had “funding secured” to take Tesla private at $420 per share—a price far above market value at the time. The stock surged, but the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) quickly accused Musk of securities fraud, calling the post misleading.
Musk and Tesla settled for $40 million, with Musk stepping down as Tesla chairman. For Greenspan, this was confirmation of his deepest suspicions: that Tesla’s valuation wasn’t grounded in reality, but in hype and manipulation.
Why Greenspan Keeps Fighting
“Because he was in the cross hairs of the government, I was like, ‘How solid is this business really?’” Greenspan told The New York Times in a recent interview.
Unlike activist short-sellers who seek media attention or profit alone, Greenspan’s mission feels almost philosophical. He sees himself as a truth-teller in an era of unchecked tech worship. While Musk garners headlines for rockets, AI, and flamethrowers, Greenspan quietly crunches numbers, files regulatory complaints, and publishes deep-dive analyses that challenge the narrative of infallibility around tech CEOs.
His critics call him obsessive. His supporters—few but vocal—call him prophetic.
Greenspan’s Key Short Positions (2018–Present)
| Company | Reason for Short | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Facebook (Meta) | Alleged fake accounts inflating metrics | Stock volatility post-2021 whistleblower reports |
| Nvidia | Overexposure to crypto bubble | Sharp correction in 2022 during crypto crash |
| Tesla | Suspected market manipulation, weak fundamentals | Ongoing; stock remains volatile |
Whether Greenspan’s decades-long crusade will ultimately be vindicated remains to be seen. But in an age where tech billionaires are treated like modern-day oracles, his contrarian voice offers a rare counterbalance.
