Tech giants Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg could take their lighthearted cage fight to Italy, where its culture minister says the country is ready to host. The Tesla and Meta (formerly Facebook) bosses have been goading each other into a charity showdown since June, with millions expected to be donated to children’s hospitals. In a post on social media platform X, Mr. Musk said the clash would occur at an “epic location” with an ancient Roman theme. This led some users to speculate it may be staged in Rome’s Colosseum, the world’s largest standing amphitheater, where gladiatorial contests were once held.
In a follow-up tweet, Mr. Musk wrote: “I spoke to the PM and Minister of Culture. They’re on board. Everything in the camera frame will be ancient Rome, nothing modern.” He did not specify where the clash would occur but added that it would be managed by his and Zuckerberg’s foundations, not UFC.
On Friday, the government’s Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano said he had spoken to Mr. Musk about hosting a “large charitable and historically evocative event.” The country has a wealth of ancient Roman and Greek sites, including the ruins of Pompeii and Agrigento in southern Sicily; the arena of Verona and the Capua theater in northern Italy; and the temples of Acropolis in Athens, Greece. Mr. Sangiuliano said that any event will respect Italy’s heritage and that any clash will be an opportunity to promote the country globally.
But opposition politicians have criticized Mr. Sangiuliano’s decision to host the fight, with Carlo Calenda, head of the main industry-focused Azione party, saying it was “mind-boggling” that the country’s cultural heritage is being made available to two billionaires. “It’s mind-boggling that our historical and artistic treasures are being offered to the two billionaires who want to indulge themselves like foolish teenagers,” he added.
Both men have yet to set a date for the fight. But both have been preparing for it, with Mr. Zuckerberg having recently taken up Brazilian jiu-jitsu and winning an amateur tournament. Mr. Musk, 51, has also been training in lifting weights and with professional fighters to improve his strength and endurance.
Should the battle occur, both men will likely require medical attention afterward. Mr. Zuckerberg has had a recurring back injury from his martial arts training and previous clashes, while Mr. Musk has been undergoing MRI tests on a chest injury that could lead to surgery. The two billionaires have long been known for their playful rivalry, each making significant contributions to the world of technology and innovation in their unique ways. Their upcoming scrap will be one of the more high-profile ones recently. They are both on a list of the wealthiest people in the world, with Mr Zuckerberg in second and Mr Musk in 10th. The pair have a net worth of about $160bn each.
