Twitter's owner Elon Musk conducted a poll on Sunday to ask his millions of followers on the platform if he should "step down" as the CEO of the company he acquired in October.
At the conclusion of the poll, 57.5% voted in favor of Musk stepping down and 42.5% voted he should stay on. The poll attracted nearly 17.4 million votes.
Musk said separately, "Those who want power are the ones who least deserve it." A number of people had offered themselves as successors in the event Musk quit.
Those who want power are the ones who least deserve it
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 19, 2022
In a comment seemingly directed at the people voting in the poll, Musk said, "be careful what you wish, as you might get it."
As the saying goes, be careful what you wish, as you might get it
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 18, 2022
Why It Matters: On the subject of who would take his place on Twitter, Musk had said during the poll that "No one wants the job who can actually keep Twitter alive. There is no successor."
No one wants the job who can actually keep Twitter alive. There is no successor.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 19, 2022
Since Musk still remains the owner of Twitter, there is no clarity on how much of the day-to-day policy on the platform would continue to have been directed by him in the event of his exit.
Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said if Musk, also the CEO of Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA), leaves as Twitter's chief executive and appoints someone else — ideally someone with social media background — it would be a "major positive" for Tesla shares as the "Twitter overhang would be significantly reduced clearly in our opinion."
If Musk leaves as Twitter CEO and appoints someone else (social media background ideal) this would be a major positive for Tesla shares as the Twitter overhang would be significantly reduced clearly in our opinion
— Dan Ives (@DivesTech) December 19, 2022
Tesla shares have declined 57.35% since the year began. The shares have fallen 29% since Twitter was purchased by Musk.
Ives said the pain in Tesla shares has been "self-inflicted" by Musk as the entrepreneur sold shares.
One of Tesla's most-vocal backers Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management co-founder Ross Gerber said recently, "There's nothing wrong with Tesla other than the fact that its CEO works at another company."
Gerber called for clarity on Elon's plans and said that Tesla deserves a focused CEO.