The Claim
Beginning in early January 2025, multiple Facebook posts and social media claims asserted that billionaire Elon Musk had acquired The Boeing Company. The posts typically lacked specific details about the transaction, timeline, or purchase price, instead offering vague assertions that Musk had taken control of the aircraft manufacturer.
How It Spread
The claim circulated primarily through Facebook groups focused on business news and stock market discussion. Some versions claimed the acquisition was imminent, while others suggested it had already been completed. Despite the assertions lacking supporting documentation, the posts accumulated significant engagement through shares and comments, suggesting the claim had resonated with some social media audiences seeking sensational business news.
What Does Corporate Records Show?
Boeing remains an independent, publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BA. The company continues to be governed by its existing board of directors and executive leadership. No acquisition by Elon Musk, SpaceX, Tesla, or any of Musk's affiliated entities has occurred. Public SEC filings and corporate announcements from both Boeing and Musk's companies contain no reference to any acquisition discussions.
Why the Rumor May Have Started
The claim may stem from Musk's high public profile and his history of bold business moves. However, an acquisition of Boeing would represent a transaction valued at roughly $180 billion based on the company's market capitalization, far exceeding typical M&A activities and would require extensive regulatory scrutiny from multiple agencies including the Department of Defense and Federal Aviation Administration.
Independent Verification
PolitiFact and The Evidence Dispatch have independently investigated this claim and reached the same conclusion: the acquisition never occurred and no credible evidence supports the claim.