George Clooney Was No Fan Of His Tesla And Auctioned It Off To Charity: 'Look, Guys, Why Am I Always Stuck On The Side Of The F*#@ing Road?' Elon Musk Snapped Back

Acclaimed actor and entrepreneur George Clooney has had diverse experiences in both the automotive and spirits industries. Clooney faced reliability issues with his Tesla Roadster, one of the electric car company’s early models. 

In an interview with Esquire magazine, Clooney expressed his frustration, stating, “I had a Tesla. I was one of the first cats with a Tesla. I think I was, like, No. 5 on the list. But I’m telling you, I've been on the side of the road a while in that thing, and I said to them, ‘Look, guys, why am I always stuck on the side of the f*#@ing road? Make it work, one way or another.'”​​

Don't Miss:

• Many NBA players, including LeBron James, have ventured into fine wine investments as an alternative asset. Now you can too with just $25. 
• With returns as high as 300%, it’s no wonder this asset is the investment choice of many billionaires. Uncover the secret.

His dissatisfaction led him to auction the car for $99,000, with the proceeds going to charity​​, according to Reuters.

Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk responded to Clooney’s remarks with a post on X comparing the early Tesla Roadster to the first iPhone, suggesting that pioneering products often have early issues. Musk’s post read, “In other news, George Clooney reports that his iPhone 1 had a bug back in ’07,” implying that the natural progression of technology leads to improvement over time​​.

Clooney knows about entrepreneurship. His ventures extend beyond acting to significant success in the business world, particularly with his cofounding of Casamigos tequila. Started in 2013 with Rande Gerber and Michael Meldman, Casamigos began as a personal project but quickly gained public acclaim. The brand’s rapid growth made it the fastest-growing ultra-premium tequila in the United States in 2022.

Clooney and his partners sold Casamigos to British liquor conglomerate Diageo in 2017. The sale, amounting to $700 million upfront with the potential for an additional $300 million based on future performance, propelled Clooney to the rank of 2018’s highest-paid actor, according to Forbes. This achievement was noteworthy, as it did not stem from his acting roles but from his entrepreneurial success.

Clooney’s initial investment in Casamigos was around $600,000, leading to an estimated return of $233 million from the sale. The acquisition included an agreement for the founders to remain involved with the brand, ensuring their ongoing contribution to its quality and development.

The sale of Casamigos to Diageo for an estimated $1 billion highlights the significant returns that can be achieved in this market with the growing interest and value in premium alcohol brands.

Vint offers an innovative way for people to tap into the profitable world of wine and spirits investment. Vint curates collections of both established and emerging investment-grade wines and spirits, which are then securitized with the Securities and Exchange Commission for fractional ownership. This approach makes it possible for a wider audience to invest in these high-value assets. Vint stores the assets in secure cellars and collaborates with merchant partners, auction houses and private buyers to sell them at opportune times.

Read Next:

• Investing in fine wine as an alternative investment is no longer exclusive to the ultra-wealthy. Find out how you can invest.
• Funders on this alternative asset platform are earning more than 14% annualized consignment profit funding Pro consignment opportunities.