In a recent legal development, the identities of nearly 100 investors in Elon Musk’s social media platform, X (formerly known as Twitter), have been disclosed, revealing a diverse array of stakeholders. Among these investors are notable figures such as billionaire Bill Ackman and music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. The disclosure of this information was prompted by a lawsuit filed by former employees of X, who are seeking the payment of arbitration fees incurred following Musk’s acquisition of the platform.
Legal Battle Forces Disclosure of X’s Investors
The lawsuit that led to the unsealing of X’s investor list centers on former employees who were dismissed after Musk took control of the platform in 2022. These employees have argued that they are owed arbitration fees as a result of their termination. In response, X had initially claimed that the identities of its investors were confidential and protected by “routine practice and policy.” However, this week, a federal judge in California ruled that the list of X’s owners must be unsealed, leading to the public revelation of some of the most prominent names in the world of business and entertainment who have stakes in the company.
High-Profile Investors: Fidelity’s Extensive Involvement
One of the most significant revelations from the unsealed documents is the extent of investment by Fidelity, a major financial services corporation. Fidelity’s involvement in X was previously speculated, particularly after reports suggested that the platform’s value had plummeted by 72% since Musk’s takeover. The latest filing confirms that Fidelity is a major player in X, with nearly 30 separate entities linked to the firm holding stakes in the social media platform. This extensive investment underscores Fidelity’s ongoing interest in the digital and tech space, despite the challenges faced by X under Musk’s leadership.
Bill Ackman: A Vocal Investor with a Strategic Stake
Another notable investor revealed in the unsealed documents is Bill Ackman, a billionaire hedge fund manager known for his outspoken views and strategic investments. Ackman’s stake in X is held through the Pershing Square Foundation, an organization linked to Pershing Square Holdings, the investment firm he founded two decades ago. Although the foundation is managed by an independent senior leadership team, Ackman and his wife, Neri Oxman, serve as co-trustees, ensuring that their influence is felt in the foundation’s investment decisions.
Ackman is not just an investor in X but also an active user of the platform. He frequently engages with other high-profile individuals and entities on X, using the platform to express his views on a wide range of topics. For example, Ackman has used X to publicly debate Mark Cuban, a fellow billionaire and Shark Tank star, as well as to question the leadership of Harvard University, his alma mater. His involvement in X aligns with his broader investment strategy, which often includes taking significant stakes in companies where he believes he can influence outcomes.
Sean “Diddy” Combs: A Surprising Stakeholder
The unsealing of X’s investor list also revealed the involvement of Sean “Diddy” Combs, a music industry icon and entrepreneur with a wide array of business interests. Combs’ investment in X is held through his company, Sean Combs Capital, LLC. While SEC filings do not explicitly link this entity to Combs, it is consistent with his history of launching businesses under his birth name, Sean Combs. Over the years, Combs has established several successful ventures, including the Sean Combs Foundation, Combs Investments, and more recently, Combs Global, an umbrella brand that encompasses all of his holdings.
Combs’ investment in X is notable given his influence in both the entertainment and business worlds. As one of the most successful figures in the music industry, Combs has built a reputation for his business acumen, which extends beyond music to include fashion, media, and now, social media platforms like X. His involvement in X adds another layer of prestige to the platform’s roster of investors, highlighting the broad appeal of Musk’s venture.
Larry Ellison: A Tech Titan with a Quiet Presence on X
Larry Ellison, the founder of Oracle Corporation, is another prominent name on the list of X’s investors. Ellison’s stake in the platform is held through the Lawrence J. Ellison Revocable Trust, which primarily exists to manage Ellison’s assets and estate. According to a 2008 SEC filing, the trust’s principal business is to “hold the assets and estate of Mr. Ellison,” and it operates independently of Oracle Corporation.
Despite his significant investment in X, Ellison is not an active user of the platform. He has posted only twice on X, once in 2012 and again in 2023, despite having more than 130,000 followers. Ellison’s involvement in X, therefore, appears to be more of a strategic financial investment rather than a platform for personal expression. Nonetheless, his stake in X underscores the platform’s appeal to some of the most powerful figures in the technology industry.
Royal Connections: HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud
Among the more unexpected names on the list of X’s investors is HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud, a Saudi royal with a net worth just shy of $19 billion, according to Forbes. The prince is a well-known investor with holdings in luxury hotels such as the Four Seasons and the Savoy, as well as in technology firms like the ride-sharing company Lyft. His investment in X reflects his interest in diversifying his portfolio across various industries, including social media.
Prince Alwaleed’s involvement in X also highlights the platform’s global reach and appeal to investors from different parts of the world. As a member of one of Saudi Arabia’s most prominent families, Prince Alwaleed’s investment in X adds an element of international prestige to the platform’s ownership structure.
Jack Dorsey: The Co-Founder Who Stayed On
Interestingly, the list of X’s investors also includes Jack Dorsey, the co-founder and former CEO of Twitter. Dorsey, who initially supported Musk’s takeover of the platform, still owns shares in X through the Jack Dorsey Remainder LLC. However, Dorsey’s relationship with Musk has soured in recent months. Earlier this year, Dorsey publicly criticized Musk’s leadership of X, stating on the rival social media platform Bluesky that “it all went south.” Despite his criticism, Dorsey’s continued ownership of shares in X suggests that he remains financially invested in the platform’s future, even if he disagrees with its current direction.
A Diverse Array of Investors: From Venture Capital to Wealth Management
The unsealed documents also reveal a wide range of lesser-known investors, including venture capital firms and individual investors who have ties to wealth management companies. For instance, Danilo Kawasaki and Ross Gerber, both leaders of the wealth and investment management firm Gerber Kawasaki, are listed as individual investors in X. Their involvement reflects the broader trend of financial services firms investing in high-potential tech companies.
In addition to Gerber Kawasaki, the list includes prominent Silicon Valley venture capital firms such as 8VC, Andreessen Horowitz, and Sequoia Capital. These firms are known for their investments in some of the most successful tech startups in the world, and their stakes in X further solidify the platform’s position as a major player in the tech industry.
Musk’s Stake and the Challenges Ahead
Unsurprisingly, Elon Musk himself is one of the largest stakeholders in X. His investment in the platform is held through the Elon Musk Revocable Trust, which is a common vehicle for managing the assets of high-net-worth individuals. Musk purchased X for $44 billion in 2022, a move that was met with both excitement and skepticism. The unsealed documents do not specify the exact proportion of Musk’s investment relative to other investors, but it is clear that he remains heavily invested in the platform’s success.
Since taking over X, Musk has faced a series of challenges, including the departure of major advertisers, mass layoffs, and ongoing criticism of his leadership style. These issues have contributed to the platform’s declining value, as reflected in the reports from Fidelity and other investment firms. Despite these setbacks, Musk continues to push forward with his vision for X, which includes plans to expand the platform’s capabilities and user base.
The Full List of Investors
The full list of X’s investors, as revealed by the unsealed documents, is extensive and includes both well-known and obscure names. This diverse group of stakeholders represents a wide range of interests, from individual investors and family trusts to venture capital firms and global investment entities. The disclosure of this list sheds new light on the financial backing behind Musk’s controversial acquisition of X and provides a glimpse into the platform’s future direction under its new ownership.
- 8VC Opportunities Fund II, L.P.
- ADREM X LLC
- ADREM Y LLC
- Andreessen Horowitz LSV Fund III, L.P.
- Anthem Ventures, LLC
- ARK Venture Private Holdings LLC
- BAMCO, Inc.
- Bandera Fund LLC
- Baron Opportunity Fund
- Baron Partners Fund
- Binance Capital Management Co., Ltd
- Brookfield Project X L.P.•CCM 2020 Investments LLC
- Cheng and Chen Family Trust
- Afshar Partners, LP
- Andrea Stroppa
- CNK Fund IV, L.P.
- Danilo Kawasaki
- Dayton Family Enterprises, LLC
- Dayton Family Investments, LLC
- DFJ GROWTH IV, L.P.
- DFJ GROWTH IV PARALLEL FUND, LLC
- DFJ GROWTH X-I, L.P.
- Eden Relationship Capital L.P.
- Elon Musk as Trustee of the Elon Musk Revocable Trust dated July 22, 2003
- FIAM Target Date Blue Chip Growth Commingled Pool By: Fidelity InstitutionalAsset Management Trust Company as Trustee
- Fidelity Blue Chip Growth Commingled Pool By: Fidelity Management TrustCompany, as Trustee
- Fidelity Contrafund: Fidelity Advisor New Insights Fund – Sub A
- Fidelity Contrafund: Fidelity Advisor New Insights Fund – Sub B
- Fidelity Contrafund: Fidelity Contrafund•Fidelity Contrafund: Fidelity Contrafund K6
- Fidelity Contrafund: Fidelity Series Opportunistic Insights Fund
- Fidelity Contrafund Commingled Pool By: Fidelity Management Trust Company,as Trustee
- Fidelity Blue Chip Growth Institutional Trust By its manager Fidelity InvestmentsCanada ULC
- Fidelity Canadian Growth Company Fund by its manager Fidelity InvestmentsCanada ULC
- Fidelity Central Investment Portfolios LLC: Fidelity U.S. Equity Central Fund -Communication Services Sub
- Fidelity Destiny Portfolios: Fidelity Advisor Diversified Stock Fund
- Fidelity Global Growth and Value Investment Trust – Sub A By its manager Fidelity Investments Canada
- Fidelity Global Innovators Investment Trust by its manager Fidelity InvestmentsCanada ULC
- Fidelity Growth Company Commingled Pool By: Fidelity Management TrustCompany, as Trustee
- Fidelity Insights Investment Trust By its manager Fidelity Investments CanadaULC
- Fidelity Mt. Vernon Street Trust: Fidelity Growth Company Fund
- Fidelity Mt. Vernon Street Trust : Fidelity Growth Company K6 Fund
- Fidelity Mt. Vernon Street Trust: Fidelity Series Growth Company Fund
- Fidelity OTC Commingled Pool By: Fidelity Management Trust Company, as Trustee
- Fidelity Puritan Trust: Fidelity Puritan Fund – Equity Sub B
- Fidelity Puritan Trust: Puritan K6 Fund – Equity Subportfolio•Fidelity Securities Fund: Fidelity Blue Chip Growth Fund
- Fidelity Securities Fund: Fidelity Blue Chip Growth K6 Fund
- Fidelity Securities Fund: Fidelity OTC K6 Portfolio
- Fidelity Securities Fund: Fidelity OTC Portfolio
- Fidelity Select Portfolios : Select Communication Services Portfolio•G64 Ventures LLC
- Gerber Kawasaki Inc.
- GFNCI LLC
- Gigafund 0.21, LP
- Glacier Ventures LLC
- Go Mav, LLC
- HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud
- HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud
- IMG US, LLC
- Jack Dorsey Remainder LLC
- Jack Dorsey Tr Ua 12/08/2010 Jack Dorsey Revocable Trust
- Kingdom Holding Company
- Lawrence J. Ellison Revocable Trust
- Linda Ye and Robin Ren Family Foundation
- Litani Ventures•Luchi Fiduciaria SR POS. 365
- Manhattan Venture Partners X LLC
- Mirae Asset Innovation X ONE, LLC
- Mirae Asset Project X Fund I, LP•Olivier Janssens
- Q Tetris Holding LLC
- Ross Gerber
- Santo Lira LLC
- SC CDA1 LLC
- SCGE Fund, L.P.•SCGGF III – U.S./India Management, L.P.
- SCHF (M) PV, L.P.
- Scott Nolan
- SC US/E Expansion Fund I Management, L.P.
- Sean Combs Capital, LLC
- Sequent (Schweiz) AG as Trustee of the Debala Trust
- Sequioa Capital Fund, L.P.
- Series N Dis, a series of Atreides Special Circumstances Fund, LLC
- Shahidi Tactic Group, LLC
- Steve Davis
- T. One Holdings LLC
- The Pershing Square Foundation
- TM33 Partner Holdings
- Tresser Blvd 402 LLC
- UnipolSai S.P.A.
- Variable Insurance Products Fund II: VIP Contrafund Portfolio – Subportfolio A
- VYC25 Limited
- X Holdings I Investment, LLC
What the Future Holds for X
The unsealing of X’s investor list marks a significant moment in the ongoing saga of Elon Musk’s ownership of the platform. The diversity of the investors involved—from tech titans like Larry Ellison to entertainment moguls like Sean “Diddy” Combs—underscores the broad appeal of X as a social media platform with global reach and influence. However, the challenges facing the platform are substantial, and it remains to be seen whether Musk’s vision for X will be enough to overcome the obstacles ahead.
As X continues to evolve under Musk’s leadership, the involvement of these high-profile investors will likely play a crucial role in shaping the platform’s future. Whether through strategic investments, public endorsements, or behind-the-scenes influence, the stakeholders in X have a vested interest in the platform’s success. For now, all eyes are on Musk as he navigates the complex landscape of social media in the 21st century, with the support of some of the most influential figures in business and entertainment.
The Information is Collected from Fortune and Yahoo.
