--- title: "Elon Musk: “I Do Not Respect the SEC”" description: "In a recent \"60 Minutes\" interview with Lesley Stahl, Elon Musk offered up some strong language about his dislike for the SEC." date: "2018-12-10" modified: "2018-12-10" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/elon-musk-respect-sec" categories: - "Elon Musk" - "Future Society" - "The Industrialists" tags: - "elon musk" - "sec" - "tesla" --- # Elon Musk: “I Do Not Respect the SEC” ![]() *\Image: Tag Hartman-Simkins/Mario Tama/Getty Images\* ## SECond Chance Elon Musk has had enough of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). And if he hadn't already made it abundantly clear — he [jokingly referred to]() the regulatory agency as the "Shortseller Enrichment Commission" in October — Elon Musk offered up some strong language during newly released footage from [an interview]() with "60 Minutes" host Lesley Stahl. "I do not respect the SEC," Musk said. "I do not respect them." ## Private Enemy Number One The squabble between Musk and the SEC dates to September, when the commission [filed a lawsuit]() against Musk. It said he mislead investors during a series of August tweets in which he said he planned to take Tesla private at [$420 per share]() — which, yep, turned out to be a pot joke to [amuse his girlfriend](), the renowned industrial musician Grimes. Musk settled with the SEC, agreeing to pay a fine and let Tesla [review public statements]() he makes about the company. Musk also had to step down as Tesla chairman for at least three years — though he was allowed to keep his post as CEO. ## SECond in Command But Musk does what he wants. He made it clear during the "60 Minutes" interview that not all of his tweets were read by officials at Tesla prior to being tweeted. "The only tweets that would have to be say reviewed would be if a tweet had a probability of causing a movement in the stock," Musk [told Stahl]()*.* In the wake of the *60 Minutes* interview, a Tesla spokesperson [told the]() *Washington* *Post* that "the settlement is being complied with." ## SECuring a Future Did the SEC do enough to reign in an impulsive billionaire? That's hard to tell. But things are [looking up right now]() for Tesla, with analysts predicting strong performance as its Model 3 production picks up. **READ MORE:** [Elon Musk: ‘I do not respect the SEC’ following $20 million fine]() \[*Washington Post*\] ***More on Elon and the SEC:** [The Five Funniest Things about the SEC’s Lawsuit against Elon Musk]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()