“The definitive account of how the world’s richest man, in a fit of unbridled vanity and arrogance, took over and destroyed our digital town square.” — John Carreyrou, author of Bad Blood​ "Astonishing. Kate Conger and Ryan Mac’s meticulous, comprehensive reporting turns an opaque mess brutally transparent." —Jia Tolentino, author of Trick Mirror Rising star New York Times technology reporters, Kate Conger and Ryan Mac, tell for the first time the full and shocking inside story of Elon Musk’s unprecedented takeover of Twitter and the forty-four-billion-dollar deal’s seismic political, social, and financial fallout The billionaire entrepreneur and Tesla CEO Elon Musk has become inextricable from the social media platform that until 2023 was known as Twitter. Started in the mid-2000s as a playful microblogging platform, Twitter quickly became a vital nexus of global politics, culture, and media—where the retweet button could instantly catapult any idea to hundreds of millions of screens around the world, unleashing raw collective emotion like nothing else before.

While its founder had idealistically dreamed of building a "digital town square," he detested Wall Street and never focused on building a profitable business. Musk joined the platform in 2010 and, by 2022, had become one of the site’s most influential users, hooking over 80 million followers with a mix of provocations, promotion of his companies, and attacks on his enemies. To Musk, Twitter — once known for its almost absolute commitment to free speech — had badly lost its way.

He blamed it for the proliferation of what he called the “woke mind virus” and claimed that the survival of democracy and the human race itself depended on the future of the site. In January of 2022, Musk began secretly accumulating Twitter stock. By April, he was its largest shareholder, and soon after, made an unsolicited offer to purchase the company for the unimaginable sum of $44 billion dollars.

Backed into a corner, Twitter’s board accepted his offer—but Musk quickly changed his mind, forcing Twitter to sue him to close the deal in October. The richest man on earth controlled one of the most powerful media platforms in the world—but at what price? Before long Twitter would be gone for good, replaced by something radically different, as Musk remade the company in his own image from the ground up.

The story of the showdown between Musk and Twitter and his eventual takeover of the company is unlike anything in business or media that has come before. In vivid, cinematic detail, Conger and Mac follow the inner workings of the company as Musk lays siege to it, first from the outside as one of its most vocal users, and then finally from within as a contentious and mercurial leader. Musk has shared some of his version of events, but Conger and Mac have uncovered the full story through exclusive interviews, unreported documents, and internal recordings at Twitter following the billionaire’s takeover.

With unparalleled sources from within and around the company, they provide a revelatory, three-dimensional, and definitive account of what really happened when Musk showed up, spoiling for a brawl and intent on revolution, with his merciless, sycophantic cadre of lawyers, investors, and bankers. This is the defining story of our time told with uncommon style and peerless rigor. In a world of viral ideas and emotion, who gets to control the narrative, who gets to be heard, and what does power really cost?

In a world where digital communication dictates our daily interactions, the fate of one of the world's most influential social media platforms lies in the hands of a visionary yet controversial leader. "Character Limit: How Elon Musk Destroyed Twitter" delves deep into the unexpected and transformational journey of Twitter under the stewardship of Elon Musk. As the platform experiences radical changes, it raises questions about the balance between innovation and responsibility in the realm of social communication.

Elon Musk's revolutionary tactics brought Twitter to an unprecedented crossroads in its history. The book explores the tension between innovation and social responsibility in digital communication. Analyzes the broader implications on global communication and social media dynamics.

This book takes readers on a captivating exploration of Elon Musk's tenure as a major influencer of Twitter's direction. Through strategic maneuvers and bold innovations, Musk's decisions have both revitalized and polarized one of the digital world's most pivotal platforms, capturing attention worldwide. Discover the early days of Musk's influence at Twitter and how his ambition pushed boundaries in unexpected directions.

His unyielding drive to integrate groundbreaking technological advancements with existing systems reveals the tensions between traditional structures and radical change, igniting a global debate. Witness the immediate and long-term consequences of Musk's audacious decisions, from restructuring its foundational algorithms to exploring new revenue models. The book explores how his relentless pursuit of progress has disrupted previous norms and shifted power dynamics within the technology sphere.

As readers delve into the intricacies of Musk's leadership, they gain insight into a narrative of innovation clashing with responsibility. The book raises critical questions regarding the future of digital platforms and how society must adapt to ongoing transformations driven by figures like Musk.

This narrative stands out by weaving a gripping tale of technological evolution intertwined with Elon Musk's bold initiatives, providing unique insights into a redefined social media landscape Its balanced portrayal of Musk's influence showcases the harmonized complexity of innovation's double-edged impact on society, prompting reflection on ethical and operational boundaries By highlighting both the visionary and controversial aspects, the book caters to readers seeking to comprehend technology's role in shaping the future This exploration offers a discerning view of Musk's enduring legacy within the digital realm.