It all started out as a joke (or at least seemed like it), but soon grew into a real business scheme. In just a few days, Elon Musk's The Boring Company sold all 20,000 produced flamethrowers at $ 500 apiece. This earned the company, which is now mainly digging tunnels for the construction of a high-speed underground transportation system, an "extra" $ 10 million.
Yes, you read that correctly. Flamethrowers are weapons so destructive that even the only country in history that dropped atomic bombs on several cities of another state banned their use back in 1978.
Many, of course, after this decided to ask the obvious questions: Why did Elon Musk sell flamethrowers? Didn't he find anything more worthy?
Several theories immediately appeared on the Internet on this topic.
To make a lot of money quickly
In just four days since the start of accepting pre-orders for $ 500 flamethrowers, they went off like hot cakes. Learn. Ten million dollars in profit in just a few days. Most of this amount will go to the company's piggy bank, some will have to be given to the state in taxes. But apparently, as the same portal The Verge wrote, the production of flamethrowers cost The Boring Company literally a penny, because structurally they are just an airsoft system with a “screwed on” lighter and a small container for fuel. In addition, the only marketing campaign to promote them took place only on Twitter, as well as on Elon Musk's personal Instagram page. For those who are afraid for the safety of themselves and others when using a flamethrower,the company even thoughtfully included a free fire extinguisher with every package.
Much skepticism is concentrated around Musk himself, as well as his companies. For example, Tesla is viewed as a company with many ideas, but lacking the ability and ability to implement them. With the sale of flamethrowers (and before that, The Boring Company branded caps for $ 10 apiece), Musk was able to once again show that he could sell almost anything, if it had something to do with his name. Even if an ordinary person doesn't need it. Even if it will never be used. At the same time, he announced this loudly, clearly and with his characteristic style. Musk became practically the second Jobs (this is one of the founders and leaders of Apple, who has forgotten). Behind that, such a "sin" was also observed.
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Because it can
Musk has built his reputation for being capable of anything over the years. A sort of "crazy genius". But for world peace. He took on those projects that others had refused before him or could not cope with. From self-driving electric cars to sending people to Mars. And if you have to wait with the second, then the first are actually rolling on public roads.
Musk understands very well how to get the attention of the press and get praise from it. A recent example is his work to restore electricity to hospitals in Puerto Rico, which was recently hit by a hurricane. Who would have thought that Tesla batteries would be perfect as power sources? Against this background, the production of flamethrowers, of course, does not look so altruistic, but Musk once again showed that he knows how to attract the attention of people.
To prepare people for the zombie apocalypse
Well, or to some "end of the world."
“When the zombie apocalypse comes, you will be glad you managed to buy a flamethrower,” Elon Musk tweeted shortly after The Boring Company began taking orders.
This is just one of several tweets about the effectiveness of the zombie-fighting device. You see, there is a certain caste of people (and not only in America) - crazy or not, let's leave that to psychiatrists - who seriously believe that humanity can face a zombie uprising. If you consider yourself one of these people and have not yet managed to build a bunker in case of a zombie apocalypse, then Musk has a backup option for you. Surely, if something happens, his company can easily not only resume the production of flamethrowers, but also start producing other means of protection against the walking dead.
By the way, in the same Twitter, Musk also hinted that the Boring Company might switch to the production of jetpacks and portal guns. And you know what? Considering all that Musk said and did before, it is difficult to understand if this is a joke, or in the end such statements will sooner or later be embodied in real products.
Musk is an atypical billionaire. He loves fun
Do you understand what level of fun we are talking about? Recall that this man went to beat the thresholds of state structures and ask for permission to dig tunnels near Los Angeles after he was tired of being bored every day in his car, being in traffic jams on the roads loaded with traffic. He also recently sent his Tesla car straight to Mars. Therefore, the sale of flamethrowers is so little things. But not everyone shares his enthusiasm in this matter. At first, several US senators opposed, worried about the already high threat of wildfires in the United States, which promises to be even higher this year. Then a real boycott was announced by the postal service, whose representatives said that the American service was not going to have anything to do with the transfer of things, the name of which contains the word "flamethrower". In this regard, Musk even promised to rename the product and call it "not a flamethrower." You see, he's just that kind of person.
The media of the same West note that it would be difficult for them to imagine the same Jeff Bezos or, say, Bill Gates holding and advertising on Twitter or Instagram a flamethrower of their own production. But with Elon Musk, everything is different. People expect even more extravagant and crazy ideas from him. And as a rule, it turns out that when Musk does something "funny", it turns out that he becomes several tens of millions of dollars richer.
When you are Elon Musk, you have several billion dollars on your account and you have good connections in the government, as well as government contracts for your companies, all doors are open for you.