‘Let that sink in’: Elon Musk barges into Twitter HQ as $67 billion deal nears

Elon Musk posted a video of himself barging into Twitter headquarters – two days before his court-ordered deadline to close his $67 billion deal to buy the platform.

Billionaire Elon Musk carried an actual sink into Twitter’s San Francisco headquarters during a surprise visit Wednesday ahead of his expected acquisition of the company.

Musk shared a video laughing while lugging the sink into the lobby – two days before his court-ordered deadline to close a $US44 billion ($AUD67 billion) deal to buy Twitter or face a trial. Earlier in the day, the Tesla boss changed his Twitter bio to “Chief Twit.”

“Entering Twitter HQ – let that sink in!” Musk tweeted alongside the nine-second video.

In a memo to staffers, Twitter chief marketing officer Leslie Berland revealed that Musk would be on site at the company’s headquarters throughout the week, the New York Post reports.

Musk is also expected to personally address employees on Friday.

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Elon Musk’s imminent takeover of Twitter has triggered an early exodus of hundreds of employees, according to a report. Picture: Carina Johansen / NTB / AFP / Norway OUT

“Elon is in the SF office this week meeting with folks, walking the halls, and continuing to dive in on the important work you all do,” Berland wrote in the memo, according to Bloomberg.

“For everyone else, this is just the beginning of many meetings and conversations with Elon, and you’ll all hear directly from him on Friday.”

Entering Twitter HQ – let that sink in! pic.twitter.com/D68z4K2wq7

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 26, 2022

The Post reached out to Twitter for comment.

Representatives for Musk and Twitter are working to iron out terms on the transaction before a 5pm. Friday (local) deadline.

A finalised deal would mark the end of a months-long saga in which Musk agreed to buy Twitter for $US54.20 ($AUD83.50) per share and then changed his mind due to concerns about spam bots – only to reverse course again and say he would proceed on the original terms.

Elon Musk shared a video of his entrance on his Twitter account. Picture: Twitter / @elonmusk

Elon Musk carried a sink into Twitter’s office. Picture: Twitter / @elonmusk

Musk reportedly told his co-investors and bankers earlier this week that he intends to close his acquisition of Twitter by the end of the week.

Musk’s co-investors, including Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison and Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, are chipping in with $US7.1 billion ($AUD 1.9 billion) toward the purchase price.

Meanwhile, banks such as Morgan Stanley and Bank of America have committed $US13 billion ($AUD 20 billion) in debt financing toward the deal.

The billionaire has pledged to lead an overhaul at Twitter with an emphasis on free speech. Musk has also hinted that his Twitter takeover will facilitate his plans to build a “super app” called X, with functionality likely similar to China-based app WeChat.

Elon Musk changed his Twitter bio to say “Chief Twit.” Picture: Twitter / @elonmusk

Musk’s looming involvement has been a source of consternation for Twitter employees and purportedly contributed to a mass exodus of staffers in recent months.

Many of the scorned workers are reportedly joining rivals Google and Meta.

Earlier this week, the Washington Post reported that Musk had told investors he could lay off nearly 75 per cent of the company’s 7,500 employees.

Twitter’s human resources team told staffers that there was no plan for mass lay-offs.

With Post wires

This article originally appeared in the New York Post and was reproduced with permission