Billionaire Elon Musk hilariously offered Wikipedia one billion dollars if they would change their name to “D*ickipedia” after the co-founder of the free online encyclopedia said it was “not for sale.”
Co-founder Jimmy Wales previously posted a personal appeal from Wikipedia which Musk screenshotted and then posted with his offer.
“I will give them a billion dollars if they change their name to D*ckipedia,” Musk wrote on X.
“Please add that to the [cow and poop emojis] on my wiki page,” he added. “In the interests of accuracy.”
I will give them a billion dollars if they change their name to Dickipedia https://t.co/wxoHQdRICy
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 22, 2023
(Please add that to the on my wiki page)
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 22, 2023
In the interests of accuracy
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 22, 2023
Futurist Ed Krassenstein urged Wikipedia to take the offer, “@Wikipedia, Do it! You can always change it back after you collect.”
That got a response from Musk and a clarification.
“One year minimum. I mean, I’m a not fool lol,” the tech mogul wrote.
One year minimum. I mean, I’m a not fool lol.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 22, 2023
All of that follows Musk earlier on Sunday blasting the Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit that hosts Wikipedia, for begging for money.
“Have you ever wondered why the Wikimedia Foundation wants so much money? It certainly isn’t needed to operate Wikipedia,” he posted on X. “You can literally fit a copy of the entire text on your phone! So, what’s the money for? Inquiring minds want to know …”
Have you ever wondered why the Wikimedia Foundation wants so much money?
It certainly isn’t needed to operate Wikipedia. You can literally fit a copy of the entire text on your phone!
So, what’s the money for? Inquiring minds want to know …
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 22, 2023
X’s Community Notes pointed out:
Readers added context they thought people might want to know
Expenses: $146m
ADVERTISEMENT– 43-45% engineering improvements, product development, design and research, and legal support
– 31-32% grants, projects, trainings, tools for contributor capacity, and support for the legal defense of editors
– 13% Administration
– 11-12% Fundraising.
Wales is evidently no fan of Musk’s and is an outspoken critic of him. He condemned Musk’s decision to censor critics ahead of the Turkish presidential election last May.
“What Wikipedia did: we stood strong for our principles and fought to the Supreme Court of Turkey and won,” Wales wrote, responding to a blunt post from Musk defending his decision. “This is what it means to treat freedom of expression as a principle rather than a slogan.”
What Wikipedia did: we stood strong for our principles and fought to the Supreme Court of Turkey and won. This is what it means to treat freedom of expression as a principle rather than a slogan. https://t.co/tHkx1Wa06r
— Jimmy Wales (@jimmy_wales) May 13, 2023
Users on X think the suggested name change for Wikipedia makes a lot of sense and some volunteered their own as well:
Dickpedia makes a lot more sense. https://t.co/ITJjdt0JDN
— Paul Hookem (@PaulHook_em) October 22, 2023
I will change my name to Dickipedia for the low price of one million.
— Victory Or Death (@Vict0ry0rDeath) October 22, 2023
Sounds like a deal
— Wall Street Silver (@WallStreetSilv) October 22, 2023
Take the offer @jimmy_wales
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) October 22, 2023
Buy it and put AI in charge of updating it autonomously.
— Scott Adams (@ScottAdamsSays) October 22, 2023
Wikipaidia
— Sir Doge of the Coin ⚔️ (@dogeofficialceo) October 22, 2023
It would accurately reflect their reputation. Huge upgrade for #Wikipedia, IMO. pic.twitter.com/eSukuOBjIW
— Emergent Perspective (@_emergent_) October 22, 2023
Do it Dikipedia!!! For the win!
— ⚔️ Ina ⚔️ (@Songbird70x7) October 23, 2023
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