Closing Arguments to Begin in Twitter Shareholder Trial

Elon Musk not expected in court as lawsuit over his Twitter deal moves forward

Mar. 17, 2026 at 4:04pm by Ben Kaplan

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Closing arguments are set to begin in a trial pitting Twitter shareholders against Elon Musk, the world's richest man, over his $44 billion deal to purchase the social media platform in 2022. Shareholders allege Musk engaged in a pattern of deceptive behavior that misled investors as he attempted to back out of the deal, while Musk has defended his actions citing concerns over bot accounts.

Why it matters

This high-profile trial represents a major legal battle between Musk and Twitter shareholders who claim they were harmed by his actions. The outcome could have significant implications for how Musk and other billionaires conduct major business deals in the future.

The details

Shareholders said Musk's public posts about negotiations and his attempts to back out of the deal led them to sell their stock at a loss. Musk has testified that he was concerned about the prevalence of bot accounts on Twitter, which he said had been counted as "real" users. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit are seeking compensation for the losses they incurred.

  • Closing arguments are set to begin on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
  • Musk testified earlier this month as part of the trial.

The players

Elon Musk

The world's richest man and the defendant in the lawsuit brought by Twitter shareholders.

Twitter Shareholders

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit who allege they were harmed by Musk's actions related to his $44 billion deal to purchase Twitter.

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What they’re saying

“Musk testified earlier this month and defended his actions, saying he was concerned about so-called bot accounts that had been counted as "real" users.”

— Elon Musk (nbcbayarea.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on the outcome of the trial after hearing the closing arguments.

The takeaway

This high-profile legal battle between Musk and Twitter shareholders highlights the complex issues that can arise in major corporate transactions, especially when a billionaire like Musk is involved. The trial's outcome could set important precedents for how such deals are conducted in the future.