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Tesla CEO Elon Musk sharply criticized Dallas Mavericks minority team owner Mark Cuban on Thursday as the two debated diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in business.
Musk responded to Cuban after the billionaire expressed his opinion on diversity, equity and inclusion.
“If you think there is no need for DEI and it doesn’t give your company a competitive advantage, just look at the @x posts/replies/quotes below,” Cuban wrote.
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“These are the same people who work for you or are your colleagues. Everyone is entitled to their point of view, but those same feelings can be heard loud and clear at work, even if they are not spoken out loud.”
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Elon Musk walks through the paddock during the Formula 1 Lenovo United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas on October 22, 2023. (Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman/USA Today Network)
Musk responded with a pointed question about the composition of the Mavericks' roster.
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“Cool, so when should we expect to see a short white/Asian woman on the Mavs?”
Cuban did not immediately respond to Musk's response.
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Musk opened the debate on X by writing that DEI is “just another word for racism” and “a disgrace to anyone who uses it.” As the
Cuban contributed five separate points about DEI.
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban leaves the court after the Mavericks' loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Dec. 2, 2023. (Jerome Miron/USA Today Sports)
“Good companies look where others don’t look to find the people who will put your company in the best possible position for success,” he wrote of diversity.
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“You may not agree, but I assume that there are people of different races, ethnicities, orientations, etc. who are regularly excluded from hiring considerations. By expanding our hiring search to include them, we can find people who are more qualified. DEI-phobic companies’ loss is my gain.”
Cuban wrote that he made a mistake regarding equality in his own company, saying he thinks “treating people equally does not mean treating them equally.”
“Justice is a core principle of business,” he wrote. “Empower your employees to be successful. Recognize their differences and play to their strengths wherever possible. It's not a hard concept. But it is not easy to implement. Most workforces don’t have the leadership skills needed to do this.” Well, okay. If not done well, it can cause tension and resentment.”
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Elon Musk wrote to Mark Cuban on X amid debate over DEI. (Getty Images)
On the topic of inclusion, Cuban believes that “great companies create environments that reduce unnecessary stress for their employees,” which in turn should lead to higher levels of productivity. He also compared DEI to healthcare. He wrote that most companies view DEI as a “hugging expense” and don’t have time to focus on it.
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“If everything that impacts all of your employees is pretty much on the CEO's checklist, there's a good chance that things aren't going well and you'll have employees who are uncomfortable for many different reasons. Which.” This in turn leads to resentment towards DEI policies and training, which in turn makes implementation more difficult for managers.
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“When companies do DEI well, you see a well-run, successful company.”
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