Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Elon Musk did publicly entertain the idea of buying MSNBC in November 2024, but there is no documented evidence that he made a formal offer, entered acquisition talks or bought the network. The rumor also misread Comcast’s announcement: Comcast planned to spin off several cable networks, not put MSNBC up for sale.
The former MSNBC business was ultimately separated into Versant Media Group on January 2, 2026, and later identified as MS NOW. The reviewed corporate filings do not identify Musk as its owner or purchaser.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Roku 55-Inch Select Series Smart TV 2026-4K (2160p) QLED TV TV | $279.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Samsung 55-Inch Class M70H Series, Mini LED, 4K, Smart TV, 2026 Model | $299.99 | Buy on Amazon |
What Musk actually said
The episode began after Comcast announced its planned cable-network separation on November 20, 2024. Two days later, Donald Trump Jr. posted on X encouraging Musk to buy MSNBC and framing the prospect as an entertaining political-media development.
Musk replied: “How much does it cost?” He then participated in additional jokes, memes and replies about changing the network’s programming. Podcast host Joe Rogan also joked that he would take Rachel Maddow’s job if Musk bought the network, and Musk responded favorably to some of the banter. Vanity Fair’s contemporaneous account and a Yahoo/HuffPost report documented the exchange.
#1 Best Overall
- Breathtaking picture: Sharp 4K brings out rich detail on our 55" flat screen TV, while the QLED screen and HDR10 create bright, accurate colors. Roku Smart Picture cleans up incoming TV signals, optimizes them, and chooses the right picture mode.
- Seamless streaming: With fast Wi-Fi and apps that launch in a snap, Roku Select Series TVs get you to your entertainment quickly. You get excellent picture quality, clear sound, automatic updates, and more. It’s simple to use. Hard to outgrow.
- TV, simplified: With setup that only takes minutes, a simple-to-navigate Home Screen, and an uncluttered remote control that does all you need—Roku makes it easier to watch the TV you love.
- A world of free entertainment: Enjoy a huge selection of free live TV, news, sports, movies, shows, and much more—all just a click away.
- More streaming, less searching: With personalized picks right on your Home Screen, quick access to the sports and entertainment you watch most, and fast and easy search in one place—the days of endless scrolling are over.
Those posts show public interest, curiosity or trolling. They do not establish what Musk privately intended.
Was it a real acquisition offer?
No formal offer has been documented in the sources reviewed. There was no reported financing commitment, purchase agreement, due-diligence process, regulatory filing or confirmed negotiation with Comcast establishing an acquisition attempt.
The accurate description is that Musk floated, joked about or publicly entertained buying MSNBC. Calling the exchange a bid would go beyond the evidence. As Lead Stories noted, a social-media reply asking how much something costs is not a formal acquisition proposal.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Why people thought MSNBC was for sale
The confusion came from the difference between a spinoff and a sale.
| Transaction | What it means |
|---|---|
| Spinoff | A parent company separates a business and distributes shares in the new company to its existing shareholders. |
| Sale | An asset or company is transferred to a buyer in exchange for money, stock or other consideration. |
Comcast’s November 20 announcement said it planned to create a separate company containing several cable-network assets, including MSNBC, CNBC, USA Network, Oxygen, E!, Syfy and Golf Channel. Comcast shareholders would receive ownership in the new company. That was not an announcement that Comcast was soliciting buyers for MSNBC.
Contemporaneous reporting said Comcast’s position was that the assets included in the planned spinoff were not for sale. A spinoff can make a business more independent and may create future strategic options, but the separation itself is not proof that a sale is planned. Comcast’s original announcement and this Reuters-based explanation describe the distinction.
What happened to MSNBC afterward?
The planned separation went ahead. On January 2, 2026, the cable-network portfolio became part of Versant Media Group, an independent publicly traded company listed on Nasdaq under the ticker VSNT.
Recommended Free Tools
According to Comcast’s 2025 Form 10-K, Comcast shareholders received Versant shares on a pro-rata basis at a ratio of one Versant share for every 25 Comcast shares held on the relevant record date. Comcast retained no ownership interest in Versant after the distribution.
Rank #2
- MINI LED PROCESSOR 4K: Our advanced processor delivers brighter highlights and deeper blacks,* bringing every detail to life with stunning clarity
- PURE COLOR SPECTRUM: delivers one billion true-to-life colors, powered by advanced color technology and MiniLED precision. Enjoy rich reds, deep blues, and vibrant greens, making every scene leap off the screen with breathtaking realism.
- MINI LED HDR: Experience HDR picture quality with brighter highlights and deeper blacks than traditional HDR TVs.* Enjoy vibrant colors and lifelike details as this technology enhances brightness and contrast, making every image stand out with remarkable depth and realism.
- ENDLESS FREE CONTENT: Watch 2,700+ free streaming options, including 750+ subscription-free channels on Samsung TV Plus. Enjoy news, sports, movies, kids' shows and reality TV — all without a subscription. Discover endless entertainment with new content added regularly, tailored to your mood and interests.*
- SUPREME MINI LED DIMMING: delivers deep contrast and bright highlights for a truly superb picture.*
The former MSNBC property was later identified in corporate filings as MS NOW. Versant’s portfolio also included CNBC, USA Network, Golf Channel, E!, Syfy, Oxygen and related digital properties. This was a corporate separation, not a conventional third-party purchase of MSNBC by Versant.
The Comcast Form 10-K and Versant’s January 2026 Form 8-K do not identify Musk as an owner or purchaser.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why the rumor spread so quickly
The idea connected several highly visible political and media stories:
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
- Musk had become a prominent political actor and supporter of Donald Trump during the 2024 election.
- Musk already owned X, making speculation about billionaire control of news and information especially resonant.
- MSNBC was widely perceived as a liberal-leaning cable news network and was a frequent target of conservative criticism.
- The possibility of Musk buying a left-leaning network and changing its programming was politically provocative.
- Trump Jr., Rogan, Musk and other participants turned a corporate-structure announcement into a viral social-media spectacle.
That context explains the attention, but it does not turn political speculation into evidence of a transaction. The Guardian’s contemporaneous coverage placed the discussion in this broader media and political context.
Could Musk theoretically have bought it?
A future acquisition would have involved considerably more than Musk’s public question about the price. Potential issues would have included:
- Whether the new company or its shareholders were willing to sell.
- The market cost of acquiring a publicly traded media company after the separation.
- Financing, shareholder approval and transaction structure.
- Possible regulatory review, particularly if broadcast assets or licenses were involved.
- Distribution contracts, affiliate relationships, debt, staff, brand rights and programming obligations.
- The implications of one person owning both a major social platform and a national news network.
These are analytical considerations, not evidence that Musk pursued a transaction. The phrase “How much does it cost?” was not a published valuation, and there is no reliable basis for treating it as one.
MSNBC, MS NOW and the ownership question
Terminology matters when describing the story:
- MSNBC is the correct name for the network involved in the November 2024 exchange.
- MS NOW is the later name used for the separated network in corporate filings.
- Versant became the independent company holding the former MSNBC business after the January 2026 separation.
- Musk’s ownership of X and political influence do not demonstrate ownership of MSNBC or MS NOW.
The reviewed filings support a clear conclusion: the 2024 episode was public purchase talk, not a verified acquisition, and the subsequent corporate outcome was a spinoff into Versant rather than a Musk takeover.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
