Tom Brady and Elon Musk do not have a publicly verified business partnership or close personal relationship. Their clearest direct connection is a lighthearted social-media exchange from April 2022, when Brady jokingly asked Musk to delete his famous NFL Combine photo if Musk succeeded in buying Twitter.
The two have crossed through some of the same business and celebrity circles since then, including Hertz’s electric-vehicle strategy, a JPMorgan technology summit, and attorney Alex Spiro. None of those overlaps, however, provides evidence that Brady and Musk are business partners or close friends.
Are Tom Brady and Elon Musk Friends or Business Partners?
There is no reliable public evidence, as of September 2026, showing that Tom Brady and Elon Musk have formed a company together, invested jointly in a known venture, signed a commercial partnership, or publicly described one another as close friends.
What is documented is much narrower. Brady directly addressed Musk on Twitter in 2022, both men have appeared within overlapping high-profile business networks, and Brady’s work with Hertz created an indirect link to Tesla during Hertz’s expansion into electric vehicles.
That distinction matters because searches for Tom Brady and Elon Musk can easily produce stories that place their names together without establishing an actual relationship.
| Documented connection | What the evidence shows |
|---|---|
| Twitter exchange | Brady publicly joked with Musk in April 2022 |
| Twitter/X ownership | Musk completed his acquisition of Twitter in October 2022 |
| Hertz and Tesla | Brady represented Hertz while Hertz expanded an EV fleet that included Tesla vehicles |
| JPMorgan event | Both were reported among attendees at a 2024 technology summit |
| Alex Spiro | The prominent attorney has represented both men |
| Direct joint company or investment | No verified public partnership identified |
The Famous Tom Brady and Elon Musk Twitter Exchange
The most important documented interaction happened on April 14, 2022.
Musk had made an offer to acquire Twitter. Brady responded with a joke centered on one of the most recognizable photographs from his football career.
Brady asked Musk whether, if he bought Twitter, he could delete Brady’s infamous photograph from the 2000 NFL Scouting Combine. When another user responded by posting the image, Brady jokingly tagged Musk again and called for the user to be banned.
The photograph shows a young Brady before the New England Patriots selected him with the 199th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft. His relatively ordinary Combine appearance later became part of the larger story of how dramatically he exceeded expectations.
Brady ultimately finished his playing career after 23 NFL seasons with seven Super Bowl championships, five Super Bowl MVP awards and numerous league passing records.
Did Elon Musk actually delete Tom Brady’s Combine photo?
There is no evidence that Musk carried out Brady’s joking request.
In fact, the photograph continued to circulate publicly. CBS Boston was still discussing Brady’s old request to Musk in February 2024 when Brady recreated his Combine-era 40-yard dash.
The original exchange is therefore best understood as Brady’s self-deprecating humor, not as evidence of a serious agreement between the two men.
Musk Eventually Did Buy Twitter
Brady made his comment while Musk’s proposed takeover was still uncertain.
The acquisition ultimately closed on October 27, 2022. Twitter’s filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission states that the company became a wholly owned subsidiary of Musk-controlled X Holdings and that Twitter shareholders received $54.20 per share under the merger agreement.
That made Brady’s earlier joke somewhat prophetic in one respect: Musk really did end up controlling the platform Brady had asked him to change.
There is no indication, however, that the exchange developed into a larger Brady-Musk relationship after the acquisition.
The Hertz and Tesla Connection
One reason the names Tom Brady and Elon Musk occasionally appear in the same business context is Hertz.
Brady began working with Hertz in October 2021, according to the rental-car company. Hertz later extended the relationship and continued using Brady in advertising campaigns promoting its rental services and electric-vehicle offerings.
At the same time, Hertz was making large-scale vehicle purchases from several EV manufacturers, including Tesla, the electric-car company led by Musk. Hertz’s 2023 announcement specifically identified Tesla alongside Polestar and General Motors as part of its EV expansion.
This created a genuine corporate overlap:
Tom Brady → Hertz → Tesla → Elon Musk
But it would be misleading to turn that chain into a direct Brady-Musk partnership.
Brady was working with Hertz as a celebrity brand partner. Tesla was supplying electric vehicles used in Hertz’s fleet strategy. Those were separate commercial relationships.
The original Hertz-Tesla arrangement was also more complicated than headlines suggested
In 2021, Hertz announced plans involving a very large expansion of Tesla vehicles. Musk subsequently stated that Tesla had not signed a traditional contract with Hertz and said Tesla would sell vehicles to Hertz at normal economics rather than providing a special discount.
Hertz, meanwhile, said deliveries for its initial order had begun.
So even the Hertz connection should not be interpreted as Brady participating in a Musk-negotiated deal.
They Have Appeared in the Same Elite Business Circles
Brady and Musk have also attended some of the same invitation-only business events.
The Wall Street Journal reported that JPMorgan held a technology summit in Big Sky, Montana, in March 2024. Musk appeared as a major speaker and held an extended discussion with JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon. The audience reportedly included Tom Brady, Serena Williams, Katy Perry, John Legend, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and other prominent figures.
That establishes that Brady and Musk were present within the same event network.
It does not establish that they met privately, discussed a deal or formed a friendship. No reliable account from the event cited here documents such an interaction between them.
Tom Brady and Elon Musk Also Share a High-Profile Lawyer
Another interesting overlap involves attorney Alex Spiro.
When NFL owners approved Brady’s investment in the Las Vegas Raiders in October 2024, Brady publicly thanked several people who had helped with the process, including Spiro. Brady personally obtained a 5% stake in the Raiders, while Brady and his investment partner collectively acquired 10%, according to the NFL.
Bloomberg Law later described Spiro’s client roster as including both Tom Brady and Elon Musk, along with other well-known figures.
Again, this is a shared professional connection rather than evidence that Brady and Musk operate together.
Highly prominent executives, entertainers and athletes frequently use the same attorneys, advisers, bankers and wealth managers.
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Their Business Careers Have Moved in Very Different Directions
The two men are often mentioned together because both turned extraordinary success in one field into broader business influence. Their actual careers, however, remain quite different.
Tom Brady
Brady retired from the NFL after the 2022 season, ending a 23-season career with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He won seven Super Bowls and finished his career holding major NFL passing and postseason records.
His post-playing career now includes broadcasting, sports ownership and business investments.
FOX lists Brady as its lead NFL analyst. He entered the network’s top NFL broadcast team in 2024 and continues in that position in the 2026 season.
Brady is also a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders. NFL owners approved his investment in October 2024, and by 2026 he was involved in the organization in what he described as a strategic advisory capacity.
He also co-founded Autograph, a fan-engagement company that originally became known during the NFT boom and later broadened its approach to digital fan communities and rewards. Autograph continues to list Brady as co-founder and co-chairman of its board.
Elon Musk
Musk’s career remains centered on technology, transportation, aerospace and artificial intelligence.
Tesla’s 2025 annual report, filed with the SEC in January 2026, identifies Musk as the company’s Chief Executive Officer and director.
Musk also remains chief executive of SpaceX. Reuters reported in April 2026 that SpaceX’s corporate structure gave Musk unusually strong control over his positions as CEO and chairman.
His acquisition of Twitter in 2022 added a major social-media platform to his broader technology interests.
Brady’s growing portfolio is therefore focused largely on sports, media, consumer branding and sports-related investment, while Musk’s businesses operate primarily in technology-intensive industries.
What About Cryptocurrency and NFTs?
Another area where the two names sometimes get grouped together is cryptocurrency.
Brady became deeply involved in the sector during its 2021 boom. He and then-wife Gisele Bündchen entered a long-term agreement with cryptocurrency exchange FTX in June 2021. The announcement said both would receive equity in FTX Trading Limited, while Brady would serve as an ambassador.
Brady also co-founded Autograph during the rapid growth of NFTs.
Musk, meanwhile, became one of the world’s most prominent public figures discussing cryptocurrencies, particularly through social media.
Those parallel interests do not establish a joint crypto venture.
When FTX later collapsed, Brady’s involvement concerned his own agreement with FTX. Musk was not Brady’s partner in that arrangement.
Did Tom Brady Ever Follow Elon Musk?
There is evidence of Brady showing interest in Musk long before their 2022 Twitter exchange.
A 2017 Boston.com review of Brady’s Instagram activity reported that Brady followed Musk, grouping Musk among the entrepreneurs Brady followed on the platform.
That is a minor but interesting historical detail. Following a public figure on social media does not, by itself, demonstrate a personal relationship.
It does show that Musk was already within Brady’s online sphere of interest years before the Twitter joke became news.
Why Are Tom Brady and Elon Musk Compared So Often?
Part of the search interest comes from their public identities rather than any particular partnership.
Brady became associated with extreme competitive longevity, preparation and winning in professional sports. Musk became associated with founder-led technology companies and high-risk business ventures.
Writers and business commentators consequently use the two as examples of unusually successful people in different fields. That creates many pages containing both names even when there is no direct story connecting them.
Their celebrity networks also overlap naturally. Both move among major investors, executives, media personalities and wealthy public figures, making occasional shared advisers and events unsurprising.
Tom Brady and Elon Musk Connection Timeline
| Date | Event | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Brady was reported to follow Musk on Instagram | Early social-media link |
| October 2021 | Brady began working with Hertz during its EV expansion | Indirect connection through a company buying Teslas |
| April 14, 2022 | Brady asked Musk to delete his NFL Combine photo if Musk bought Twitter | Clearest documented direct interaction |
| October 27, 2022 | Musk completed his Twitter acquisition | The hypothetical premise behind Brady’s joke became reality |
| 2023 | Hertz promoted Brady alongside an EV fleet containing Tesla vehicles | Continued indirect corporate overlap |
| March 2024 | Brady and Musk were reported among attendees at JPMorgan’s Big Sky tech summit | Shared high-level business circle |
| October 2024 | Brady’s Raiders ownership was approved; he thanked attorney Alex Spiro | Spiro is a professional connection shared with Musk |
| 2025 | Bloomberg Law identified Spiro as a lawyer for both Brady and Musk | Further evidence of overlapping professional networks |
| 2026 | Brady remains active in broadcasting and Raiders ownership; Musk remains Tesla CEO and SpaceX CEO | No verified joint enterprise has emerged |
What the Evidence Actually Shows
The strongest answer to the Tom Brady and Elon Musk search is simple: they know of each other and their professional worlds have crossed, but the public record does not support claims of a major partnership.
The 2022 Twitter exchange remains their most visible direct interaction. The Hertz-Tesla relationship created an indirect business connection, the JPMorgan summit placed them at the same high-profile gathering, and Alex Spiro represents an overlap in their professional networks.
None of those facts should be stretched into claims that Brady and Musk jointly own a business, are investment partners, or maintain a publicly documented close friendship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Tom Brady and Elon Musk friends?
There is no reliable public evidence establishing them as close friends. They have interacted publicly and appeared in overlapping business circles, but neither has publicly described the other as a close personal friend in the sources reviewed.
Did Tom Brady ask Elon Musk to delete his Combine photo?
Yes. On April 14, 2022, Brady jokingly asked Musk to delete his well-known 2000 NFL Combine photograph if Musk bought Twitter. He then jokingly asked Musk to ban a user who replied with the picture.
Did Elon Musk delete Tom Brady’s photo from Twitter?
There is no evidence that Musk fulfilled the request. The photograph continued to circulate afterward and was still being discussed publicly in connection with Brady’s joke in 2024.
Do Tom Brady and Elon Musk own a company together?
No publicly verified joint company involving Brady and Musk was identified. Brady’s known ventures and investments include sports ownership and Autograph, while Musk’s major leadership roles include Tesla and SpaceX.
What is the connection between Tom Brady, Tesla and Hertz?
Brady has worked as a Hertz brand partner, while Hertz expanded its electric-vehicle fleet through purchases that included Tesla vehicles. This was an indirect corporate overlap rather than a personal Brady-Musk business partnership.
Do Tom Brady and Elon Musk use the same lawyer?
Prominent attorney Alex Spiro has represented both. Brady specifically thanked Spiro after his Raiders ownership approval, while Bloomberg Law has identified Musk and Brady among Spiro’s clients.
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