Elon Musk was cool nonetheless combative as he testified in a Delaware courtroom that Tesla Inc.’s better than $2 billion acquisition of SolarCity in 2016 wasn’t a bailout of the struggling picture voltaic provider.

Musk talked about he “positively” did not have any sway over the company’s board when it permitted the SolarCity deal. The Tesla CEO moreover denied vowing to retaliate in the direction of any director who voted in the direction of the acquisition and talked about he had no administration over their compensation or board committee assignments.

Shareholders suing Musk declare he obtained the company to primarily rescue one different company that he moreover managed. The swimsuit contends that Musk and Tesla’s board breached their fiduciary duties after they orchestrated the acquisition of SolarCity, an installer of rooftop picture voltaic panels. In June 2016, Musk was the chair and crucial shareholder of every companies when he shocked Wall Avenue by saying that Tesla would buy SolarCity in a deal he later known as a “no brainer.”

Musk, dressed conservatively in a black swimsuit with a black tie, initially answered questions from his private lawyer on Monday. He then spent various hours sparring at events with the authorized skilled representing consumers. It’s his first day on the stand in Wilmington, Del., in what’s anticipated to be a two-week trial. Musk’s testimony may closing proper right into a second day.

The plaintiffs attempt to affect Delaware Chancery Courtroom docket Select Joseph Slights III that Musk used his outsize have an effect on and fame to steamroll Tesla directors into approving the buyout and to regulate a majority of shareholders to vote for it. Musk is the lone defendant throughout the case, which has been delayed by the pandemic; the rest of the board settled for $60 million closing yr.

Musk, all through questioning by his authorized skilled, talked about Tesla’s now-Chairwoman Robyn Denholm set the final word value and deal phrases for the SolarCity buyout.

The Tesla board saved Musk updated on the basic progress of the deal, nonetheless he in another case recused himself, Musk testified. He scoffed on the idea that he managed Tesla’s shareholders.

“I don’t assume it’s doable to control” large institutional consumers like Fidelity and T. Rowe Value, he talked about.

Musk, the world’s second-richest man, talked about that early in his life he had turned down “various high-paid jobs on Wall Avenue,” deciding on as an alternative choice to cope with experience.

At one degree, the self-described “Technoking” talked about he doesn’t want to be CEO of Tesla nonetheless felt he had no various. “I tried laborious to not be the CEO at Tesla, nonetheless I wanted to or it may die,” he testified. “I considerably hate being a boss. I’m an engineer.” Musk has been the CEO of the company since 2008.

When questioned by Randy Baron, the authorized skilled for the plaintiffs, points obtained testy as the two tangled over time strains and SolarCity’s profitability after the acquisition. Musk known as the lawyer a “harmful human being.”

Shortly after noon, Baron requested Musk if he “rage fired” anyone. Musk is extensively recognized for being a demanding and exacting boss, and govt firings are legendary contained in the agency.

Musk denied “rage firing” anyone, nonetheless talked about he affords “clear and frank strategies which might be construed as derision.” Baron then carried out various clips of Musk’s deposition highlighting acrimonious exchanges between the two.

“That was openly derisive not for some benefit of Tesla, nonetheless because you didn’t like what was occurring, acceptable?” Baron requested.

Musk talked about he doesn’t respect Baron on account of he first labored at a regulation company, Milberg Weiss, whose companions had been imprisoned for paying kickbacks to expert witnesses and plaintiffs. Baron at current works for an extra company, Robbins Geller.

“You had been mentored by criminals,” Musk talked about. “Then you definitely definately continued to be mentored by criminals and that is the rationale I do not respect you. I really feel you are a harmful human being.”