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Elon Musk makes millions on flamethrowers

February 1, 2018

Silicon Valley tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has completed his latest fundraising scheme by getting orders for tens of thousands of flamethrowers. He reached his ambitious sales target within only five days.

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Elon Musk
Image: Reuters/AAP/B. Macmahon

Billionaire Elon Musk on Thursday closed orders for his latest novelty product after selling a total of 20,000 flamethrowers at $500 (€402) a piece.

Musk's tagline for the impromptu fundraising scheme had been "Guaranteed to liven up any party." The sale raised $10 million for his high-speed tunnel venture "The Boring Company."

The sale of flamethrowers came on the back of a similar fundraising campaign in which Elon Musk shifted 50,000 Boring Company hats.

What's next?

"When the zombie apocalypse happens, you'll be glad you bought a flamethrower," tweeted the man behind Tesla and SpaceX. "Works against hordes of the undead — or your money back."

Musk added each flamethrower would come with something to put out a fire.

The latest fundraising plan came at a time when financial analysts and investors in e-carmaker Tesla are wondering if Musk would have to seek billions more in resources as it struggled to meet promises on its Model 3 production.

Tesla: Car of the future faces delays

hg/jbh (dpa, Reuters)