In a twist that seems engineered specifically to melt the internet, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk is reportedly “strongly considering” a $150 billion offer to acquire both CNN and Warner Bros., according to people familiar with the entirely hypothetical scenario swirling through Silicon Valley lounges, Wall Street backchannels, and Musk’s own Twitter replies. While no formal proposal has been announced, sources claim Musk has been “openly musing” about what he calls the “largest de-wokening operation in the history of modern media.”
The rumor broke after Musk allegedly told close associates that if CNN ends up detached from a Warner Bros. acquisition shuffle, it may be “the perfect time to pick up a fixer-upper.” He then added, in classic Musk fashion, “Time to unWoke the CNN. Flip it like a house. Make it livable. Maybe even make it profitable again.”
Within hours, social media platforms lit up with every possible reaction — from enthusiastic cheers to complete bafflement. Some hailed the idea as the dawn of a new media era. Others warned that giving Musk a major news network would be the equivalent of handing a chainsaw to a man who already owns four flamethrowers. And a third group simply asked, “Is he serious or is this another one of those tweets he writes at 3 a.m.?”
The hypothetical deal, as described by analysts who admit they are “guessing like the rest of us,” would represent one of the largest media acquisitions in history. At $150 billion, Musk’s supposed bid is more than twice the combined valuation of Warner Bros.’ studio operations, cable networks, streaming assets, and intellectual property library.
But Musk, never one to think small, has reportedly framed the number in the simplest way possible: “150 billion is just 15 Twitters. And Twitter was a steal.”
If the acquisition were ever to materialize, it would place CNN under the same umbrella as iconic brands such as Warner Bros. Studios, HBO, DC Films, Adult Swim, and Discovery. Critics were quick to point out that Musk already has a full plate managing Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, X, and probably a secret underground transportation system he hasn’t told anyone about yet. But his supporters insist Musk thrives precisely when he is juggling nine impossible tasks at once.
“He gets bored if he’s not rewriting the entire structure of at least three industries,” said one investor. “At this point, buying a news network is just Tuesday for him.”
The phrase that instantly became a trending hashtag — #UnWokeTheCNN — was reportedly uttered during a meeting in which Musk outlined his vision for turning CNN into what he called “a truth-seeking AI-enhanced media machine that’s immune to political narrative bias, except my own.”
He allegedly suggested replacing the network’s opinion panels with AI-generated analysts, rotating between themes such as “Chaotic Neutral,” “Mildly Sarcastic,” and “Uncomfortably Honest.” There were also discussions about giving viewers the power to upvote or downvote anchors in real time, with the lowest-ranked anchors automatically reassigned to host weather segments in the middle of the night.
One insider claimed Musk wants CNN to feature a nightly segment titled, “The Algorithm Decides,” in which trending global topics are selected not by producers but by whatever the algorithm thinks will keep people watching past midnight.
Another leaked idea: A version of CNN+ resurrected as CNN++, which Musk allegedly described as “the streaming service that actually streams,” a not-so-gentle jab at the network’s famously short-lived streaming experiment.
As for Warner Bros., Musk reportedly sees the studio as a “bonus pack” that could pair well with his often-stated desire to bring humor, risk-taking, and unfiltered creativity back into Hollywood. Sources close to him claim he is fascinated by the idea of using Warner Bros.’ vast content library as training data for an AI that could one day write entire films.
Speculation suggests that Musk may want to revive struggling DC franchises using AI co-writers, or experiment with a hybrid system where human and machine creativity collide. “Imagine Batman but written by an algorithm trained on 30 years of Twitter jokes,” one source explained. “It could either be genius or a lawsuit. With Elon, both are equally possible.”
There are even whispers that he has interest in reimagining Cartoon Network’s programming, turning Adult Swim into a space exploration–themed humor lab, and experimenting with live, interactive films powered by X’s real-time engagement engine.
A Hollywood executive reacted by saying, “It sounds insane. Which means it’s on-brand for him.”
This fictional Musk rumor emerges on the heels of another major media storm: President Donald Trump’s very real public claim that CNN “should be sold” as Warner Bros. faces competing acquisition pressures from Netflix and Paramount.
Netflix’s deal for Warner Bros. Studios excludes CNN, setting the stage for the network to be spun off. Meanwhile, Paramount’s hostile bid, buoyed by political controversy surrounding Jared Kushner’s alleged involvement, would include CNN entirely.
In other words: CNN is already in a high-stakes cyclone of corporate maneuvering, regulatory scrutiny, and presidential commentary. Musk entering the scene — even hypothetically — is like tossing a rocket onto a bonfire. He doesn’t just change the math; he erases the chalkboard entirely.
Financial experts note that Musk could theoretically assemble the capital for a $150 billion media megadeal, but warn that such a move would trigger historic regulatory resistance. The merger would sit at the crossroads of Big Tech, political influence, news media, Hollywood, and the world’s loudest billionaire.
Critics argue Musk already wields disproportionate influence through X and his technology companies. Supporters counter that breaking up legacy media structures could be the very disruption journalism needs.
“I don’t know if he’d run CNN like a newsroom or like a meme factory,” one media professor said. “But either way, ratings would go up.”
Until Musk himself comments — most likely through an emoji tweet — the idea remains purely speculative. But in a media landscape where algorithms rule, cable networks struggle, studios scramble for mergers, and billionaires reshape industries on a whim, the concept doesn’t seem as far-fetched as it once might have.
If he actually made a move, it would trigger the most chaotic, unpredictable, and meme-fuelled rebranding operation in modern history. Musk has always insisted he wants to “accelerate humanity’s future.”
For better or worse, acquiring a global news network and a legendary movie studio may be his most explosive acceleration yet. Whether the world is ready for CNN: Powered by Elon remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: if the day ever comes, the internet will never sleep again.