X's Aggressive Sales Pitch Causes Stir in Media World

Verizon Communications Inc. is a leading global communications technology company headquartered in New York City. The company was formed on June 30, 2000, through the merger of Bell Atlantic Corp. and GTE Corp., a landmark deal valued at approximately $52 billion that created one of the largest telecommunications companies in the United States[1][3][5]. The name "Verizon" combines the Latin word veritas, meaning "truth," and horizon, reflecting the company's focus on reliability and forward-thinking vision[2][3]. At inception, Verizon became the largest local telephone company in the U.S., operating 63 million telephone lines across 40 states and inheriting 25 million mobile phone customers[2]. The newly formed company was led by co-CEOs Charles Lee (formerly of GTE) and Bell Atlantic CEO Ivan Seidenberg[2]. Verizon quickly expanded its offerings to include local, long-distance, and mobile calling, as well as internet services, initially in New York and Massachusetts before broadening its reach[2]. The company also launched 3G service in 2002, doubling internet speeds at the time[2]. Verizon has continually evolved through strategic acquisitions and technological innovation. Notable milestones include the acquisition of MCI in 2006, which strengthened its enterprise and long-distance services[5]. In 2015, Verizon acquired AOL, marking its entry into the media and advertising technology space, followed by the purchase of Yahoo! in 2017, combining both under the Oath (later Verizon Media) brand[5][6]. While Verizon sold 90% of its media group to Apollo Global Management in 2021, it retained a minority stake and refocused on its core communications and technology businesses[5][6]. Technologically, Verizon has been a pioneer in wireless networks, introducing the first large-scale 4G LTE network in the U.S. in 2010 and launching 5G mobile service in 2019, initially in Chicago and Minneapolis[6]. The company continues to push the boundaries of network speeds, recently achieving 5.5 Gbps download speeds using advanced 5G technologies[1]. Today, Verizon remains a major player in telecommunications, delivering wireless, broadband, and digital solutions to millions of customers daily[1]. The company is recognized for its extensive infrastructure, innovation in network technology, and ongoing investments in artificial intelligence and digital transformation—recently unveiling Verizon AI Connect to help businesses deploy AI at scale[1]. Despite divesting much of its media holdings, Verizon maintains a strong presence in the technology sector, consistently ranking among the world's most valuable brands and largest public companies by revenue[6].

Elon Reeve Musk (born June 28, 1971) is a South African-born American entrepreneur, inventor, and business magnate renowned for founding and leading several high-profile technology companies. Musk initially gained prominence through co-founding Zip2, a software company, and X.com, an online payment platform that evolved into PayPal, which was acquired by eBay in 2002. That same year, he became a U.S. citizen. Musk is the CEO and chief engineer of SpaceX, a company he founded in 2002 that has revolutionized space technology with innovations such as reusable rockets and commercial spaceflight. He also leads Tesla, where he became CEO and product architect in 2008, spearheading the electric vehicle market and sustainable energy solutions. Beyond these, Musk co-founded OpenAI in 2015 to advance artificial intelligence research but later left and founded xAI to further AI development on his terms. In 2022, Musk acquired the social media platform Twitter, rebranding it as X in 2023, implementing significant operational changes. His other ventures include Neuralink, focused on neurotechnology, and the Boring Company, which develops tunneling and infrastructure projects. Musk has been the world’s richest person since 2021, with a net worth estimated at around $500 billion as of October 2025. He has also been involved in political advisory roles, including serving as a senior advisor during Donald Trump’s presidency, though he stepped down after public disagreements. His career has attracted significant attention both for his technological vision and his controversial leadership and public statements. Elon Musk remains a central figure in technology and innovation, influencing sectors from space exploration and electric vehicles to artificial intelligence and social media, maintaining a prominent and often polarizing presence in global business and media.