Elon Musk puts Twitter legacy on the block, set to auction iconic artifacts

Elon Musk is set to auction off an array of iconic items from Twitter, just weeks after the platform's transformation into "X."

By: HT TECH
| Updated on: Aug 10 2023, 16:12 IST
Elon Musk Twitter Bankruptcy Talk: Timeline
Elon Musk
1/13 He’s told employees to brace themselves for long hours, that “the road ahead is arduous and will require intense work to succeed,” and said bankruptcy was possible. Here’s how the saga is unfolding: (Bloomberg)
Elon Musk
2/13 Oct. 27: Musk takes control- His first act is to fire the Board along with CEO Parag Agrawal, CFO Ned Segal, head of legal Vijaya Gadde and Counsel Sean Edgett. Musk forms advisory team that includes celebrity attorney Alex Spiro, VC David Sacks, Neuralink CEO and head of Musk’s family office Jared Birchall, investor Jason Calacanis, and partner of Andreessen Horowitz Sriram Krishnan. (Reuters)
Elon Musk
3/13 Oct. 28: Brands begin to take pause- As Musk plans to unban accounts and says he will charge for user verification, advertisers suspend ads. (AFP)
Elon Musk
4/13 Oct. 31: Top tweeters protest- Amid murmurings of plans to charge existing verified accounts, author Steven King tweets, “$20 a month to keep my blue check? F**k that, they should pay me. If that gets instituted, I’m gone like Enron.” (AFP)
Elon Musk
5/13 Nov. 1: Teams working around the clock- The product team works over the weekend on Musk’s idea to charge users for blue check marks. A photo of product director Esther Crawford sleeping on the floor of a conference room, trying to make the deadline, goes viral. Meanwhile, managers are asked to make lists of who can be fired. Employees print out their software code for review by Musk and engineers from Tesla, to determine if their contributions are worthy of keeping a job. (REUTERS)
Elon Musk
6/13 Nov. 3: Massive layoffs begin- A memo is sent to all employees telling them of imminent layoffs and to watch for an email with the subject line: “Your Role at Twitter.” Badge access to offices is suspended as 3,700 staffers receive word that they’ve been cut. Realizing employees essential for the continuity of the business have been let go by mistake, some are asked to come back. (AP)
Elon Musk
7/13 Co-founder EV Williams tweets, “Heart’s out to the tweeps getting laid off today.” Co-founder Jack Dorsey adds, “I realize many are angry with me. I own the responsibility for why everyone is in this situation: I grew the company size too quickly. I apologize for that.” (REUTERS)
image caption
8/13 Nov. 5-6: Musk responds to celebrity protests- Unrest grows on the platform over the weekend, particularly over the issue of impersonator accounts. Actress Valerie Bertinelli starts a movement of people changing their Twitter names to “Elon Musk.” Comedian Kathy Griffin joins the protest, finds her account locked. Then Musk announces, “Going forward, any Twitter handles engaging in impersonation without clearly specifying `parody’ will be permanently suspended.” (AP)
Elon Musk
9/13 Nov. 8: Musk sells more Tesla- Despite a previous vow not to sell any more Tesla stock, Musk sells an additional $3.95 billion, bringing the total sold in past year to $36 billion. (REUTERS)
Elon Musk
10/13 Nov. 9: Musk Blue tick mark- Blue check mark option becomes available for purchase, and immediately becomes a tool for impersonators. An account masquerading as Nintendo Inc. posts an image of Super Mario holding up a middle finger. (REUTERS)
Elon Musk
11/13 Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, and a close cadre of advisers are considering a host of changes to the way Twitter is run and makes money. (REUTERS)
Elon Musk
12/13 Nov. 10: More key executives quit as Musk warns of bankruptcy- In his first meeting with employees, Musk tells them to brace for 80-hour weeks and requires everyone back in the office full time. He also says bankruptcy for the company is not out of the question if it doesn’t start generating more cash. Several executives in charge of keeping Twitter safe and accountable to its users quit, including chief information security officer Lea Kissner, chief privacy officer Damien Kieran and chief compliance Marianne Fogarty.. (AFP)
Elon Musk
13/13 Nov. 11: Verified accounts get “Official” tags- Twitter adds badges that say “offiical” to verified accounts in some places, though confusion abounds. More brands depart the platform. (REUTERS)
Elon Musk
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A worker dismantles at Twitter's sign at Twitter's corporate headquarters building as Elon Musk renamed Twitter as X and unveiled a new logo, in downtown San Francisco, California, U.S. (REUTERS)

In an arresting move that looks like the rest of the signature moves by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, iconic Twitter artifacts have been put on the block. Musk is set to auction off an array of intriguing items from Twitter, just weeks after the platform's transformation into "X." This unique auction, entitled "Twitter Rebranding: Online Auction Featuring Memorabilia, Art, Office Assets & More!" is slated to showcase an astounding 584 lots of captivating treasures, including not just the expected office assets, but also coffee tables, remarkable bird cages, and art that once went viral.

A Glimpse into Twitter's Past

The list reads like a snapshot of Twitter's eclectic history, as it encompasses a diverse collection ranging from office furniture, desks, and chairs to a DJ booth, along with enough musical instruments to outfit a complete band, according to a BBC report. Since Musk's acquisition of the social media giant, he has implemented cost-cutting measures, leading to the reduction of thousands of jobs within the company.

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One fascinating piece up for grabs is an original Twitter sign, still adorning the company's San Francisco headquarters on 10th Street. The listing comes with a unique caveat: "Bird is still mounted on the side of the building. Buyer is responsible for hiring an SF Licensed Company with appropriate Permits." It's a piece of tech history that could soon grace a new location.

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Art enthusiasts will find themselves drawn to two oil paintings, each depicting iconic moments that defined Twitter's journey. One captures Ellen Degeneres' star-studded selfie from the 2014 Academy Awards, while the other immortalizes the widely celebrated image tweeted by then-US President Barack Obama upon his re-election in November 2012, which held the record for the most-liked tweet at that time.

The Melody of Twitter's Evolution

Music lovers will be pleased to find an impressive selection of musical equipment, ranging from guitars to drum kits and amplifiers, not to mention a complete DJ booth complete with controllers, mixers, and speakers. The minimum bid for each of these captivating lots is set at $25 (£19.70), according to the renowned auction house Heritage Global Partners. Bidding is slated to begin on September 12th, with the event scheduled to conclude just two days later.

Meanwhile, on a separate note, Twitter has started rewarding creators on the platform with substantial payouts. This move is part of X's strategy, aiming to grant content creators a share of the ad revenue pie. This incentive, available to X Premium (previously known as Twitter Blue) subscribers worldwide, is already benefiting Indian creators, with testimonials from individuals like 'Gabbar' and the 'Being Humour' accounts confirming substantial earnings, with figures soaring into lakhs.

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First Published Date: 10 Aug, 15:54 IST
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