CEOs Say The Dumbest Things

Here's a list of top executives who exposed how self-absorbed, out-of-touch and wrong they can be.

Top executives are not always the smartest guys in the room.

They may have experience, education and extensive media training, but they can still be prone to saying really stupid things.

They have thousands of constituents, including board members, investors, employees and customers, so they need to be careful.

Some basic rules they should follow:

• Don’t speak crassly

• Don’t insult the customers

• Don’t blame others for what are obviously your problems

• Don’t pretend to know the future, because clearly you don’t

"I can say it. Because I’m the CEO.” (Photo illustration: AI generated.)

Here’s a compilation of some of the dumbest things business leaders have ever said:

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X owner Elon Musk – 2024

“Don't advertise. … If somebody is going to try to blackmail me with advertising, blackmail me with money, go fuck yourself. … Go fuck yourself. Is that clear? I hope it is.” Running off advertisers after purchasing Twitter, now X.

Musk, of course, has said so many stupid things, they’re impossible to rank.

OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush – 2023

“You know, at some point, safety just is pure waste. I mean, if you just want to be safe, don’t get out of bed. Don’t get in your car. Don’t do anything.'' – Shortly before dying in an imploded submarine near the Titanic.