Elon Musk questioning about the cost of MSNBC

Elon Musk hinted at the possibility of exploring a purchase of MSNBC on Friday, following reports that the network might be spun off from NBC News and potentially sold by Comcast.

Donald Trump Jr. fueled speculation by sharing a meme on X (formerly Twitter) claiming MSNBC was up for sale.

Tagging Musk in the post, Trump Jr. quipped, “Hey @elonmusk I have the funniest idea ever!!!”

Musk responded simply, “How much does it cost?”

As the exchange gained attention, Musk added, “The most entertaining outcome, especially if ironic, is most likely.”

This mirrors a similar moment years before Musk’s 2022 purchase of Twitter for $44 billion, when he posed a comparable question about the social media platform’s cost.

Despite the chatter, Comcast/NBCUniversal has not announced any plans to sell MSNBC or CNBC publicly. However, it has confirmed a major restructuring of its cable TV assets. According to The Wall Street Journal, Comcast is moving forward with a spin-off of several NBCUniversal cable networks, including MSNBC, CNBC, USA, Oxygen, E!, Syfy, and Golf Channel.

The decision, announced Wednesday, comes as Comcast recognizes that spinning off these assets—once considered crown jewels—could be more beneficial for its long-term business strategy. The networks generated approximately $7 billion in revenue over the 12 months ending Sept. 30.

The spin-off will be structured as a tax-free transaction for Comcast shareholders and is expected to take about a year to complete. The new company will mirror Comcast’s ownership structure, with Comcast Chairman and CEO Brian Roberts holding a one-third voting stake, though Roberts will not serve on the board of the new entity.

Mark Lazarus, currently chairman of NBCUniversal’s media group, will transition to the role of CEO for the newly formed venture. Anand Kini, NBCUniversal’s chief financial officer, will serve as the CFO and operating chief.