Teslanomics

Elon Musk fought against the laws of economics. Tesla cars are too expensive for the average consumer. His company has lost nearly $10 billion in ten years.

Elon Musk’s growth story is looking more like a fable as Tesla Inc. enters survival mode.

Just over two weeks ago, Musk boasted to stock analysts and big investors that the company was on course to reach half a trillion dollars in market value. Since then, Tesla’s stock price has dropped 19.5%, vaporizing $8.8 billion in market value. The remaining $36-billion market capitalization is 7% of what Musk is telling the world Tesla will be worth.

The share price is now at $190 -- the same as it was in September of 2013. The extended weakness has wiped out nearly six years of gains for buy-and-hold investors. Since Tesla doesn't pay a dividend, that's a sharp and painful opportunity cost for many people.

Rumors have been flying for years that a particular fruit company has been interested in buying Tesla. A $250 price per share all-cash offer wouldn't be too shabby.