Don Lemon Demanded $5M, $8M Salary, Tesla Cybertruck, X Equity From Elon Musk

Elon Musk revoked an upcoming partnership between Don Lemon and X last week following a sit-down interview, during which Musk claims he realized Lemon had not changed from his time at CNN.

"His approach was basically just ‘CNN, but on social media’, which doesn’t work, as evidenced by the fact that CNN is dying. And, instead of it being the real Don Lemon, it was really just Jeff Zucker talking through Don, so lacked authenticity," Musk posted on X.

Moreover, a subsequent report confirms that Lemon is still the same self-absorbed egotist that ultimately led to his ousting at CNN last year.

According to the New York Post, Lemon sent over a scoff-worthy wish list to Elon Musk during contract negotiations. 

Specifically, Lemon asked for a free Tesla Cybertruck, $5 million in upfront cash, an $8 million salary, an equity stake in X, and a right to approve any changes in X policy as it relates to news content.

Not a single media talent is worth such astronomical demands. Not Joe Rogan, Ben Shapiro, or Bill Maher. 

Thereby, it's quite humorous to hear Lemon thought he had leverage to request such a contract. It's one thing to have an ego if you are Rachel Maddow, a singular star in the news media space. Don Lemon is not.

Lemon views himself as the Messiah. Yet his audience has never justified his perception of himself. 

His solo show on CNN was the lowest-rated primetime show on CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC. He then set record cable news lows upon his demotion to morning television in 2022. 

Don Lemon is not worth an $8 million salary. Not even close. He's worth a revenue share, in which he earns a percentage of the profits his show generates. 

Hence, why we defended Musk for terminating the partnership with Lemon. Elon Musk supports free speech. He doesn't support bad business. Don Lemon is bad business.

That said, there's another angle to the story that we ought to mention:

Lemon's media allies crucified him for trying to partner with Musk, whose persona non grata among the progressive media brigade. You saw the response. 

So could Lemon have requested such unreasonable guarantees to provoke a cancelation from Musk – to which he could then brand himself as the savage who exposed Musk as a "free-speech hypocrite" as he's called the Tesla founder in several social media videos over the past week?.

I raised that precise possibility Monday on the "Will Cain Show" on Fox News Digital. Will was amused.

Watch below:

Thoughts?