Now, Elon Musk wants to own Twitter.

Yup.

Musk has unleashed a takeover attempt for Twitter on Thursday, offering $43 billion, or $54.20 per share, in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission – just weeks after becoming the social media giant’s largest individual shareholder.

The guy has the wherewithal to do whatever he wants, whenever he wants.

“I am offering to acquire 100% of Twitter for $54.20 per share in cash, a 54 percent premium to the day before I began investing in Twitter and a 38 percent premium to the day before my investment was publicly disclosed,” Musk said in quotes by multiple news outlets, Thursday.

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The billionaire, dubbed “The Dogefather,” is one of Twitter’s most-watched firebrands, frequently tweeting memes and taunting his more than 80 million followers.

Twitter Shares Soar After The News

Twitter (TWTR) shares increased nearly 18% in pre-market trade on Thursday. The stock remains well below its 52-week high of around $73. Tesla’s stock dipped almost 1.5 percent in early trading in response to the news.

Musk’s buyout offer for Twitter is his “best and final,” he said, adding that the company possesses exceptional potential that “I will unlock.”

He said that if his offer is rejected, he will have to reevaluate his shareholder position.

An Aggressive Move By Musk

Musk, the world’s wealthiest man, clarified that his offer was not a “threat,” but rather “it’s simply not a good investment without the changes that need to be made.”

However, Neil Campling, director of TMT research at Mirabaud Equity Research, believes that “this becomes a hostile takeover offer that will cost a significant amount of money.”

Musk told Bret Taylor, the board’s chairman:

‘I invested in Twitter because I believe it has the ability o serve as a global forum for free speech, and I believe that free speech is a societal requirement for a functioning democracy.”

The outspoken CEO has also frequently used Twitter to discuss cryptocurrency, including his thoughts on Bitcoin and – perhaps – his favorite coin, Dogecoin.