Japanese billionaire uses his money to gain 'most retweeted post' honor

[midian182]

What just happened? Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa has an impressive background. With an estimated fortune of $3 billion, he’s Japan’s 18th richest person. He was also named as the first passenger on Elon Musk’s SpaceX rocket flight around the moon a few months ago. Now, he holds the honor of having the most retweeted Twitter post—though there was a financial incentive on offer for those that spread his words.

Maezawa, who founded Japanese online clothing retailer Zozotown, posted a tweet on January 5 revealing that his firm had made 10 billion yen ($92.4 million) in sales over the holiday period.

To say thanks, Maezawa promised to give 1 million yen ($9,200) to 100 randomly selected people. For a chance to win the money, he asked users to follow him and retweet the post.

ZOZOTOWN新春セールが史上最速で取扱高100億円を先ほど突破！！日頃の感謝を込め、僕個人から100名様に100万円【総額1億円のお年玉】を現金でプレゼントします。応募方法は、僕をフォローいただいた上、このツイートをRTするだけ。受付は1/7まで。当選者には僕から直接DMします！ #月に行くならお年玉 pic.twitter.com/cKQfPPbOI3

— Yusaku Maezawa (MZ) 前澤友作 (@yousuck2020) January 5, 2019

The message has now been retweeted over 4.5 million times. That puts it ahead of Carter Wilkerson, the Nevada teenager who was hoping for a year’s supply of Wendy's chicken nuggets (3.5 million retweets), and Ellen DeGeneres’ celeb-packed selfie from the 2014 Oscars (3.3 million). Maezawa now has the most retweeted post in Twitter history, while his follower count has jumped from around 500,000 to over 5.1 million in just a few days.

HELP ME PLEASE. A MAN NEEDS HIS NUGGS pic.twitter.com/4SrfHmEMo3

— Carter Wilkerson (@carterjwm) 6 April 2017

If only Bradley's arm was longer. Best photo ever. #oscars pic.twitter.com/C9U5NOtGap

— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) 3 March 2014

Last September, Elon Musk revealed that Maezawa had paid “a lot of money” to become the first private passenger on the Big Falcon Rocket, which is scheduled to take its lunar flight sometime in 2023. Maezawa said he would ask several artists to join him on the journey.

“They will be asked to create something after they return to Earth. These masterpieces will inspire the dreamer within all of us,” he said.

Image credit: CHRISTINA HOUSE / TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

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https://www.techspot.com/news/78137-japanese-billionaire-uses-money-gain-most-retweeted-post.html

 

[Lounds]

2023, that will be delayed by a lot I bet.

 

[Bubbajim]

2023, that will be delayed by a lot I bet.

I don't think 2023 will be delayed, it'll probably be in four years time as expected.

 

[wiyosaya]

2023, that will be delayed by a lot I bet.

I agree! Given that it was five-years out when the original estimate was made, it is almost certain that the date is very tentative.

I am sure some of the regular TS commenters know that Musk is not at all one of my favorites in the tech world, however, this is a very challenging technical goal no matter who is behind it. Most initial goals by the players in aerospace are never met. When they think it is going to be six-months out or so, I will be willing to listen.

 

[amghwk]

Everyone seems to want free lunch and free money....

 

[DelJo63]

HONOR?? IMO this makes him the world's biggest plagiarist!

 

[mailpup]

HONOR?? IMO this makes him the world's biggest plagiarist!

Hmm. I don't see where he is plagiarizing anything unless I missed something. It's his tweet that is being retweeted by others and, besides, I don't think retweeting fits the definition of plagiarism.

 

[cliffordcooley]

It's his tweet that is being retweeted by others and, besides, I don't think retweeting fits the definition of plagiarism.

Especially when he ask them to retweet. That's the equivalent of going open-source.