The Tesla car company is the cornerstone of Musk's business empire and has suffered considerably since the entrepreneur dove into politics.

The electric vehicle giant's stock has plummeted more than 20 per cent since the start of the year, reflecting investor anxiety about Musk's increasingly polarising public persona.

The damage reached a fever pitch on Thursday when the  Musk-Trump feud erupted out in the open.

In a matter of hours, Tesla shed more than $150 billion (Sh19.3 billion) in market capitalisation, wiping $34 billion (Sh4.3 billion) from Musk's personal fortune.