[jonknee]

It's Wall Street and there would be rumors if someone was shopping the largest LBO ever. It's not like there are a lot of places you can go for this service, Tesla isn't going to back out on the deal because it leaked your bank has met with Elon.

[CydeWeys]

Would there be rumors though, when improper disclosure could potentially be illegal and bring down the SEC on your head?

Also, even if there are rumors, why would that necessarily logically go from bankers talking to each other to immediately blabbing to the press?

[jonknee]

It's rare for word of mega deals like this to not leak out in some fashion, doubly so after it's already been tweeted about by the CEO. If they had seriously been shopping this deal it would have already been in the WSJ. Considering the letter mentioned no funding I am under the impression that this is more of an Elon solo project and less of a serious undertaking by the company.