Megan Rapinoe loses $100 million deals after dispute with Elon Musk. “I will leave the US, they don’t respect me here.”
In a dramatic turn of events that has gripped the sports and business worlds, Megan Rapinoe, the outspoken soccer icon and two-time World Cup champion, has reportedly lost endorsement deals worth $100 million following a public clash with billionaire Elon Musk. The fallout, confirmed by industry sources on April 7, 2025, stems from a heated exchange on X where Rapinoe, 39, criticized Musk’s influence over U.S. policy and his ties to President Donald Trump. Her subsequent declaration—“I will leave the US, they don’t respect me here”—has fueled a firestorm, costing her lucrative contracts and sparking a national debate over fame, free speech, and the price of taking on a titan like Musk.
The feud ignited on March 29, when Musk, co-leading Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with Vivek Ramaswamy, tweeted about slashing “woke” federal programs, including sports equity funds Rapinoe long championed. “Time to cut the fat—equity’s a loser’s game,” Musk wrote, prompting Rapinoe to fire back: “You’re a hypocrite ruining this country—stick to rockets.” Musk, with his 200 million X followers, doubled down, calling her a “has-been” whose “kneeling killed her legacy.” The jab referenced her 2016 anthem protest, a move that made her a progressive hero but a MAGA villain. Within days, Nike, Subway, and Victoria’s Secret—her biggest sponsors—pulled out, citing “brand misalignment,” per Ad Age, slashing her $100 million portfolio overnight.
Rapinoe’s reaction was raw. At an April 6 Seattle event, she vented, “I’ve given everything—Olympic gold, World Cups—and this is the thanks I get? I will leave the US; they don’t respect me here.” Her words, splashed across X, split the internet. MAGA cheered: “Good riddance—Musk wins again!” while fans mourned: “Megan’s a legend—America’s loss.” The $100 million hit—Nike’s $60 million alone dwarfed her $7 million net worth—stings, especially post-retirement from the NWSL in 2023. “She bet against Elon and lost big,” an X user quipped, tying it to Trump’s 47% approval (Gallup, March) and Musk’s $70 million *The View* suit.
Musk’s clout is undeniable. His Tesla empire—$1 trillion strong despite tariff chaos (gas at $4.20)—and SpaceX’s $350 billion orbit give him leverage few can match. His X megaphone, where “We love Elon Musk” trends, amplifies every barb; his April 8 reply—“Bye, Megan—enjoy the exit!”—racked up 5 million likes. Companies, wary of his sway—Tesla’s Cybercab rollout, X’s ad surge post-CNN ban—bailed on Rapinoe fast. “Musk’s a third rail now,” a marketing exec told Forbes, noting Nike’s pivot to “neutral” stars like Caitlin Clark. On X, #BoycottNike flared, but sales held—Trump’s base shrugs at “woke” losses.
Rapinoe’s no stranger to heat. Her 2019 “I’m not going to the f***ing White House” snub of Trump, her pink hair and equal-pay fight, made her a lightning rod—loved by libs (47% of women backed Harris in 2024, Edison), loathed by MAGA. Her kneeling, inspired by Kaepernick, won FIFA’s 2019 Ballon d’Or but lost fans; Lin Dunn’s Brittney Griner jab echoes here. “She’s paid a price before—this is just bigger,” an X ally wrote, citing her 2020 Subway deal dip. Yet, $100 million’s a new league—her threat to leave (Canada? Europe?) hints at exhaustion with a nation split 51% against Trump (Gallup).
Critics pounce. “She poked the bear—Musk’s untouchable,” an X detractor gloated, tying it to Trump’s tariff wins—Vietnam’s zero-duty deal, Netanyahu’s deficit vow. Her equity crusade, once a $10 million Nike pillar, clashes with Musk’s DOGE cuts; Subway’s “family values” pivot reeks of MAGA pressure. “Megan overestimated her pull,” a sports agent told ESPN, noting Musk’s $421 billion net worth (Forbes) dwarfs her clout. Libs cry foul: “Corporate cowardice—punishing a woman who speaks,” an X post raged, as #StandWithMegan trends.
Where to? Rapinoe’s fiancée, Sue Bird, stayed mum, but relocation rumors—London, where she’s lauded, or Vancouver—swirl. “She’ll thrive anywhere—America’s the loser,” a fan tweeted, though her U.S. roots (Redding, California) tug. Musk’s win—deals tanked, X ablaze—fits Trump’s 2025: Dodgers meet him, Leavitt bans CNN, Vance eyes 2028. “Libs keep losing!” an X troll laughed, but Rapinoe’s exit threat flips it: is it loss or liberation?
The fallout’s raw. X splits—47% back Musk (unscientific poll), 53% mourn Rapinoe’s fall. Her $100 million collapse—Nike’s 10-year pact, Subway’s $20 million—hurts, but her defiance endures. “I won’t bow,” she told Seattleites, a middle finger to Musk’s empire. Trump’s tariff storm, Kim Soo Hyun’s $5 million fire gift, Netanyahu’s Vance meet fade—this is personal. Win or lose, Rapinoe’s out $100 million, but her next move’s hers alone. Respect or not, she’s not done fighting—just maybe not here.
