CALIFORNIA, Sept. 25 — Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, has issued an apology to Indian-American entrepreneur Vinod Khosla following a social media post that misrepresented Khosla’s stance on public beach access. The controversy erupted after Musk shared an image of a sign at Martins Beach, where Khosla has restricted access, stating that the beach is not open to the public.

Social Media Incident: Musk posted a photo on his X account depicting a sign that read "No Plebs Allowed... Property of Vinod Khosla," implying that Khosla had banned public access to the beach. Khosla quickly refuted the claim, stating he did not place the sign and demanded an apology.

Khosla’s Response: In his response on social media, Khosla emphasized that he believed the image was generated by AI and pointed out that he has fought for public access to the beach since purchasing the property in 2008, leading to an ongoing legal dispute with the state.

Musk’s Apology: Acknowledging the error, Musk replied, "It was indeed wrong to suggest you had a sign restricting public access. Please accept my apology." Despite the apology, the tension between the two continues due to their differing political affiliations and opinions on various issues.

Background of the Dispute: The property in question has been a source of contention for over 16 years. Khosla argues against public access to the beach area adjacent to his property, while the state maintains that the beach should remain open to the public.

Political Differences: The two men have clashed on several issues, including their political views. Khosla supports the Democratic Party, while Musk has publicly endorsed Donald Trump, contributing to their contentious relationship.