Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.Elon Musk praised Tesla Inc.'s Cybertruck on Thursday after frequent critic Brian Krassenstein said he bought one, using the moment to defend the electric pickup's polarizing design, safety case and performance.Musk Defends Cybertruck's Polarizing DesignMusk wrote on X that "only when you drive the Cybertruck do you realize how incredible it is," calling the vehicle "a bulletproof tank that moves like a million-dollar sports car." He said the truck's angular shape was not just styling but also a manufacturing constraint tied to its thick stainless-steel body panels.AdvertisementAdvertisementOnly when you drive the Cybertruck do you realize how incredible it is: a bulletproof tank that moves like a million dollar sports car!Reason for the angular shape is that the thick, ultra-hard stainless steel body panels cannot be stamped like the thin, feeble, paper-strength… https://t.co/mc4YRbe4J4— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 7, 2026Don't Miss:A single bad hire can set a startup back years. Here are the 5 hires founders most often misjudge — and whyStill Learning the Market? These 50 Must-Know Terms Can Help You Catch Up FastThe Tesla CEO argued that the Cybertruck's ultra-hard stainless steel panels cannot be stamped like the "thin, feeble" steel used on traditional trucks, saying they would break 5,000-ton stamping machines. Tesla has long marketed the Cybertruck around its exoskeleton-style body, though the model's sharp design has also drawn criticism since its launch.Krassenstein Purchase Draws Online BacklashKrassenstein, a political commentator who runs Krassencast with his twin brother Ed, announced Wednesday that he had bought a Cybertruck despite expecting backlash. He said safety mattered because he has a young family and added that he did not want to keep burning "$5 a gallon gasoline."The post quickly drew thousands of comments on X, many of which mocked the purchase. On Thursday, Krassenstein responded sarcastically, posting an AI-generated image of a black Ford Motor Co. Super Duty diesel pickup and joking that he had traded in the Cybertruck after losing 6,000 followers.AdvertisementAdvertisementI've listened. I've reflected. I've grown.After losing 6,000 followers for buying a Cybertruck, I realized I needed a vehicle that better aligns with my followers' environmental expectations and moral values.So I traded it in for a beauty that gets 7 MPG and personally… https://t.co/O9Ia2axqc3 pic.twitter.com/nBD80T5j0P— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) May 7, 2026See Also: Avoid the #1 Investing Mistake: How Your ‘Safe' Holdings Could Be Costing You Big TimeCybertruck Safety Ratings Boost Musk's CaseThe Cybertruck has earned strong crash-safety marks. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety lists the 2025 Cybertruck as a Top Safety Pick+ for vehicles built after April 2025, the group's highest award. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has also given the Cybertruck a five-star overall rating, though it received four stars in rollover testing.Tesla has also regained ground with repeat buyers. S&P Global Mobility data recently showed the electric vehicle maker leading U.S. automotive brand loyalty in February 2026 at 61.1%, ahead of Subaru at 60.5% and Toyota Motor Corporation at 59.9%, above the industry average of 52.7%.According to Benzinga Edge Rankings, Tesla stock offers satisfactory Momentum, but poor Value. It also provides a favorable price trend in the Long and Short term.AdvertisementAdvertisementPhoto: Frederic Legrand – COMEO On Shutterstock.comRead Next: Skip the Regrets: The Essential Retirement Tips Experts Wish Everyone Knew Earlier.Thinking about ETFs? See what investment risks you should be aware of before you buy.Building Wealth Across More Than Just the MarketBuilding a resilient portfolio means thinking beyond a single asset or market trend. Economic cycles shift, sectors rise and fall, and no one investment performs well in every environment. That's why many investors look to diversify with platforms that provide access to real estate, fixed-income opportunities, professional financial guidance, precious metals, and even self-directed retirement accounts. By spreading exposure across multiple asset classes, it becomes easier to manage risk, capture steady returns, and create long-term wealth that isn't tied to the fortunes of just one company or industry.Connect InvestConnect Invest is a real estate investment platform that allows investors to access short-term, fixed-income opportunities backed by a diversified portfolio of residential and commercial real estate loans. Through its Short Notes structure, investors can choose defined terms (6, 12, or 24 months) and earn monthly interest payments while gaining exposure to real estate as an asset class. For investors focused on diversification, Connect Invest may serve as one component within a broader portfolio that also includes traditional equities, fixed income, and other alternative assets—helping balance exposure across different risk and return profiles.Mode MobileMode Mobile is changing the way people interact with their phones by letting users earn money from the same apps and activities they already use every day. Instead of platforms keeping all the advertising revenue, Mode Mobile shares a portion back with users who engage with content, play games, and scroll on their devices. Named one of Deloitte's fastest-growing software companies in North America, the company has built a large beta user base and is scaling a model that turns everyday smartphone usage into a potential income stream. For investors, Mode Mobile offers exposure to the expanding mobile advertising and attention economy through a pre-IPO opportunity tied to a new approach to user monetization.rHealthrHealth is building a space-tested diagnostics platform designed to bring lab-quality blood testing closer to patients in minutes rather than weeks. Originally validated in collaboration with NASA for use aboard the International Space Station, the technology is now being adapted for at-home and point-of-care settings to address widespread delays in diagnostic access.AdvertisementAdvertisementBacked by institutions including NASA and the NIH, rHealth is targeting the large global diagnostics market with a multi-test platform and a model built around devices, consumables, and software. With FDA registration in progress, the company is positioning itself as a potential shift toward faster, more decentralized healthcare testing.DirexionDirexion specializes in leveraged and inverse ETFs designed to help active traders express short-term market views during periods of volatility and major market events. Rather than long-term investing, these products are built for tactical use—allowing investors to take magnified bullish or bearish positions across indices, sectors, and single stocks. For experienced traders, Direxion offers a way to respond quickly to changing market conditions and act on high-conviction views with greater flexibility.ImmersedImmersed is a spatial computing company building immersive productivity software that enables users to work across multiple virtual screens inside VR and mixed-reality environments. Its platform is used by remote workers and enterprises to create virtual workspaces that reduce reliance on traditional physical hardware while improving focus and collaboration. The company is also developing its own lightweight VR headset and AI productivity tools, positioning itself in the future-of-work and spatial computing space. Through its pre-IPO offering, Immersed is opening access to early-stage investors looking to diversify beyond traditional assets and gain exposure to emerging technologies shaping how people work.ArrivedBacked by Jeff Bezos, Arrived Homes makes real estate investing accessible with a low barrier to entry. Investors can buy fractional shares of single-family rentals and vacation homes starting with as little as $100. This allows everyday investors to diversify into real estate, collect rental income, and build long-term wealth without needing to manage properties directly.MasterworksMasterworks enables investors to diversify into blue-chip art, an alternative asset class with historically low correlation to stocks and bonds. Through fractional ownership of museum-quality works by artists like Banksy, Basquiat, and Picasso, investors gain access without the high costs or complexities of owning art outright. With hundreds of offerings and strong historical exits on select works, Masterworks adds a scarce, globally traded asset to portfolios seeking long-term diversification.PublicPublic is a multi-asset investing platform built for long-term investors who want more control, transparency, and innovation in how they grow wealth. Founded in 2019 as the first broker-dealer to offer commission-free, real-time fractional investing, Public now lets users invest in stocks, bonds, options, crypto, and more—all in one place. Its latest feature, Generated Assets, uses AI to turn a single idea into a fully customized, investable index that can be explained and backtested before committing capital. Combined with AI-powered research tools, clear explanations of market moves, and an uncapped 1% match for transferring an existing portfolio, Public positions itself as a modern platform designed to help serious investors make more informed decisions with context.AdviserMatchAdviserMatch is a free online tool that helps individuals connect with financial advisors based on their goals, financial situation, and investment needs. Instead of spending hours researching advisors on your own, the platform asks a few quick questions and matches you with professionals who can assist with areas like retirement planning, investment strategy, and overall financial guidance. Consultations are no-obligation, and services vary by advisor, giving investors a chance to explore whether professional advice could help improve their long-term financial plan.Accredited Debt ReliefAccredited Debt Relief is a debt consolidation company focused on helping consumers reduce and manage unsecured debt through structured programs and personalized solutions. Having supported more than 1 million clients and helped resolve over $3 billion in debt, the company operates within the growing consumer debt relief industry, where demand continues to rise alongside record household debt levels. Its process includes a quick qualification survey, personalized program matching, and ongoing support, with eligible clients potentially reducing monthly payments by 40% or more. With industry recognition, an A+ BBB rating, and multiple customer service awards, Accredited Debt Relief positions itself as a data-driven, client-focused option for individuals seeking a more manageable path toward becoming debt-free.Finance AdvisorsFinance Advisors helps Americans approach retirement with greater clarity by connecting them to vetted, fiduciary financial advisors who specialize in tax-aware retirement planning. Rather than focusing on products or investment performance alone, the platform emphasizes strategies that account for after-tax income, withdrawal sequencing, and long-term tax efficiency—factors that can materially impact retirement outcomes. Free to use, Finance Advisors gives individuals with meaningful savings access to a level of planning sophistication historically reserved for high-net-worth households, helping reduce hidden tax risk and improve long-term financial confidence.AdvertisementAdvertisement© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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