Podcast Summary: Earn Your Leisure

Episode: Why Tesla is the Most BIZARRE Stock to Hold for 5 Years
Hosts: Rashad Bilal & Troy Millings
Date: February 17, 2026

Overview

In this episode, Rashad, Troy, and guests explore the unique position Tesla holds as a long-term stock investment, dissecting its business model, Elon Musk’s leadership, and the company’s dramatic shift from car manufacturing to robotics and AI. The conversation blends skepticism, bullishness, and cultural critique, culminating in a rich analysis of Tesla’s risks and rewards for 5-year holders.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Top Long-Term Stock Picks (02:36–04:41)

• The group debates their top three long-term stock picks if starting fresh today.
  • Investor 3 names Amgen, Eli Lilly, and Google, likening Amgen and Lilly to "Jordan and Kobe on the same team" (03:10).
  • Investor 2 leans toward Nvidia and Microsoft, citing their resilience and industry dominance.
  • Investor 1 introduces Tesla as a "hell of a run" pick for the next five years, despite not personally wanting to invest.

    "I think that over the next five years Tesla is going to have a hell of a run." – Investor 1 (04:34)

2. Tesla’s Strategic Shift: From Cars to Robotics (04:57–06:12)

• The conversation transitions to Tesla’s evolving vision, embodied by Elon Musk’s statements about moving beyond cars into robotics and AI.
  • Investor 1: "He's telling you straight up, like, yo, this isn't about car... we're done making that. This is where we're going." (05:56)
• The hosts acknowledge that this strategy may offer exponential value but carries significant execution risk.

3. The Risks of Visionary Leadership & Market Hype (06:12–09:25)

• The hosts challenge the “big bet” nature of Tesla’s current narrative—comparing highly speculative investments like the metaverse to Elon’s vision for humanoid robots.
  • Concern is raised over Tesla missing car delivery targets while pivoting to uncertain markets.
  • Investor 2: "Like, you're basing your whole company off of a thesis of what could potentially happen. But what's currently happening? He's disappointing the cars and he's...got himself in a lot of political turmoil." (07:00)
• Hostility from political forces and Musk's polarizing persona are flagged as compounding risks.

4. Musk’s Business Maneuvers and Company Structures (07:32–08:22)

• Discussion of Musk’s other ventures: SpaceX, Starlink, and XAI
  • Noted that Musk chose to move AI assets to SpaceX rather than Tesla—seen as strategic.
  • Investor 1: "He didn't move it over to Tesla." (07:58)
• The power and privilege enjoyed by certain entrepreneurs, especially Musk, is highlighted.

  "Some entrepreneurs are afforded to lose hundreds of billions... other entrepreneurs have no margin of error at all." – Investor 2 (08:49)

5. Pivots, Privilege, and Company Valuation (08:49–12:32)

• The group explores how Musk’s ability to “paint a lofty picture” keeps investor optimism high in spite of bold pivots and volatility.
  • Tesla’s drastic price cuts and evolving business image brought up as warning signs.

  "At one point people were paying 80 and 90 thousand dollars for those cars. You can get some of those cars out for 22 grand. That's a hard pivot." – Investor 3 (11:48)

• Musk's unique access to capital compared to peers, with references to the public scorn faced by other founders for fewer missteps.

6. Robotics: Hype vs. Reality (12:32–14:10)

• The potential for robotics—especially humanoid robots—to reshape workforces is acknowledged, but the panel is united in skepticism about Musk’s 100 million robot prediction.
  • Investor 1: "Does it change? Yeah. Will everybody have it in their homes? I don't think we're there... But you could. That's where they headed." (09:30)
  • Investor 2: "Factories and stuff like that, yeah, for sure they're gonna play a major part. But...hundreds of millions of robots just walking the streets... I don't see that happening in five years." (13:02)
• Real-world robotics demonstrations at Nvidia leave an impression but reinforce the vast gap between vision and mass adoption.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "If I can put Jordan and Kobe on the same team, I'm good going to war with anybody." – Investor 3 on Amgen & Lilly (03:10)
• "I think that over the next five years Tesla is going to have a hell of a run." – Investor 1 (04:34)
• "He's telling you straight up, like, yo, this isn't about car... we're done making that. This is where we're going." – Investor 1 (05:56)
• "Like, you're basing your whole company off of a thesis of what could potentially happen. But what's currently happening? He's disappointing the cars and he's...got himself in a lot of political turmoil." – Investor 2 (07:00)
• "Some entrepreneurs are afforded to lose hundreds of billions... other entrepreneurs have no margin of error at all." – Investor 2 (08:49)
• "At one point people were paying 80 and 90 thousand dollars for those cars. You can get some of those cars out for 22 grand. That's a hard pivot." – Investor 3 (11:48)

Key Timestamps

• 02:36: Top 3 long-term holdings debate
• 04:31: Tesla introduced as a unique 5-year play
• 05:56: Acknowledging Tesla’s move away from cars toward robotics/AI
• 07:00: Risks of Tesla’s current performance and Elon Musk’s political entanglements
• 07:58: Strategic moves—XAI assets to SpaceX, not Tesla
• 08:49: Debate on access to capital and entrepreneur privilege
• 11:48: Tesla’s car price drops highlighted as major pivot
• 13:02: Skepticism regarding 100+ million humanoid robots

Tone & Closing Thoughts

The conversation is dynamic and candid, blending humor, skepticism, and nuanced understanding of financial markets. Hosts and guests appreciate Tesla’s visionary trajectory but underscore the unprecedented risks associated with betting on Musk’s future. They remind listeners that Tesla’s wild ambitions, coupled with Musk’s unique standing, make it one of the most “bizarre” stocks to hold on a five-year horizon—potentially lucrative, but full of volatility and uncertainty.