Recent media reports have revealed that Intel is reportedly the target of an acquisition by a mysterious company, with Tesla CEO Elon Musk identified as a potential buyer in these rumors.

The news sparked a significant surge in Intel’s stock price, with shares soaring nearly 10% during Friday’s trading session. The stock reached a peak of $21.62, its highest point since December 6, 2024, before closing with a gain of 9.25%.

The acquisition rumors were first reported by SemiAccurate, which mentioned receiving an email about two months ago from a source claiming that a company was attempting to acquire Intel in its entirety. Though SemiAccurate expressed confidence in the email’s authenticity, it took several months to confirm the information. Last week, a senior source provided direct confirmation, raising the likelihood of the acquisition from approximately 60% to over 90%.

Additionally, according to Business Insider, Citigroup disclosed that Elon Musk is believed to be the potential buyer mentioned in these rumors. Citigroup analysts referred to a report from SemiAccurate, which named Musk as the likely acquirer.

However, Citigroup analyst Christopher Danely has expressed skepticism regarding Musk’s potential acquisition of Intel, suggesting that it would be a "bad outcome" for Intel unless the company manages to hire a CEO with specific qualifications to lead the transition.