He can afford to go to court over a whim, but it is not certain how the court will decide.
Those who corporate climb to the C level are always very good at covering their asses and if I were a betting man I’d say Elon will lose.
He may have to pay it out, but it will be after their reputations are purposefully damaged.
“...and if I were a betting man I’d say Elon will lose.”
Certainly possible...but they’ll have to fight for their money and a lot of dirt may come out in the process.
If they hurridly put got their extra nice golden parachutes put in AFTER rumors that Musk was buying Twitter out, then I think he has a case against paying them, but if they were there well before that, then legally I think Musk inherited it when he bought the company.
Those who were fired have to initiate and pay for the litigation to get their bonuses. The cost of that litigation is proportionally insignificant to Elon, but likewise crushing to them. So, even if they eventually win, which is uncertain, they lose.