After Elon Musk criticized the notoriously poor cell reception in the Hamptons during a high-profile event and to Page Six, the owner of The Capri hotel where he was staying told us he agreed with the Tesla mogul.
“The room I stayed in at the Capri was tiny,” Musk told Page Six. “And the Wi-Fi is in dire need of an upgrade, as is cell reception in the Hamptons in general.”
The Southampton hotel, known for its pool parties and lively Ketchy Beach restaurant, offers rooms for about $1,000 a night.
Over the years, events at this trendy hotel have attracted celebrities such as Howard Stern and Jennifer Lopez, as well as influential politicians such as Nancy Pelosi, Governor Kathy Hochul, Mayor Eric Adams and Attorney General Letitia James.
The hotel’s co-owner, Mayank Dwivedi, told us that he had heard Musk’s complaints about the quality of Wi-Fi in the East End – and that he would like to work with the billionaire entrepreneur to solve the problem, which has long been a problem in the posh area.
“While some people come to the East to unwind and relax, the world’s biggest titans, including Elon, also have to do business and the internet needs to be brought up to 21st century standards,” Dwivedi tells us. “I would love to work with him to modernize the entire network. That would be an absolute dream.”
As for the ‘tiny’ room, we heard that Dwivedi is planning to convert the place into a 5-star resort.
The SpaceX founder was in town for Michael Milken’s annual Hamptons Prostate Cancer Foundation gala and complained about cell reception in the area during a one-on-one meeting with Milken in front of fellow billionaires Julia Koch, Bill Ackman, Stephen Schwarzman, Rob Citrone and Patrice Motsepe.
A spy told Page Six that Musk – whose tech empire includes Starlink, the satellite service that brought internet to a reclusive Amazon tribe – joked: “I had to answer important text messages on the way here and couldn’t… people asked where I was, in Timbuktu?”
Poor mobile reception and dead zones have long been a problem in this chic enclave.
In 2020, venture capital heavyweight Alan Patricof — founder of private equity firms Apax Partners and Greycroft (which has invested in Bumble, Venmo and Goop) — led a crusade for better cell reception in the Hamptons, as the system was put under even greater strain by the crowds living there during the pandemic.
City Councillor Peter Van Scoyoc told us at the time that during the work, some residents protested against what they considered to be “ugly” cell phone towers.
“If the community wants better coverage, it needs to support cell towers,” Van Scoyoc said.
Patricof even created a dramatic ad with marketing expert Jerry Della Femina, describing a scenario in which a loved one is driving and “feels a sharp pain in his chest.” “He stops, reaches for his phone and tries to call you… the police… anyone for help… He needs help right now. It never comes,” it said.
The petition was signed by the organization Citizens for Better Cellphone Service.
In East Hampton and Sagaponack, cell towers that have been approved for operation are facing complaints from residents who not only consider the towers an “eyesore” but also fear falling debris, such as ice, and a loss in property value.
Dwivedi entered into a partnership on the Capri this year with star lawyers Mark Geragos and Tina Glandian. In 2023, he and Irwin Simon bought the famous Maidstone Hotel in East Hampton.
