Taking Tesla private would be the largest buyout in history -- but maybe not much money would change hands (TSLA)

Ringo H.W. Chiu / AP Photo If Tesla goes private at over $80 billion, it would be the largest buyout in history. But we don't know enough about a potential deal to rule out a less expensive strategy. CEO Elon Musk could be thinking only about financing the possible exit of Tesla retail investors while converting institutional stakes into private shares. It looks like Tesla CEO Elon Musk is serious about taking Tesla private. Already, the gyrations among observers of the company have begun — fo...