MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – The CEO of an Ohio-based construction company says Elon Musk’s companies owe him hundreds of millions of dollars for work on his Memphis-area data centers. He said he’s filed liens against two firms Musk uses to manage supercomputer operations in the region.
Darryl Cuttell, CEO of Darana Hybrid, said his company helped build Musk’s first data center in Memphis in 2024 — transforming the former Electrolux factory on Paul Lowry Road in Southwest Memphis in 123 days.
Darana also worked on a second data center on Tulane Road in Whitehaven.
Payments stopped after xAI-SpaceX merger, contractor says
Cuttell said the working relationship was solid until xAI merged with SpaceX earlier this year. After that, he said, his invoices stopped getting paid.
Darryl Cuttell(IHRA)
“It was running smoothly until April when the new regime stepped in and just ruined it all,” Cuttell said. “Probably north of $600 million is owed to my company.”
Liens filed against Musk-linked companies
Cuttell filed liens last week against CTC Property and MZX Tech — companies used by Musk to manage his supercomputer footprint in Memphis.
He said Darana is owed $118 million for work at the Tulane Road site and $18 million for the Paul Lowry Road location.
He also said he plans to file a lien for $400 million for unpaid work at a Southaven plant.
Elon Musk’s data center on Stanton Road in Southaven(Action News 5)Memphis Motorsports Park renovation now on hold
Cuttell, who purchased the International Hot Rod Association last year, had planned a major renovation of the long-shuttered Memphis Motorsports Park in Millington, now called the Darana Motorsports Park.
A groundbreaking was held in January. But now, Cuttell confirmed that project is now on “indefinite hold.” He said he is considering selling off IHRA properties to pay his own bills.
Memphis International Raceway, located at 5500 Victory Lane in Millington, Tennessee(Taylor Waller, Full Throttle Frames | Taylor Waller | IHRA)
“I’ve never been treated so unfair for doing such a good job,” Cuttell said. “I overextended myself, gave him everything he wanted, and now I’m getting trashed. I gotta be careful. I don’t know if I can go fight them. I mean, it’s pretty hard to fight the richest man in the world.”
Cuttell joins other business owners who have claimed Musk’s companies — including tunnel company Boring and automaker Tesla — did not pay them for work performed.
Millington chamber responds
Millington Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Chris Thomas said in a statement to Action News 5:
“We certainly hope the challenges surrounding the project can be resolved and that the development will have an opportunity to move forward. In the meantime, the Chamber will continue working to attract and support economic development that benefits Millington.”
SpaceXAI did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
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