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AT&T should just retire the number at that point right

There aren't that many phone numbers where it's reasonable to retire them willy-nilly (given the desire to have consistent "area codes").

Slippery-slope? Do it for one billionaire, you might have to do it for all of them...

You don't have to retire them for all eternity, just long enough that it stops getting a lot of contact.

Judging by Elon’s reaction, it’s been out of his hands for many years.

Well, longer then. And I imagine it's been active that many years, not getting "this subscriber is no longer available" or whatever.

Or auction it off, I'm sure someone will buy it. Some people are quite happy having 867-5309 for example.

Indeed I wonder if the current owner is doing this piece with the idea she might auction it