Elon Musk’s Houses: A Look into the Life of the Billionaire and His Real Estate Journey

ambitions, visionary thinking, and disruptive innovations. When people think of Musk, images of Mars-bound rockets, electric cars, and ambitious ventures to transform humanity’s future often come to mind. But behind his public persona, there’s another side to Musk: his relationship with real estate and homes. Over the years, Musk has made headlines not just for his technological feats but also for his peculiar real estate decisions, which range from selling off all his houses to living in a prefab tiny home.

This article takes a deep dive into Elon Musk’s house journey, exploring the homes he’s owned, his motivations for selling them, and his present minimalist lifestyle.

Elon Musk’s Real Estate Portfolio: The Early Years

Before Musk’s famous declaration to sell most of his possessions, including his houses, he owned a collection of luxurious properties, particularly in the high-end neighborhoods of Los Angeles. Musk’s real estate holdings reflected his massive financial success and his larger-than-life persona. Let’s take a closer look at some of the key properties in his portfolio.

Bel-Air Mansion

Musk’s journey into luxury real estate started in 2012 when he purchased his first home in the Bel-Air neighborhood of Los Angeles for $17 million. This was a six-bedroom, 20,000-square-foot mansion with all the trimmings one would expect in a Hollywood-worthy property. The mansion featured stunning views of the city, a two-story library, a home theater, a gym, a wine cellar, and a vast pool area perfect for entertaining guests.

What made this mansion particularly notable was its proximity to the Bel-Air Country Club. Musk’s estate was a stone’s throw from the elite social circles of the area, and it’s easy to see why someone of Musk’s standing would be drawn to such a locale.

However, for someone with such futuristic aspirations, Musk seemed rather uninterested in the ostentatious trappings of luxury homes. Despite owning the mansion, reports suggest he rarely used it to entertain or indulge in the ways that many others in his position might.

The Gene Wilder Estate

One of Musk’s more eccentric real estate purchases was a house previously owned by actor Gene Wilder. Wilder’s estate, located near Musk’s own Bel-Air mansion, was purchased by Musk in 2013 for $6.75 million. The property was more than just a home; it was a slice of Hollywood history. Wilder, known for his role in “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory,” had lived there for years, and the house had a quirky charm, much like Wilder himself.

One condition of Musk’s purchase was that he vowed to preserve the spirit and character of the home. He respected Wilder’s legacy and wanted the house to remain intact. In fact, when Musk decided to sell the property in 2020, he stipulated that it should not be torn down or lose its distinctive character.

Other Properties in Bel-Air

Elon Musk didn’t stop with these two homes. Over the next few years, he continued to amass a collection of properties in Bel-Air, at one point owning at least six homes within close proximity. These additional homes included a 7,000-square-foot modern house, a colonial-style mansion, and smaller properties that he reportedly used for a variety of purposes, including housing for guests or his children.

By 2019, Musk’s combined real estate portfolio in the Bel-Air area alone was estimated to be worth over $70 million. His appetite for prime Los Angeles real estate seemed insatiable at the time.

A Radical Shift: Musk’s Decision to Sell All His Houses

In 2020, in a move that surprised many, Musk announced that he was selling off nearly all of his physical possessions, including his homes. He took to Twitter, as he often does when making announcements, and declared, “I am selling almost all physical possessions. Will own no house.”

This announcement was met with skepticism, with some speculating that it was a publicity stunt or another one of Musk’s eccentric moves to stay in the public eye. However, it soon became clear that Musk was serious.

One by one, Musk began listing his properties for sale. In just a few months, he managed to unload several of his multimillion-dollar homes. By December 2020, Musk had sold all of his Los Angeles properties, fetching a cumulative total of nearly $130 million. His real estate divestment was part of a larger effort, Musk claimed, to focus on more important matters—namely, his ambitious plans for SpaceX and the future of humanity. Musk once stated that he believed possessions were a “distraction” and that his focus was on larger goals, like colonizing Mars.

Musk’s decision to sell off his homes was viewed as an extreme form of minimalism, especially for a billionaire of his stature. Most billionaires tend to amass properties, yachts, art collections, and other luxury items as a sign of their success. Musk, on the other hand, saw these things as burdens. His decision marked a departure from the typical trajectory of the ultra-wealthy, and in many ways, it aligned with his often unconventional lifestyle.

Life in a Tiny Home: Musk’s New Living Arrangement

In 2021, after selling his grand Los Angeles homes, it was revealed that Musk had moved into a tiny prefab house near SpaceX’s headquarters in Boca Chica, Texas. This tiny house, made by a company called Boxabl, is a 375-square-foot foldable home that costs around $50,000. It’s a far cry from the multimillion-dollar mansions he once owned, and it’s an apt reflection of Musk’s minimalistic philosophy.

The house is compact but highly functional, with a kitchen, bathroom, living room, and bedroom all neatly arranged in a small space. Musk’s decision to live in such a small home raised eyebrows, but it was consistent with his philosophy of simplifying his life and reducing distractions. Living near SpaceX’s base of operations in Texas also meant that he could be closer to his work and focus more intently on his goals for space exploration.

Musk’s choice to embrace tiny living has garnered much attention and even inspired some to rethink their own relationships with material possessions. At a time when the average home size in the U.S. continues to grow, Musk’s decision to live in a minimalist, sustainable way stands out even more.

Musk’s Philosophy on Possessions and the Future

Musk’s decision to sell his homes and embrace a minimalist lifestyle is deeply connected to his broader philosophy on life and the future. While he has never claimed to be a minimalist in the traditional sense, his actions reflect a desire to streamline his life and focus on what truly matters to him: advancing technology, solving global problems, and pushing humanity forward.

Musk has repeatedly spoken about how material possessions can weigh a person down and distract them from more important goals. His decision to live in a tiny, prefabricated home aligns with his futuristic outlook on sustainable living. Companies like Boxabl represent a vision of the future where housing is more affordable, accessible, and eco-friendly—concepts that resonate with Musk’s long-term goals.

Furthermore, Musk’s interest in selling off his real estate and moving to Texas also aligns with his more pragmatic concerns. Texas, unlike California, has no state income tax, which is an attractive prospect for someone with Musk’s wealth. Additionally, Texas has become a growing hub for tech companies, making it an ideal place for Musk to further the development of his ventures, especially SpaceX.

Conclusion

Elon Musk’s real estate journey is as unconventional as the man himself. From owning several luxurious mansions in Los Angeles to selling all of them and living in a tiny prefabricated home, Musk’s approach to housing reflects his broader philosophies on life, technology, and the future. His decision to divest himself of material possessions and embrace minimalism is a testament to his commitment to his work and his vision for a better future for humanity.