Where Does Elon Musk Live? 6 Shocking Facts About His Tiny Home

Ever wonder where the world’s wealthiest person sleeps at night? You might picture a sprawling mansion, but the reality of where Elon Musk lives is far more surprising. The innovator behind Tesla and SpaceX famously downsized to a tiny, prefabricated home.

That’s right, a billionaire in a box. This move wasn’t just about finding a new address; it was a deliberate lifestyle shift.

Let’s dive into the fascinating details of his surprisingly humble home.

Overview of Elon Musk’s Current Residence

You’re not going to believe this, but the richest man in the world lives in a tiny, 375-square-foot box. It’s a major step down from his old life, but for Musk, it’s a huge leap toward his goals.

The Boxabl Casita Prefab Home in Boca Chica, Texas

Elon Musk rents his tiny home in Boca Chica, Texas, directly from SpaceX. It’s a model called the Boxabl Casita, a prefabricated house that costs around $50,000. The location is no accident, it’s conveniently located within walking distance of the SpaceX Starbase facility, where the company is developing its Starship rocket.

Boxabl is a Las Vegas-based startup founded in 2017 with a mission to revolutionize housing. Their homes are designed to be folded up for easy transport and can be fully assembled on-site in just a few hours. Made from steel, concrete, and EPS foam, these units are engineered to be fire-resistant, flood-resistant, and durable enough to withstand hurricane-force winds.

“My primary home is literally a ~$50k house in Boca Chica / Starbase that I rent from SpaceX. It’s kinda awesome though,” Musk tweeted in June 2021.

While Musk has confirmed he owns a Boxabl, he primarily uses it as a guesthouse for friends. His main residence is a slightly larger, though still modest, three-bedroom ranch house nearby. This practical choice shows his intense focus on his work over material luxury.

Layout Details: Living Area, Bedroom, Kitchen, Bathroom

So, what can you fit inside a 375-square-foot house? The Boxabl Casita is a masterclass in efficient design, packing a surprising amount of function into a small footprint.

The interior is essentially one large studio space divided into distinct zones. Thanks to high 9.5-foot ceilings and large windows, the home feels surprisingly open and airy.

• Full-Size Kitchen: Unlike many tiny homes, the Casita comes with full-size appliances, including a refrigerator, double sink, oven, and microwave.
• Living and Sleeping Area: The open floor plan provides flexible space for a bed, a living room setup, and a dining area.
• Complete Bathroom: The bathroom includes a deep shower and tub combination, a sink, and a backlit mirror, offering more amenities than a typical studio apartment.
• Built-in Utilities: Each unit also comes with a pre-installed washer and dryer combo and an ironing center, making it truly move-in ready.

Motives Behind Choosing a Simplified Home

Why would a man who could afford any home in the world choose to live in a box? For Elon Musk, the decision wasn’t about money, it was about mindset.

Commitment to Minimalism

Musk’s move into a tiny house is the ultimate expression of his commitment to a minimalist lifestyle. He believes that owning too many physical possessions can be a distraction from more important goals.

In his biography of Musk, author Walter Isaacson confirmed this philosophy. He shared photos from inside the small Texas home where he would meet with Musk, describing it as a “spartan two-bedroom house.” This shift allows Musk to dedicate more mental energy and resources toward his primary ambitions: advancing space exploration with SpaceX and accelerating sustainable energy with Tesla.

Seeking Financial and Personal Freedom

For Musk, true wealth isn’t about luxury, it’s about freedom. When he announced he would sell nearly all physical possessions, he was asked why. His one-word answer on X (formerly Twitter) was, “Freedom.”

“I think possessions kind of weigh you down. They’re kind of an attack vector,” Musk has stated, explaining that owning multiple homes requires time and staff to manage, all of which detracts from his work.

By shedding his real estate portfolio, he freed himself from the burdens of homeownership. This allows him to maintain a laser-like focus on solving complex engineering problems and pushing humanity forward.

Review of Elon Musk’s Previous Homes

Before embracing the tiny home life, Elon Musk’s real estate portfolio was anything but small. He owned a collection of luxurious properties, primarily in California, that were worth a combined total of over $100 million.

The Luxury Mansions in Bel Air

Musk once owned at least six homes in the exclusive Bel Air neighborhood of Los Angeles. His main residence was a 20,000-square-foot mansion he purchased for $17 million in 2012. Over the years, he acquired several other properties on the same two streets, creating a private compound.

In December 2020, he sold four of these homes in a single deal to developer Ardie Tavangarian for a combined $62 million. The entire collection of California properties was eventually sold for roughly $128 million.

Gene Wilder’s Former House in Bel Air

One of Musk’s most interesting properties was the former home of beloved actor Gene Wilder, which he bought in 2013. When he decided to sell his assets, he made a special arrangement for this particular house.

“Just one stipulation on sale: I own Gene Wilder’s old house. It cannot be torn down or lose any of its soul,” Musk posted on X in May 2020.

He sold the home for $7 million in October 2020 to Wilder’s nephew, Jordan Walker-Pearlman, and his wife. Musk even provided them with a $6.7 million loan to facilitate the purchase, ensuring the home stayed connected to the Wilder family legacy. Recent reports in 2024 and 2025 indicate that after the couple defaulted on the loan, an LLC owned by Musk reacquired the property.

Additional Significant Properties

Beyond his Bel Air compound, Musk owned a few other notable properties. Here are some of the key ones:

• Hillsborough Estate: His largest and most expensive property was a 16,000-square-foot mansion on 47 acres in Northern California, known as Guignécourt. He sold it in 2021 for $32 million.
• Snailbrook Development: Musk is also developing a town called Snailbrook near Austin for employees of his companies, The Boring Company and SpaceX. Plans show it will start with around 110 homes with potential for major expansion.
• SpaceX Employee Housing: He purchased several homes near the Starbase launch site in Boca Chica, which he now rents to his employees at affordable rates.

Changes in Elon Musk’s Lifestyle

The decision to sell his mansions in 2020 marked a dramatic turning point for Musk. It wasn’t just a real estate transaction; it was a fundamental change in how he lives his life.

Decision to Sell Most Possessions

On May 1, 2020, Musk shocked followers with a tweet declaring, “I am selling almost all physical possessions. Will own no house.” He explained the move wasn’t because he needed money but because he was dedicating his life to his missions on Earth and Mars, and possessions “just weigh you down.”

He was true to his word. Over the next year and a half, he systematically sold off his entire portfolio of seven California homes. This wasn’t just a symbolic gesture; it was a practical decision to eliminate distractions.

Effects on His Personal and Professional Life

Living in a simple, rented home in Boca Chica has had a profound impact on Musk’s daily life. Being just a short walk from Starbase allows him to be completely immersed in SpaceX’s operations.

This minimalist lifestyle removes the complexities of managing large estates, freeing up valuable time and mental energy. While it means less privacy, Musk appears to thrive in this focused environment. He has stated that a smaller house “feels more homey” and allows him to concentrate on the monumental tasks of running his multiple companies.

Wider Impact on Society

When the world’s richest person decides to live in a $50,000 house, people take notice. Musk’s decision has created ripples far beyond his own life, influencing everything from housing trends to conversations about wealth.

Influences on Housing Market Trends

The “Musk effect” on the tiny home industry has been undeniable. After news broke that he lived in a Boxabl Casita, public interest skyrocketed. The company’s waitlist jumped from around 40,000 to over 47,000 almost overnight. As of 2022, that waitlist had grown to over 120,000 potential customers.

Musk’s endorsement, even an indirect one, brought massive mainstream attention to prefabricated and modular housing. This has helped legitimize tiny homes as a viable and even desirable housing option, encouraging more people to consider downsizing and sustainable living.

Perspectives on Wealth and Consumption

Musk’s move challenges the traditional definition of success. In a world where wealth is often displayed through lavish homes and material possessions, his choice offers a powerful counter-narrative.

He is demonstrating that it’s possible to be incredibly successful and driven without accumulating the typical trappings of wealth. This has sparked a broader conversation about what it means to be rich, suggesting that true wealth may lie in purpose and freedom rather than in physical assets. His actions encourage people to question their own consumption habits and focus more on experiences and goals over possessions.

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