Elon Musk Is Told He Can’t Afford a Watch, What He Does Next Leaves the StoreManager Speechless

**Elon Musk Is Told He Can’t Afford a Watch—What He Does Next Leaves the Store Manager Speechless**

When Elon Musk strolled into a high-end luxury watch store in Manhattan, dressed in a simple hoodie and jeans, the young salesman behind the counter barely glanced at him. The man who had revolutionized electric vehicles, sent rockets to space, and was worth billions looked, to the salesman, like just another tourist who had wandered in off the street. Little did the salesman know, he was about to make the biggest mistake of his career by telling one of the wealthiest people on the planet that he couldn’t afford the $150,000 watch he was admiring.

—

The bell above the door chimed softly as Elon Musk stepped into the store. It was a chilly December afternoon, and he had just finished a quiet lunch at a nearby café. Wearing a plain gray hoodie, jeans, and sneakers, Elon was trying to enjoy a rare day out without his usual entourage of assistants and security. He pulled his hood up slightly, hoping to go unnoticed.

The store was immaculate, with glass cases displaying watches that gleamed under the warm, carefully placed lights. Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet—names synonymous with wealth and status. Elon’s eyes landed on a particular display featuring the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore, a stunning piece with a rose gold case that seemed to glow under the lights.

.

.

.

Behind the counter, Alex Martinez, a 26-year-old salesman, glanced up from his phone. He had been working at the store for only two months, and while he was eager to prove himself, he had also developed a habit of sizing up customers the moment they walked in. His manager had told him that time was money, and not to waste it on people who weren’t serious buyers.

Alex’s gaze swept over Elon’s outfit—the hoodie, the sneakers, the unkempt hair. To him, it screamed “window shopper.” He sighed inwardly but forced a smile as he approached.

“Can I help you?” Alex asked, his tone polite but distant.

“Yes,” Elon said, his voice calm. “I’d like to see that one.” He pointed at the Royal Oak Offshore.

Alex hesitated. That particular watch cost $150,000, and it wasn’t the kind of item they casually handed over to just anyone. He glanced at Elon’s worn sneakers again and decided this man couldn’t possibly afford it.

“That’s one of our most exclusive pieces,” Alex said carefully. “It’s quite expensive.”

Elon raised an eyebrow. “I understand. May I see it?”

Alex hesitated again, then gestured toward another display. “Perhaps I can show you something more… affordable. We have some great options starting at $2,000.”

Elon’s lips twitched, almost as if he were amused. “I appreciate that,” he said, “but I’d really like to see the Royal Oak Offshore.”

Before Alex could respond, the store manager, Richard Coleman, stepped out from his office in the back. Richard had been in the luxury retail business for over 20 years, and he prided himself on being able to spot high-value customers no matter how they dressed. Something about the man in the hoodie caught his attention—his posture, his calm demeanor. Richard decided to observe the interaction for a moment before stepping in.

“Sir,” Alex said, his patience wearing thin, “this watch costs $150,000. Maybe you should check out something more realistic.”

At that moment, the door chimed again, and two men in tailored suits walked in, laughing loudly. Alex’s eyes lit up. These were the kinds of customers he wanted—men who looked like they could drop six figures on a watch without blinking.

“If you’ll excuse me,” Alex said to Elon, “I need to assist these gentlemen. Feel free to browse.”

Elon watched as Alex hurried off to greet the suited men with a wide smile. Left alone, he turned back to the Royal Oak Offshore, his reflection staring back at him from the glass case. He wasn’t angry—he had encountered this kind of treatment before. Instead, he felt a familiar determination rising within him. It reminded him of the times, long ago, when people had told him his ideas were too crazy, too ambitious, too expensive.

Richard, who had been watching from a distance, decided it was time to intervene. He walked over, his steps measured and professional.

“Is everything all right, sir?” Richard asked.

Elon turned to him and smiled. “Just admiring your collection. You have some beautiful pieces here.”

“Thank you,” Richard said. “Is there a particular watch you’re interested in?”

Before Elon could answer, Alex called out from across the store, “Richard, I’ve got some serious buyers over here. Can you help me with the Rolex display?”

Richard ignored him. Instead, he turned back to Elon. “Would you like to see the Royal Oak Offshore?”

“Yes,” Elon said. “I would.”

Richard retrieved the keys from his pocket and unlocked the case. He carefully placed the watch on a velvet pad and handed it to Elon, who examined it closely, turning it over in his hands.

“The craftsmanship is incredible,” Elon said, his tone thoughtful. “The movement, the design—it’s a masterpiece.”

Richard nodded, impressed by Elon’s knowledge. “It’s one of our finest pieces. The movement is the caliber 3126/3840, with a 50-hour power reserve.”

Elon smiled. “Beautiful.”

Meanwhile, Alex was still trying to close a sale with the suited men, but he couldn’t help glancing over at Richard and the man in the hoodie. He frowned. Why was Richard wasting time on someone who clearly wasn’t going to buy anything?

One of the suited men tapped Alex on the shoulder. “Hey, isn’t that Elon Musk?” he whispered.

Alex froze. “What?”

“The guy over there,” the man said, nodding toward Elon. “That’s Elon Musk, right? The Tesla guy?”

Alex’s stomach dropped. He looked again, really looked this time, and felt a wave of panic as he recognized the face that had been on countless magazine covers and news articles. He had just dismissed one of the richest men in the world.

—

After a few minutes, Elon handed the watch back to Richard. “I’ll take it,” he said simply.

“Excellent choice,” Richard replied, smiling.

Alex, who had been inching closer, finally found his voice. “Mr. Musk, I… I didn’t realize—”

“It’s all right,” Elon said, cutting him off. “You didn’t know.”

“I’m so sorry,” Alex stammered. “I didn’t mean to—”

Elon held up a hand, his expression calm but firm. “Let me give you some advice,” he said. “Never judge someone by their appearance. You never know who might walk through that door.”

Alex nodded, his face red with embarrassment.

Elon turned back to Richard. “Actually,” he said, “I’d like to buy a few more watches. Do you have anything in platinum?”

Alex’s jaw dropped as Elon proceeded to purchase not just the Royal Oak Offshore, but also a Patek Philippe Nautilus and a Vacheron Constantin. The total came to over $500,000.

As Richard finalized the sale, Elon glanced at Alex. “I want the commission from this sale to go toward training your staff,” he said. “Teach them to treat every customer with respect, no matter what they look like.”

Richard nodded. “We’ll make it happen, Mr. Musk.”

Before leaving, Elon turned to Alex one last time. “Remember,” he said, “it’s not about what someone is wearing. It’s about who they are.”

With that, he walked out of the store, leaving Alex and the rest of the staff speechless.

—

The next day, Richard gathered the team for a meeting. “What happened yesterday is a lesson for all of us,” he said. “From now on, we treat every customer like they’re Elon Musk—because one day, they just might be.”

For Alex, the experience was life-changing. He never judged another customer by their appearance again. And every time he saw the empty display case where the Royal Oak Offshore had once sat, he was reminded of the day he almost let the biggest sale of his career walk out the door.

**The End.**