Elon Musk’s Wildest Splurges: Rockets, Rings, and a $44 Billion Tweet—Inside the Billionaire’s Most Outrageous Life Choices
When Elon Musk strapped a cherry-red Tesla Roadster onto a SpaceX Falcon Heavy and launched it into space, the world collectively gasped. Was it genius? Madness? A billionaire’s fever dream? For Musk, it was just another Tuesday—a bold declaration that the sky, quite literally, is not the limit.
The Car That Left Earth
In 2018, the world watched as Musk’s personal $100,000 Tesla Roadster, piloted by a mannequin named “Starman,” soared into orbit around the sun. For most, it was an outrageous, almost comical stunt. For Musk, it was a message. Years earlier, Russian rocket vendors had laughed in his face when he tried to buy missiles to jumpstart SpaceX. Musk’s response? Build his own rockets, then use one to launch a sports car into the cosmos—because why not?
The Roadster in space wasn’t about transportation. It was about vision, revenge, and a showman’s ego fueled by billion-dollar risks. Musk poured over $100 million of his own fortune into SpaceX, betting everything on a dream that most thought was impossible. The car, orbiting the sun for millions of years, is a cosmic “I told you so” to every doubter.
.
.
.
The Billionaire’s Guide to Love
Musk’s extravagance isn’t confined to rockets. His personal life is a whirlwind of passion and unpredictability. He’s been married three times—twice to the same woman—and his approach to romance is as dramatic as his business ventures.
Take the saga of the engagement rings. Musk started with a “modest” $100,000 diamond ring. When that didn’t suffice, he upgraded to a $350,000 sparkler, then finally to a million-dollar ring studded with diamonds and sapphires. The marriages, like some of his business ventures, ended in spectacular fashion. One ex-wife walked away with a $15 million settlement, proving that even Musk’s wealth can’t buy lasting love.
High-Tech Toys and Fashion Fails
Musk’s taste for the extraordinary extends to his personal collection of gadgets and fashion. He owns a $10,000 TAG Heuer Carrera SpaceX chronograph, its back engraved with a rocket—a nod to his obsession. His footwear is equally legendary; those one-of-a-kind red Tesla Jordans, custom-made and so close to infringing Nike’s copyright, are reportedly locked away, never to be worn again.
Despite his billions, Musk’s fashion sense is famously questionable. He’s been photographed in everything from awkwardly tailored suits to outlandish accessories, reminding the world that money doesn’t always buy style.
The World’s Weirdest Car Collection
Musk’s car collection is as eclectic as his ambitions. Among his prized possessions is a 1920s Ford Model T—the world’s first gas-powered car—purchased for $25,000. He also owns the Lotus Esprit submarine car from the James Bond film “The Spy Who Loved Me,” bought for nearly $1 million at a storage auction.
But perhaps the most infamous episode involves his McLaren F1, a $1 million supercar he promptly crashed. “We hit a 45-degree embankment, tossed the car into the air like a discus… and blew the suspension out,” Musk later recalled. The car was nearly destroyed, but Musk walked away unscathed, the legend only growing.
Of course, the Tesla Roadster Musk sent to space has since been replaced by a faster, safer, earthbound model—because for Musk, the next big thing is always just around the corner.
The Tesla Gamble
Musk didn’t found Tesla, but he saw its potential and invested $6.5 million early on. When the company teetered on the edge of bankruptcy, he doubled down, pouring in another $130 million and stepping in as CEO. The gamble paid off, but not before Musk came close to losing everything. His willingness to risk it all—money, reputation, and sanity—is a recurring theme in his life story.
Private Jets and a $37 Million Family Compound
Cars and rockets aren’t Musk’s only obsessions. He’s a connoisseur of private jets, starting with a $60 million Gulfstream G650ER, complete with a dining room, bedroom, and reclining seats. Not satisfied with just one, Musk added two more Gulfstreams to his fleet, and was first in line for the $60 million G700 upgrade.
But Musk’s most prized possessions are his eleven children, with three different mothers. Determined to give them an unconventional upbringing, he founded a private school called Ad Astra, where grades are abolished and the curriculum includes AI and ethics. He spends $1.5 million a year on each child, totaling $16.5 million annually.
To keep his sprawling family together, Musk purchased a $37 million Texas estate with a pool, game room, cinema, and gym—a private resort fit for a man who refuses to do anything by halves.
The Willy Wonka House and Office Life
In a move worthy of fiction, Musk bought the $13 million California home of “Willy Wonka” actor Gene Wilder. The house, as eccentric as its previous owner, is filled with odd art and a layout that defies logic. Musk loves it, but rarely lives there. He prefers sleeping on the floor at Tesla or SpaceX headquarters, famously claiming he spends most nights at work. Why buy more homes when you can just nap at your desk?
The $44 Billion Tweet: Buying Twitter
If you think Musk’s most impulsive purchase is a car or a jet, think again. In 2022, frustrated by what he saw as censorship and fake news, Musk decided to buy Twitter. He began quietly buying shares until he controlled the company, then shocked the world by acquiring it for $44 billion.
What followed was chaos—executives fired, the name changed to “X,” and promises to turn it into a “super app.” Was it brilliance or the world’s most expensive vanity project? Only time will tell.
What’s Next?
Elon Musk’s life reads like a Hollywood script—equal parts genius, madness, and spectacle. Whether launching cars into space, buying social media giants, or building private schools for his kids, Musk lives on his own terms, no matter the cost.
Will his next move be even wilder? If history is any guide, the answer is yes. For Musk, the only limit is his imagination—and his bank account, which, for now, seems bottomless.
Stay tuned. If you thought a Tesla in space was shocking, you haven’t seen anything yet.
