In October 2024, a report by the New York Times suggested that Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest individual, had acquired several properties in Austin for $35 million. The speculation was that Musk was creating a large family compound to house his 11 children and their mothers. According to a source cited by the New York Times, this arrangement would facilitate Musk spending time with all his younger children. The report detailed that Musk allegedly owned three residences within this developing compound: a 14,400-square-foot Tuscan-style villa, a six-bedroom mansion, and another mansion located a short ten-minute walk away. It was also mentioned that Shivon Zilis, an executive at Neuralink and one of the mothers of Musk’s children, was already residing at this location.
However, shortly after the story broke, Musk refuted the claims of a family compound. Speaking to Page Six, Musk stated, “I don’t own nor am I building a compound in Austin. No grand family home has been built or is expected to be built.”
From Family Compound to Company Town: The Starbase Project
Moving beyond the concept of a family estate, Elon Musk has reportedly embarked on a much larger project: the creation of his own company town in Texas. This town, named Starbase after SpaceX’s launch site in South Texas, is intended to become a new municipality. Establishing a new city requires a certain population threshold, which Musk already fulfills with the numerous employees living near SpaceX headquarters in refurbished homes and temporary accommodations. These employees are reportedly involved in gathering signatures and submitting a formal petition to hold an election to officially recognize Starbase as a city in Texas.
According to The New York Times, the petition for Starbase describes a community of approximately 500 residents, including at least 219 primary inhabitants and over 100 children. This community is situated at the end of State Highway 4, near Boca Chica Beach, the location of many SpaceX rocket launches. The proposed size of Starbase is around 1.5 square miles.
Understanding Elon Musk’s Living Situation: Key Facts
To further clarify where Elon Musk spends his time, here are some frequently asked questions and their answers:
Is Elon Musk the richest person in the world?
As of January 2025, Elon Musk holds the position of the world’s wealthiest individual, with a net worth exceeding $421 billion. A significant increase in SpaceX’s valuation in December 2024 contributed $91 billion to his wealth. Following Musk in the list of the top 10 richest people are figures like Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison, and Mark Zuckerberg.
What are Elon Musk’s origins?
Elon Musk was born in Pretoria, South Africa. He immigrated to the United States in 1992 and earned dual degrees in economics and physics from the University of Pennsylvania.
Is Elon Musk a citizen of the United States?
Yes, Elon Musk became a U.S. citizen in 2002.
What type of vehicle does Elon Musk typically drive?
In a 2019 post on X (formerly Twitter), Musk mentioned that he primarily drives a Model S Performance equipped with a development version of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving computer. He praised its “Raven powertrain & adaptive damping suspension.” He also noted that he uses a Model 3 Performance and a Model X when driving with his children, appreciating the acceleration capabilities of Tesla vehicles.
In conclusion, while rumors of a family compound in Austin were denied by Elon Musk, his living situation appears to be evolving with the development of Starbase. While it’s difficult to pinpoint a single permanent address for such a dynamic and globally active figure, it’s clear that Texas, particularly the areas around Austin and Starbase, are significant locations in his current life and ventures.
