Elon Musk and His Real Estate Revolution: From Million-Dollar Mansions to a $50,000 USD House

In a world where luxury is often measured by square footage, ocean views, and eight-digit figures, Elon Musk—the richest man in the world—opts for a way of living that both baffles and inspires. With an estimated fortune of US$342 billion,Musk lives in a prefabricated house measuring just 36 m² in Boca Chica, Texas. A contradiction? Not for him. It's a statement.

The Radical Decision: Less Square Footage, More Purpose

Since 2020, Musk has lived in a house designed by Boxabl,, a company specializing in modular and transportable housing. For just US$50,000,this one-room "little house" includes a kitchen, a full bathroom, a living room area, and a bedroom space separated by a piece of furniture. It's leased to his own company, SpaceX, and is located in Boca Chica, the epicenter of his space ambitions.

In his own words, Musk stated in 2021 on X (formerly Twitter):

"My primary residence is a $50,000 house in Boca Chica/Starbase that I rent to SpaceX. It's great.”

Journalist Walter Isaacson, author of his official biography, revealed that Musk chose this spartan home as his primary residence years ago. His approach: efficiency, functionality, and focus.

From Legendary Mansions to Zero Properties

Until 2020, Elon Musk owned an impressive real estate portfolio that included seven mansions in Los Angeles. In a dramatic plot twist, he announced he would sell “almost all of his physical possessions,”keeping his word.

• He sold a 15,000 square foot mansion in Bel-Air for $29 million dollars..
• Another iconic property: Gene Wilder's house, which he sold for $7 million to the actor's family, under the condition that it not be demolished.
• Among others, Musk owned a ranch, a colonial house, and an unfinished residence, all in exclusive areas.

The final jewel: a 16,000 square meter mansion in Hillsborough, California,featuring a leather library, a dance floor with gold-leaf molding, a professional kitchen, and spectacular views. It sold for US$40.8 million.

Total detachment? Not quite.

Although his narrative seems to be one of total renunciation of luxury, Musk still maintains strategic properties. In 2022, he purchased a 15,000 square meter mansion in Austin to reunite his family. Directly behind it, he owns another 6,500 square meter house.He is also said to frequent a third mansion nearby.

The total cost: US$35 million for the two main ones.

A disruptive stance toward luxury

Beyond symbolism, Musk's decision raises questions for the real estate world and investors:

• Can you be the richest man on the planet and still live with the bare essentials?
• Is he setting a trend toward functionality, sustainability, and practicality?
• Will prefabricated housing be the new frontier of purposeful luxury?

His current home—compact yet equipped, efficient yet livable—is not simply an eccentric oddity. It is the architectural translation of his vision: to do more with less, optimize resources, challenge conventions, and direct attention to what truly matters: mission over possession..