Elon Musk Has Code Names, Now Travels With Up To 20 Bodyguards: Report

In many ways, Musk’s security staff makes sense. With a net worth of more than $250 billion, according to Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index, he’s the richest person in the world, and that stratosphere of wealth brings some very real risks into the equation.

But Musk wasn’t always so rich, and the Times reports that he used to prefer to go without his 24-hour personal platoon. But by 2014, Musk reportedly turned to a revolving circle of security personnel to run errands, assess threats and vet people deemed “unsuitable followers.”

Those expenses could total six figures in a month, the NYT reports, once they reached a mark of more than $163,000 in January 2016. And Musk has reportedly increased his security measures as his wealth, status and security risks have increased.

He also hasn’t shied away from talking about security concerns or threats against him. At Tesla’s annual shareholder meeting in June, Musk said that “two homicidal maniacs” had threatened to kill him in recent months.

It has also taken steps to increase its security.

In 2022, Business Insider revealed that Musk secretly bought a house after his former address became public. A neighbor previously told BI that the billionaire’s home has 24/7 security. Musk also tried to take down an X account, formerly Twitter, which tracked his private jets several times.

With Musk saying things are “getting a little crazy these days” at Tesla’s recent shareholder meeting, his security has apparently stepped up to keep up.

A Tesla SEC filing revealed that Musk’s security company billed the company $2.4 million in 2023 and another $500,000 through February 2024, representing just a fraction of Musk’s total security spending.

And this security follows him everywhere – even to the bathroom. Musk’s father Errol weighed in, saying he feared for his son’s safety “even though he has about 100 guards around him.” Musk even beefed up security at Errol’s home in South Africa, arming it with a camera system, electrified fence and constant monitoring by guards, Errol said.

Musk isn’t the only tech mogul doubling down on security spending. Mark Zuckerberg’s 2023 total compensation of $24 million from Meta “consisted almost entirely of costs related to personal security” at his residence and during private travel, according to an SEC filing.

Other companies spent more modest figures, with Apple spending more $820,309 in 2023 on CEO Tim Cook’s personal security and more than $1,621,468 on private travel-related costs.

Tesla also beefed up security after its former CFO, Zachary Kirkhornreceived a death threat via email demanding $300,000 in bitcoins, Business Insider previously reported.

At least five other 911s were also made between 2022 and 2023 from Tesla headquarters, which law enforcement authorities labeled as “terrorist threats,” BI reported.

Former and current employees previously told BI that plant workers in both Nevada and Texas must go through badge checks on their commute (or at the gate for those who drive to work) and at two separate points, once inside the building .