Elon Musk is, by many metrics, the most successful entrepreneur of modern times. He had a net worth of $484 billion as of October 2025, making him the richest person in the world.
A natural question among investors is where Musk chooses to invest his money. Lets take a look at Elon Musks investments (and the businesses he starts and acquires), the type of investments he avoids, and what you should know about his strategy.
Ever wondered if the world’s most eccentric billionaire has skin in the crypto game? You’re not alone! The question “does Elon Musk invest in Bitcoin” has been floating around since Bitcoin started making headlines. Let me break down everything we know about Elon’s relationship with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
The Short Answer: Yes, He Does!
Elon Musk definitely owns Bitcoin. In 2021, he publicly confirmed owning BTC along with Ethereum (ETH) and Dogecoin (DOGE) in a Twitter post. While he playfully referred to these cryptocurrencies as “ascii hash strings,” the confirmation was clear
But his crypto involvement goes much deeper than personal investments.
Tesla’s Massive Bitcoin Investment
In February 2021, Tesla made waves when it revealed in a regulatory filing that the company had deployed a whopping $1.5 billion into Bitcoin over the previous months. This wasn’t some small experimental investment – it represented approximately 10% of Tesla’s gross cash reserves at the time!
This move was hugely significant for several reasons
- It represented major corporate adoption of Bitcoin
- It came from the 6th most valuable company in the world at that time
- It legitimized Bitcoin as a reserve asset for corporate balance sheets
- It influenced other companies to consider similar investments
As of 2025, Tesla still holds over $1 billion worth of Bitcoin, though they did sell some of their holdings in 2021-2022 to improve cash position during uncertainty around COVID-19 lockdowns in China.
SpaceX Also Holds Bitcoin
It’s not just Tesla that holds Bitcoin under Musk’s direction. SpaceX, another company founded by Musk, has held BTC since 2021.
In 2025, a wallet associated with SpaceX moved around $150 million in Bitcoin. But don’t worry – SpaceX remains one of the largest corporate holders of Bitcoin, with approximately $850 million in its reserves.
Musk’s Personal Crypto Portfolio
So what does Elon personally own in the crypto world? According to his public statements:
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Bitcoin (BTC): In 2018, Musk tweeted that he owned 0.25 BTC that a friend had sent him. His current holdings are unknown but likely much larger.
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Ethereum (ETH): He confirmed owning Ethereum in 2021, though he’s criticized it for slow transaction speeds and high fees.
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Dogecoin (DOGE): This is possibly his favorite cryptocurrency. He’s been an enthusiastic supporter of Dogecoin for years, praising both its humor and underlying technology.
The Dogecoin Connection
Musk’s relationship with Dogecoin deserves special mention. He’s become something of a champion for the meme-inspired cryptocurrency, often praising it on social media and in interviews.
During an appearance on the Lex Fridman Podcast, Musk praised Dogecoin for its relatively fast transaction speeds and low fees compared to Bitcoin. While acknowledging DOGE started as a joke, he argued its blockchain design actually makes it better suited for transactions than Bitcoin.
Several of Musk’s companies have embraced Dogecoin:
- Tesla accepts DOGE as payment for merchandise
- The Boring Company accepts DOGE for rides
- SpaceX announced DOGE-1, a satellite mission paid for entirely with Dogecoin
Musk even previously served as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) – likely named as a nod to the cryptocurrency.
Musk’s Criticisms of Bitcoin
Despite investing in Bitcoin, Musk hasn’t been shy about criticizing it:
In 2021, he cited environmental concerns related to Bitcoin mining as the reason Tesla temporarily stopped accepting BTC as payment. He specifically mentioned fossil fuel consumption associated with mining operations.
He’s also criticized Bitcoin’s design, noting on the Lex Friedman Podcast that Bitcoin is too slow because it was designed in 2008 when internet connectivity was much lower.
The Ripple Effect of Musk’s Bitcoin Investment
When Tesla announced its Bitcoin investment, it created a massive ripple effect throughout the corporate world. Before this, Bitcoin was mostly held by individuals, not major corporations or institutional investors.
As the 6th most valuable company in the world at that time, Tesla’s vote of confidence in Bitcoin as a legitimate reserve asset opened the gates for other corporations to consider similar investments.
Before 2020, major financial institutions like the European Central Bank and Goldman Sachs were dismissive of Bitcoin. ECB’s Christine Lagarde called it “speculative,” while Goldman Sachs disputed the claim that it was an “asset class” at all.
Tesla’s investment helped change this perception and brought Bitcoin closer to mainstream adoption by corporations.
Other Companies That Followed Suit
After Tesla’s big move, several other major corporations either added cryptocurrencies to their balance sheets or integrated them into their platforms:
- PayPal
- Square
- Wealthsimple
- Robinhood
- Visa
Software company MicroStrategy took perhaps the boldest approach under CEO Michael Saylor, adding over 71,079 BTC to their company’s balance sheet, worth approximately $3.1 billion.
Mining companies like Argo Blockchain were early corporate adopters, building Bitcoin reserves by accumulating some of the BTC produced by mining operations and buying more on the open market.
Beware of Fake Elon Musk Cryptocurrencies
One important note: while there are several cryptocurrencies that use Musk’s name and likeness, they are NOT associated with him. These include:
- Floki Inu (FLOKI) – inspired by Musk’s pet Shiba Inu, but not endorsed by him
- Various Elon-themed tokens that simply use his name to attract attention
Musk has publicly stated that none of his companies will ever create a crypto token. So be careful of scams trying to capitalize on his fame!
Elon Musk and Bitcoin: A Political Connection
In 2025, Elon Musk announced that his political party, the America Party, would be pro-Bitcoin. This suggests his continued support for the cryptocurrency ecosystem.
There were also reports in Bloomberg in January 2025 that Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was considering using blockchain technology to track federal spending, secure data, and manage buildings.
Should You Follow Elon’s Lead and Invest in Bitcoin?
This is where I gotta be real with you – just because Elon does something doesn’t mean we should all jump on the bandwagon!
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are highly volatile investments. While Tesla and SpaceX have the financial capacity to absorb losses from crypto volatility, most individual investors don’t have that luxury.
Some things to consider:
- Bitcoin has historically been extremely volatile
- Crypto investments should typically be a small portion of a diversified portfolio
- Never invest money you can’t afford to lose
- Do your own research before investing in any cryptocurrency
What About NFTs?
Interestingly, Musk doesn’t appear to be a fan of NFTs. On the Joe Rogan Experience, he criticized NFTs because the images themselves aren’t hosted directly on the blockchain, meaning they rely on centralized entities.
Before Musk owned X (formerly Twitter), the platform supported blockchain-verified NFT profile pictures. The company stopped supporting this feature after Musk took control.
The Bottom Line
So does Elon Musk invest in Bitcoin? Absolutely! Both personally and through his companies Tesla and SpaceX. His involvement has helped legitimize Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in the corporate world.
However, his relationship with crypto is complex – he’s both a supporter and critic, depending on the specific cryptocurrency and the context. His most consistent support seems to be for Dogecoin, while his views on Bitcoin have fluctuated over time.
As with any investment advice from billionaires, it’s important to remember that their financial situations and risk tolerance are vastly different from those of average investors. Always do your own research and consider your personal financial situation before investing in cryptocurrencies.
FAQs About Elon Musk and Bitcoin
How much Bitcoin does Elon Musk personally own?
Musk has never disclosed his exact holdings, but in 2018 he claimed to own 0.25 BTC. His current holdings are likely much larger but remain undisclosed.
Does Tesla still own Bitcoin in 2025?
Yes, Tesla still owns more than $1 billion worth of Bitcoin as of 2025.
Does Elon Musk mine Bitcoin?
Musk has never claimed to mine Bitcoin or Ethereum personally.
What other cryptocurrencies does Elon Musk own?
Besides Bitcoin, Musk has confirmed owning Ethereum and Dogecoin.
Has Elon Musk created his own cryptocurrency?
No, Musk has not created his own cryptocurrency, and he’s stated that none of his companies will ever create a crypto token.
Why does Elon Musk like Dogecoin so much?
Musk has praised Dogecoin for its humor, relatively fast transaction speeds, and low fees compared to Bitcoin.
If you’re interested in crypto investing, make sure to stay updated on the latest news and developments in the space. And remember – never invest more than you can afford to lose, even if billionaires like Elon are doing it!
Stocks Elon Musk doesn’t buy
While we dont know every single detail about Musks investment portfolio, we do know that the bulk of his stock holdings are in both public and private companies he controls. He doesnt own any well-known stock positions in other businesses. In 2021, he said, “The only significant thing I hold outside of Tesla is SpaceX.”
Musk isnt a hedge fund manager and isnt required to disclose relatively small investments. Its entirely possible that he has small investments in publicly traded stocks that we dont know about. But all indications are that he primarily invests in his own companies.
Elon Musk’s publicly traded stock investments
The largest publicly traded stock holding for Elon Musk is electric vehicle giant Tesla (TSLA -3.68%). Musk was an early investor, having led the companys Series A funding round, and he was one of Teslas first employees. Musk accumulated a majority stake and took control of the company in 2008.
As of October 2025, Musk owned about 15.8% of Tesla, valued at $170 billion. He also has a compensation package from Tesla that pays him exclusively in company stock through performance-based tranches of stock options, so his ownership has increased over time.
During the dot-com boom era, Musk was a co-founder of the original X.com, which ultimately became PayPal (PYPL -0.06%). He was CEO of PayPal until 2000 and owned 11.7% of the companys shares at one point. He no longer has a stake in PayPal, although he owned shares before the company was acquired by eBay (EBAY +3.65%) in 2002.
Musk received more than $100 million for his stake after cashing out. Today, his PayPal stake would be worth billions of dollars. However, since he used the proceeds to fund both Tesla and SpaceX in their early days, its tough to make the case that cashing out was a bad move.