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20 bodyguards for ‘voyager’: Inside Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s $6-figure security detail
Tesla’s headquarters in Austin, Texas, has ramped up security measures following a series of disturbing threats targeting CEO Elon Musk and other high-ranking executives. According to Business Insider, the company has made over five emergency 911 calls linked to “terroristic threats” between April 2022 and January 2024, prompting Tesla to spend millions to ensure the safety of its personnel and facilities.
One of the most serious incidents occurred in March 2023 when then-Chief Financial Officer Zachary Kirkhorn received a death threat via email. The email demanded $300,000 in bitcoin to spare his life, although authorities later deemed the threat a scam. Kirkhorn stepped down from his position in August 2023, months after the threat. In January 2024, another 911 call was made after a Tesla employee used X, formerly Twitter, to threaten Musk and U.S. President Joe Biden. The employee was arrested, and the threat was classified as “terroristic.”
Musk, who is code-named “Voyager” by his security team, rarely goes anywhere without his extensive security detail. The New York Times reported that Musk is typically flanked by as many as 20 security personnel, some armed, and accompanied by a medical professional. His net worth, estimated at over $250 billion by Bloomberg, has placed him at greater risk, necessitating constant protection. His security costs reportedly run into six figures monthly, once reaching over $163,000 in a single month in 2016.
As Musk’s wealth and status have grown, so too have the risks. At Tesla’s shareholder meeting in June 2024, Musk revealed that “two homicidal maniacs” had tried to kill him in recent months, forcing him to become more cautious. “I probably need to, like, not get assassinated or something,” Musk said.
Musk has also taken personal measures to protect himself, including buying a house with 24/7 security after his address became public. Tesla’s SEC filings show that Musk’s security company billed the company $2.4 million in 2023 and another $500,000 by February 2024.
Tesla’s increased security also extends beyond Musk. The company has bolstered surveillance and personnel at its factories following recent layoffs, and factory workers in both Nevada and Texas now undergo multiple security checks each day to enter the facilities.
One of the most serious incidents occurred in March 2023 when then-Chief Financial Officer Zachary Kirkhorn received a death threat via email. The email demanded $300,000 in bitcoin to spare his life, although authorities later deemed the threat a scam. Kirkhorn stepped down from his position in August 2023, months after the threat. In January 2024, another 911 call was made after a Tesla employee used X, formerly Twitter, to threaten Musk and U.S. President Joe Biden. The employee was arrested, and the threat was classified as “terroristic.”
Musk, who is code-named “Voyager” by his security team, rarely goes anywhere without his extensive security detail. The New York Times reported that Musk is typically flanked by as many as 20 security personnel, some armed, and accompanied by a medical professional. His net worth, estimated at over $250 billion by Bloomberg, has placed him at greater risk, necessitating constant protection. His security costs reportedly run into six figures monthly, once reaching over $163,000 in a single month in 2016.
As Musk’s wealth and status have grown, so too have the risks. At Tesla’s shareholder meeting in June 2024, Musk revealed that “two homicidal maniacs” had tried to kill him in recent months, forcing him to become more cautious. “I probably need to, like, not get assassinated or something,” Musk said.
Musk has also taken personal measures to protect himself, including buying a house with 24/7 security after his address became public. Tesla’s SEC filings show that Musk’s security company billed the company $2.4 million in 2023 and another $500,000 by February 2024.
Tesla’s increased security also extends beyond Musk. The company has bolstered surveillance and personnel at its factories following recent layoffs, and factory workers in both Nevada and Texas now undergo multiple security checks each day to enter the facilities.
