Tech mogul Elon Musk has been ‘living in a cottage’ in Mar-a-Lago since Donald Trump got re-elected on November 5 and is paying $2000 a night for privilege.
The Banyan cottage, where the billionaire has hunkered down, is located near the main residence at the Palm Beach, Florida resort, providing him easy access to Trump and the incoming president’s influential guests, The New York Post reports.
Musk — the richest man in the world — had been gallivanting around the estate, dining with the soon-to-be 47th president’s family, pausing for lunches on the posh balcony and even going out on the golf course with Trump’s granddaughter Kai.
Donald Trump and Elon Musk have been jokingly described as being in a bromance Picture: Jim Watson/AFP
The X owner has also been purportedly looped in on phone conversations with the president-elect and world leaders like Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky — showing just how close he is to decision-making for the next administration.
Trump, 78, posted a cryptic message the other day on Truth Social — apparently meant for Musk — that said warmly, “Where are you? When are you coming to the ‘Center of the Universe,’ Mar-a-Lago. Bill Gates asked to come, tonight. We miss you and x! New Year’s Eve is going to be AMAZING!!! DJT.”
“X” is a nickname for X Æ A-12, Musk’s child, who has not been assigned a gender, leading some to believe that the message was intended for the tech billionaire and his kid to visit.
Elon Musk is placing himself as close as possible to the centre of power. Picture: Carina Johansen / NTB / AFP
Donald Trump apparently has been bragging about how Elon Musk is renting from him. Picture: Brendan Smialowski / AFP
Musk has brought the baby along with him to sit-downs on Capitol Hill with politicians and other talks over meals at Trump’s estate — including with Amazon co-founder Jeff Bezos.
The Tesla CEO and SpaceX founder has nearly a dozen kids — two of whom have visited him at Mar-a-Lago along with their nannies.
The Post previously reported that Musk has been one of Trump’s top confidants during the presidential transition and has even been vetting all cabinet picks — despite a whole team being already dedicated to the process.
A view of President-elect Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort. Picture: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/AFP
“Sure, it’s competitive, but anyone who has seen the two or been in the room with the two knows there’s no competition in how Trump is treating Elon versus everyone else,” one insider told The Post in November about the duo’s relationship.
The once and future president has apparently been bragging that Musk is “renting” one of his rooms and the two continue to enjoy a close relationship, even amid recent disagreements with Trump supporters about handing out visas to foreign tech workers.
The flap caused some in MAGA world to question just how much power and influence Musk has, especially given his incessant posting about policy priorities on X.
US President-elect Donald Trump, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Vice President-elect JD Vance attend a football game in Maryland. Picture: Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images via AFP
US President-elect Donald Trump and Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk watch a fight during UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden in New York. Picture: Kena Betancur / AFP
Those close to Trump previously told The Post that incoming staffers have expressed frustration about the firestorm he created regarding the immigration program that extends H-1B visas to highly skilled foreign workers.
Still, the tech titan’s endorsement of the three-peat Republican presidential candidate — and decision to pour US$250 million ($A402 million) into the race — has been seen as definitive even by Musk’s critics in helping Trump win the 2024 election.
Musk’s proximity to the most powerful man in the world, however, will be curtailed once Trump enters the White House, due to higher security measures in place at the executive mansion than at Mar-a-Lago.
Vice President-elect JD Vance has also been staying for periods of time during the transition at the Florida property, according to the Times.
Representatives for the Trump transition team did not respond to a request for comment.
Leave a Reply