Elon Musk Is Reportedly Moving To Texas

Back in May, amid reports that he was considering the Lone Star State for the location of his next Gigafactory, we asked whether or not Tesla CEO Elon Musk might move to Texas. That answer appears to be yes.

While there is no official change of residency yet, Musk will be the latest in a line of celebrities (that includes people like Joe Rogan) in the process of defecting from California in favor of Texas. “Several close friends” of Musk have reportedly said that Musk intends on moving to Texas, CNBC reported on Friday. 

Musk has also been “cozying up to Republican Gov. Greg Abbot,” according to the report, and  spends an inordinate amount of time in the state, as that’s where SpaceX has a test and launch site called the Starship Production Complex. 

SN 5 & 6 at Starship Production Complex in Texas pic.twitter.com/8BVRD5VdU7

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 11, 2020

Back in May, in the midst of a disagreement with the state and its politicians related to Covid lockdowns, we noted that Musk was putting his California homes on the market for sale.  

I am selling almost all physical possessions. Will own no house.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 1, 2020

Musk then listed two of his homes on the market:

Elon Musk @elonmusk appears to have listed these two Bel Air Los Angeles homes over the weekend, delivering on Friday’s pledge. *For sale by owner* Cheaper property is the Gene Wilder estate. Only $9.5 million. Combined asking price $39.5 million. pic.twitter.com/zXDYlMcFoe

— Dagen McDowell (@dagenmcdowell) May 4, 2020

Previously we also covered Musk’s spat with California over Tesla’s operations back in May when the CEO referred to the state as “fascist”. Musk then said he had decided that Texas would be the location of his company’s next Gigafactory. 

Frankly, this is the final straw. Tesla will now move its HQ and future programs to Texas/Nevada immediately. If we even retain Fremont manufacturing activity at all, it will be dependen on how Tesla is treated in the future. Tesla is the last carmaker left in CA.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 9, 2020

In joining numerous luminaries fleeding the Golden State, perhaps this will be a lesson to California politicians, who should take note that Texas – likely home to the next “Silicon Valley” – has no state income tax and far, far fewer regulations. But we aren’t holding our breath.