Elon Musk Rents Cottage at Mar-a-Lago, Fueling Concerns About Influence Over Trump

Elon Musk Rents Cottage at Mar-a-Lago, Raising Concerns About Influence

Elon Musk's relationship with Donald Trump appears to be deepening, with reports that the tech billionaire is currently renting a cottage on the grounds of the president-elect's Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida.

According to The New York Times, Musk is staying at Banyan, a cottage located just a few hundred feet from the main house of the estate. The cost of staying there is at least $2,000 per night.

This news comes amidst growing concerns in Washington about the extent of Musk's influence over Trump. He has sat in on personnel meetings, conducted talks with foreign leaders, and helped to tank a bipartisan spending bill in Congress.

The president-elect has boasted that the world's richest man is "renting" one of the residential spaces at Mar-a-Lago. The property contains multiple cottages that have reportedly been used by others in Trump's inner circle, including Vice President-elect JD Vance, during the transition period.

The Times reports that Musk moved into the cottage around Election Day and watched the results at Mar-a-Lago with Trump and other MAGA supporters, including Marjorie Taylor Greene. He left the property around Christmas and is expected to return sometime in the New Year.

It is unclear how much Musk is paying for the cottage, though guests at the Mar-a-Lago club are typically not billed until the end of their stay. The ultimate cost of his stay may come down to the president-elect.

The "best buddy" relationship between the pair appears to be going strong. Last week, Trump posted what appeared to be a personal message to Musk on Truth Social, claiming that fellow billionaire Bill Gates asked to come to Mar-a-Lago.

"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!!!" Trump wrote.

"X" appears to have been a reference to Musk's son, X Æ A-Xii, who he calls X for short.

While staying at Mar-a-Lago, Musk has been accompanied by at least two of his children, though he is reported to have at least 11, and their nannies. The Times also reported that the Tesla boss is known to make inconvenient requests, such as meals outside the normal kitchen hours.