Janice R. Andrews
With a net worth of more than $250 billion, Elon Musk is the richest person in the world. He now has up to 20 bodyguards who are said to call him by the code name “Voyager.” A new article from The New York Times says that the increased security steps are because Musk is facing more dangers because he is becoming more well-known in the business and tech worlds.
Musk’s Security Team: “Voyager” is their code name.
The name “Voyager” probably comes from the name of a NASA space project and means “exploration.” It’s a great name for a tech billionaire whose businesses include electric cars, space travel, and AI. Reports say that Musk is always accompanied by a group of armed security guards, who also have a doctor on call. This high-tech security system is in place to keep the CEO of Tesla safe as he deals with the growing risks that come with his huge wealth and power.
Increasing safety measures as fame and wealth rise
Musk’s safety plans have changed over time as he has become richer and more well-known. The New York Times says that earlier in his work, he liked to travel without a large group of security guards. But by 2014, his lifestyle had changed, and he started hiring a security team to deal with possible threats and screen people he thought were not suitable.
Over the years, Musk’s security costs have gone up, which shows both how wealthy he is and how dangerous he is becoming. In 2016, Musk’s security costs were said to have been more than $163,000 for a single month. Business Insider said that by 2023, Tesla had spent $2.4 million on security for Musk alone, and that cost would go up by another $500,000 until February 2024.
Worries and Threats to Security
Musk has been very public about the threats made against him. At Tesla’s annual shareholder meeting in June 2023, he admitted that he had received death threats from “two homicidal maniacs.” Because of these personal dangers, he has decided to make his security even tighter.
Musk has taken steps to protect his privacy, such as adding more security guards. His old home became known in 2022, so he bought a new house that year. His new home is watched over 24 hours a day, seven days a week by security guards. Musk has also tried to fight social media accounts that keep track of his private jet, especially a now-defunct X (formerly Twitter) account that shared his flight information with the public.
A Shield of Protection That Stays Up
Musk takes a lot of security steps for more than just his own safety. His dad, Errol Musk, said that his South African house has also been made safer with video cameras, electric fences, and tracking that happens 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Even though there are a lot of safety steps in place, Errol Musk is worried about his son’s safety.
Elon Musk may have a security team of about twenty people, but his father thinks that these measures might not be enough to protect the millionaire from all the dangers he meets. Even though Errol Musk said, “He has about 100 security guards around him,” he is still worried.
What Tech Giants Are Doing
Musk is not the only tech billionaire who is making his home safer. For example, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, has had to pay a lot more for personal security. An SEC report shows that most of his $24 million salary from Meta in 2023 went toward security at home and while he was traveling privately. Last year, Apple spent more than $820,000 on CEO Tim Cook’s security.
As a whole, this rise in security spending shows that well-known tech leaders are facing more risks, including threats to their own safety. There have been security concerns at Tesla as well. In 2022, the company’s former CFO, Zachary Kirkhorn, got a death threat seeking $300,000 in bitcoin. Reports say that between 2022 and 2023, Tesla’s offices made several calls to 911 about “terroristic threats.”
Higher levels of security at work
Tesla has also made its facilities in Nevada and Texas safer by putting in place tougher security measures. At these sites, employees go through several security checks, such as having their badges scanned, both on the busses and at entry points to the plants. These rules are in place to protect workers and lessen the impact of possible threats.
As Elon Musk’s wealth, power, and security risks continue to rise, his code name “Voyager” serves as a warning of how far people must go to protect the most successful people in the world today. Musk lives in a bubble that is getting stronger around him. He has 20 bodyguards, a doctor, and more privacy protections.
