It seems that Elon Musk has once again found himself at the center of a bizarre and unexpected controversythis time involving his gaming habits. According to recent revelations, Musk, the worlds richest man and self-proclaimed gaming enthusiast, has been paying others to grind through the tedious parts of video games like Diablo IV and Path of Exile 2 on his behalf. The eccentric billionaire, known for juggling multiple companies and engaging in Twitter feuds (or X feuds, as its now called), defended his actions by claiming that everyone at the highest level is doing it.
The drama began when Musk live-streamed gameplay footage of his Path of Exile 2 character on X earlier this year. Hardcore gamers quickly noticed something was off. Musks gameplay seemed clumsy and out of sync with the polished mechanics of a high-level character, leading many to speculate that the account had been leveled by someone else. The accusations sparked a flurry of online debates, and Musk, true to form, didnt shy away from the fight.
Initially, Musk denied the allegations, even enlisting the support of his ex-partner Grimes, who took to X to defend his honor. But things took a turn when popular streamer NikoWrex posted a YouTube video this week sharing a private DM exchange hed had with Musk. With Musks permission, the conversation was made public, and it confirmed what many gamers had suspected all along: Musk had, indeed, hired others to level up his characters and acquire in-game resources for him.
Elon Musk FINALLY openly_admitting to [buying_valor] (cheating) paying other people to boost his top in the world gaming characters (PoE2/Diablo4) and here I am mixing a video about it
(Whats the point NOW?)
His reason?
Everyone at the top does it! (nope) pic.twitter.com/LplmYc7nntAlex Alarga (@AlexAlarga) January 21, 2025
When asked directly by NikoWrex if hed paid for character boosts or in-game items, Musk responded with a simple 100% emoji. However, he was quick to clarify that any gameplay footage or streams he posts are entirely his own. Its impossible to beat the players in Asia if you dont [boost your account], as they do! Musk explained, attempting to normalize the practice by suggesting that account sharing and boosting are standard at the competitive level.
For Musk, gaming isnt just a hobbyits a part of his personal brand. He often portrays himself as a master gamer, someone who thrives not only in the boardroom but also in the digital battlegrounds. The admission that he doesnt personally grind to max level in games like Diablo IV and Path of Exile 2 has ruffled feathers in the gaming community, where the journey to max level is considered a badge of honor. Musks defenders argue that hes too busy running Tesla, SpaceX, and other ventures to spend hundreds of hours grinding in a video game. His critics, however, see this as yet another example of Musk trying to have it both wayswanting the prestige of being a top-tier gamer without putting in the effort.
Interestingly, Musk has no problem admitting to hiring help for leveling. The top accounts in Diablo or PoE require multiple people playing the account to win the leveling race, he told NikoWrex. Yet, this straightforward admission raises another question: Why didnt Musk just say this from the start? Instead, he spent weeks beefing with streamers like Asmongold, who called him out for his suspiciously advanced accounts. Musk even unfollowed Asmongold on X, revoked his blue checkmark, and leaked private messages from the streamer.
Musks justification for these actions only added fuel to the fire. He claimed Asmongold lacked independence because he worked with editors, adding a bizarre and seemingly unrelated jab about control over ones destiny. Despite the feud, Musk ended the conversation on a somewhat playful note, saying hed consider letting Asmongold stream a SpaceX launchbut only if the streamer admitted that Musk is a living god of video games.
