You’d think that the world’s richest entrepreneur would have an massive office with stunning views and a retinue of assistants, but Elon Musk’s current digs are a lot more modest.
Elon Musk is currently working out of the West Wing of the White House in Washington DC. His office is close to that of President Trump’s, and at the center of the American government, but the office isn’t all that remarkable. Chamath Palihapitiya and David Friedberg, hosts of the All-In podcast, visited the office along with their co-host David Sachs, who is now a part of the US government as the AI czar.
“Here you have the most incredible entrepreneur of our lifetime dealing with so many complicated issues,” Chamath said on the podcast. “(But) Elon works in one of the smallest offices I’ve ever seen. All he has is a desk with an enormous screen and his phone,” he said.
Palihapitiya shared a picture of the office. Musk has a wooden desk, and a giant curved monitor on it. His desk is remarkably tidy, with just a keyboard, a mouse and a bottle of water. There’s a window with curtains next to him, and just about enough room to squeeze in another chair.
“And you can see that there’s nothing that matters other than the task at hand,” Palihapitiya continued. “That’s really inspiring. It just puts everybody on the same level. You see this energy with all the guys who’re doing incredible work for the country..there’s no ego about some of these things, meaning what is the office size, etc. They’re just here to grind,” he said.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a workforce more happy,” said David Friedberg. “You get there, and the energy and intensity, it’s very much like the TV show West Wing. There’s this constant momentum. Every day you live a whole lifetime, and everyone is just energized..there’s never a dull moment,” he added.
Musk had come out in support of Donald Trump when he’d been shot at while on the campaign trail, and immediately said “Fight Fight Fight” while his ear was dripping with blood. Musk had the donated a large sum of money to Trump’s campaign, and even helped him strategize in key states like Pennsylvania. After Trump was elected in a landslide, Musk had headed the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, to help reduce waste and fraud in the US bureaucracy. And with him hard at work in the White House out of a tiny office shows that when it comes to serving his country, Musk is willing to do what it takes to get things done.