Having shed almost all of his substantial real estate empire, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has revealed that his surprising new home in Texas is a humble tiny house. While the multibillionaire could have his choice of the world's most lavish mega-mansions, he appears to be contented with his petite $50,000 (£36k) property, which is worth less than the mogul's beloved Tesla Model S. Click or scroll on to take a tour of the tiny home and discover why Musk made the ultimate downsize...

Last year, Elon Musk took to Twitter to reveal he was selling off his entire property portfolio to focus on his interstellar ambitions to take humankind to Mars – he founded aerospace company SpaceX back in 2002. In June 2021, he shared more details about his new, modest living situation via the social platform: “My primary home is literally a ~$50k house in Boca Chica / Starbase that I rent from SpaceX. It’s kinda awesome though", he wrote.

Musk made the decision to downsize in May 2020, announcing on Twitter: "I am selling almost all physical possessions. Will own no house". The entrepreneur then listed every single one of his houses, apart from this sprawling mansion in San Francisco, which has recently hit the market for $37.5 million (£27m) through Zillow. When it sells, Musk will have relinquished ownership of all of his personal real estate.

Elon has so far parted ways with six properties in his collection, including this 16,000-square-foot estate and a ranch-style house that was once owned by Hollywood royalty Gene Wilder. Not long after listing the residences, Musk announced he'd moved to Texas, where his partner, musician Grimes, has a home – the couple have a one-year-old son called X Æ A-XII, known as X. One thing's for sure, the entrepreneur's new base in the Lone Star State is ever so slightly more modest than his previous mega-mansions...

Elon Musk now reportedly lives in a compact tiny home designed by housing startup company Boxabl. While co-founder Galiano Tiramani has not officially confirmed that Musk has taken up residence in one of the company's Boxabl Casitas, the brand did hint in a recent promotional video that they were installing a unit "for a top secret customer". Set up in just one day, the innovative design folds up for easy transportation, before being speedily assembled onsite.

The ingenious prefab property is said to be installed at the Starbase launch site in the Texan town of Boca Chica in the south of the state. Retailing from just under $50,000 (£36k), Elon rents his tiny house from SpaceX, and the residence is rumoured to encompass just 375 square feet of living space.

Remarkably, the compact floor plan squeezes plenty into a super-snug space. The interior is divided into four quarters: a full-sized kitchen with a wraparound breakfast bar, a cosy lounge, a snug bedroom zone and a stylish, streamlined bathroom.

The airy, open flow of the living spaces is emphasised by lofty nine-foot-high ceilings and swathes of windows that allow natural light to flood in. Carefully situated LED strip lights provide task lighting in the main functional spaces while keeping household bills low. It's unclear if Elon's partner, Grimes, and their young son X reside in the tiny house too, but we reckon there'd be just enough space for the family of three.

In this design, a smart room divider separates the lounge from the bedroom area, featuring a cosy electric fireplace recessed into the wall. Boxabl's flat-pack home designs are customisable, so it's likely that Musk will have been able to put his own unique spin on the interior.

While some tiny home kitchens feature scaled-down appliances and minimal counter space, this design has a large fridge, an oven, microwave, double sink and dishwasher. White shaker cabinetry and glass-fronted display cupboards provide a place for crockery and glassware.

The flat-pack tiny house may not be able to accommodate a full dining set, but the kitchen countertop has been cleverly extended to create a breakfast bar for two. Tucked around the corner at the side of the thoroughfare, it's just one example of the petite property's clever use of space.

Another is the kitchen's smart space-saving storage solutions. A rotating circular carousel in the corner cupboard utilises every inch of the awkward nook, while a thin pull-out unit features suspended metal pots for storing cutlery and kitchen utensils.

Fitted with heating and air conditioning as standard, every power outlet features integrated USB plugs – fitting for the tech mogul. What's more, thanks to the residence's advanced insulation and power-saving technology, Boxabl says that the property's utility bills are only $28 (£36) per month on average.

Situated behind the lounge zone, the bedroom has a few smart ways of utilising the square footage too. Two half-sized wardrobes with hanging space have been squeezed under the countertop of the room divider, while cubby holes and drawers provide the perfect spots for storing accessories and mementos.

Far from cramped, the bedroom zone has plenty of space to manoeuvre, plus the TV screen that sits atop the divider can be rotated depending on whether you're watching from the sofa, or tucked up in bed for a movie marathon. If Elon does find he needs more space to stretch out, the Boxabl Casita can easily be extended by installing a second storey atop the first.

The bathroom is tucked behind a glass barn door and while its footprint may be modest, it squeezes in plenty, from a large vanity counter to a deep bathtub or shower, depending on what the resident has specified. Sleek and streamlined, there's plenty of storage on offer, while the large backlit mirror adds a touch of luxury to the modern scheme.

Particular attention to detail has been paid to the fixtures, from the matte black faucet and showerhead to the glass basin bowel. Plus that walk-in shower feels anything but tiny! While this stylish pocket-sized pad is a serious downsize for the multibillionaire tech titan, Elon is definitely not slumming it.

After scaling down his lavish lifestyle, Musk is looking ahead to the future. The entrepreneur intends to put his funds towards creating a Mars colony to support multi-planetary life and he's ever closer to his dream of reaching the red planet this decade. He aims to complete his first crewed mission by 2026, before establishing a self-sufficient base on Mars by 2050. Tiny living clearly frees up space for big dreams...

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