Known for being an entrepreneur, innovator, engineer, and genuine trailblazer who’s made a fortune by bringing new tech to the masses, the wholly controversial but undeniably successful Elon Musk has moved the electric car game forward with his Tesla brand.

Updated September 2023: Elon Musk needs no introduction, but some of the cars in his fleet aren't close to what people might have expected. To keep the intrigue on, we've updated this list with the latest cars found in his personal collection.

The multifaceted nature of his investment applications has meant that the founder of SpaceX now boasts the second-highest net worth in the world, as per Forbes, and he has spared no expenses in putting his vast accumulations of wealth to living the automotive high life.

But despite being focused on the future, Musk is very much a fan of the past when it comes to his cars. With some truly unique metal forming a part of his remarkable collection, here are the cars that this billionaire, genius, space boy, and philanthropist has in his garage.

Note: Using sources such as Financial Express, GQ Magazine, and The Sun, we’ve put together the most accurate list we could find of Musk’s most up-to-date personal garage.

12 2006 BMW M5: Tuned By HAMANN

BMW M5 E60 Front Quarter Interlagos Blue Cornering Wet
Via: BMW

The sprout of high-powered vehicles introduced by BMW during the noughties have really grown into some of the most defining pieces of engineering of that era, and one of the pioneering examples has got to be the E60 BMW M5, whose raucous V10 is the most awesome engine to go in a sedan.

It was special enough to tempt Musk into a purchase, but he then went one step further and got BMW-tuning specialist HAMANN Motorsport to de-restrict its shackles, so it could then achieve its true top speed of over 200 mph. HAMANN then upped the power to a monstrous 600 hp, and what Musk was left with was a car that ultimately inspired the ‘Ludicrous Mode’ in the Tesla Model S.

Specifications

Engine

5.0-liter V10

Horsepower

603 hp

Torque

423 lb-ft

Layout

Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive

0-60 mph

4.4 seconds

Top Speed

202 mph

11 2008 Tesla Roadster: The One That’s Among The Stars

Starman and Tesla Roadster
Via: SpaceX 

It’s not wholly surprising that Musk owns an iteration of the first real car manufactured by Tesla. Unveiled in 2008 and loosely based on the Lotus Elise, the Roadster, aka Project Dark Star, has a fascinating story. Outfitted with lithium-ion batteries, Tesla’s maiden car is capable of hitting the 60 mph mark in a mere 3.7 seconds. That’s a fair amount quicker than a modern-day Lotus Emira, for some perspective.

But what makes the Roadster so special is that in 2018, with the launch of the Falcon Heavy SpaceX rocket, Musk packed his Roadster to go up into the dark skies with a dummy astronaut – amply nicknamed Starman – sitting at the wheel. So, while it may not necessarily be parked alongside the rest of his collection right now, he never officially sold it or handed it over to someone else. That means this automotive Buzz Lightyear is very much still under his ownership. Check out where the Tesla Roadster really is five years since its launch into space.

Specifications

Powertrain

Electric

Horsepower

288 hp

Torque

295 lb-ft

Layout

Rear mid-motor, rear-wheel drive

0-60 mph

3.9 seconds

Top Speed

125 mph

Related: 20 Modded Teslas Elon Musk Wouldn't Approve Of

10 2010 Audi Q7: The Inspiration For The Falcon Doors

The front of the Q7 V12 TDI
Via: Audi

The Q7 was a hugely divisive SUV upon release, and that’s hardly changed over time. It’s capable enough as an all-rounder and boasts some stellar performance statistics, but its design was always going to win hearts or leave a sour taste in the mouth. Musk was one of the many who fell into the latter category, even calling it ‘particularly horrendous’ once upon a time.

But it didn’t stop him from buying one, and quite quickly he announced that one of its biggest problems was that it – like many other big SUVs – needed to have falcon doors to enable easy access to the back row. This is where the idea came from when he designed his Model X SUV and even delayed the production of the car by 18 months to ensure this was added. The doors are also one of our favorite features of the Tesla Model X Plaid.

Specifications

Engine

3.0-liter V6

Horsepower

225 hp

Torque

406 lb-ft

Layout

Front-engine, four-wheel-drive

0-60 mph

6.9 seconds

Top Speed

137 mph

9 1979 Lotus Esprit: Wet Nellie

Lotus Esprit S1
Via: Eon Productions

Who wouldn’t buy their dream Hollywood-born automotive hero if they had the chance? Musk is no different, and in 2013, purchased the car-cum-submarine 1977 Lotus Esprit used in ‘The Spy Who Loved Me from an auction for roughly half a million dollars. It is also the only fully functioning prop from the James Bond flick, which made it particularly desirable.

Rewatching the iconic ‘Can you swim’ movie clip from The Spy Who Loved Me, you can see exactly why Musk would want to own a car with such a cool box of tricks. Sadly, however, most of its impressive collection log of gadgets are for show purposes only and don’t actually work. So, ‘Wet Nellie’ isn’t actually capable of transforming into a submarine. Still, it’s a pretty cool memoir to bulk your personal garage up with!

8 2012 Porsche 911 997 Turbo: Stirring The Need For Speed?

Porsche 911 Turbo Front Quarter GT Silver Metallic
Porsche

It’s no secret that Musk has an infatuation with the 911 moniker – who (without being in denial) doesn’t? Yes, 911s can be somewhat repetitive where styling is concerned, but how can any true gearhead not be continually amazed at the engineering breakthroughs and outright evolution of speed that comes with each new generation?

This is what probably led to Musk’s idea of once wanting to turn his 911 into an electric car, going as far as even begging former battery collaborators to put a lithium-ion pack in a 911 he once owned. Perhaps that’s where Everatti got the idea to create the 506 hp Porsche 911 964 Signature, which is an awesome all-electric restomod. Now, as any self-proclaimed gearhead should, Musk has a 997-era 911 in his personal garage. Nice.

Specifications

Engine

3.8-liter twin-turbo Flat-6

Horsepower

500 hp

Torque

480 lb-ft

Layout

Rear engine, all-wheel-drive

0-60 mph

3.7 seconds

Top Speed

193 mph

Related: These Are The 10 Coolest Cars Elon Musk Ever Owned

7 1920 Ford Model T: An Inspiration For Pushing Boundaries

1926 Ford Model T Tudor Sedan
Via: Wheels Age

Here’s something you won’t see in every car collector’s unit: The Ford Model T – a car that changed the automotive scene forever, and remains one of the most influential mass-marketed cars of all time. Not even Henry Ford could’ve predicted that his creation would genuinely push humanity into generalizing transport the way it did.

What’s particularly amorous about Musk’s Model T is that he didn’t actually buy it himself, rather, it was a gift from a friend. The exact reason for gifting it is not widely known, but isn’t it wonderfully poetic how arguably the most important car of the 20th century is stored in the collection barn of one of the most important car manufacturer CEOs of the 21st century?

Specifications

Engine

2.9-liter Straight-4

Horsepower

22 hp

Torque

83 lb-ft

Layout

Front mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive

0-60 mph

N/A

Top Speed

42 mph

6 1967 Jaguar E-Type Roadster: A Lesson In Automotive Styling

1972 Jaguar E-Type Series 3 Cropped
Via: Mecum

Few cars possess the suave and effortless style that's on show with the Jaguar E-Type, and if a particularly glamorous old man from Maranello is famously quoted as saying that this was “the most beautiful car in the world” at a time when he himself was manufacturing some pretty spectacular cars, it truly must be something special. At HotCars, we ourselves have plenty of reasons why the Jaguar E-Type is our favorite British car from the 1960s.

Elon Musk once revealed how he saw a Jaguar E-Type in a classic convertible catalog at the age of 17, and aside from saying that vintage cars are like bad girlfriends, he also stated that that was also the moment a young Elon decided that it would be a car he would bring home if ever he could afford it. Hilariously, it has broken down on him more times than he can count – including the journey home from the dealer after he spent around $35,000 to take it back to its forever home. Don’t you just irresponsible motoring decisions?

Specifications

Engine

4.2-liter Inline-6

Horsepower

265 hp

Torque

283 lb-ft

Layout

Front mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive

0-60 mph

6.5 seconds

Top Speed

153 mph

5 1997 McLaren F1 - The One That Got Away

The black 1997 McLaren F1 parked outside.
Via: McLaren

This car is no longer in Musk's collection, but it's too good to leave out of this list. Like every gearhead, Elon Musk instantly fell in love with the legendary McLaren F1 when it debuted in the early '90s, and it's easy to see why. The F1 was truly ahead of its time. It had a superb design and racing-inspired technologies, and with a top speed of over 240 mph, it's still one of the fastest British cars ever.

The F1's original price of around $500,000 meant that it could only be a dream car for young Musk, but when he sold his company Zip2 and made millions in 1999, he suddenly could turn his dreams into reality. Musk promptly paid $1 million for a 1997 McLaren F1 – chassis #067 – and unlike other buyers, he drove the hell out of it, putting over 11,000 miles on the odometer. Unfortunately, Musk got into an accident that left the F1 with extensive damage. He later fixed the car and reportedly sold it for profit.

Specifications

Engine

6.1-liter V12

Horsepower

618 hp

Torque

479 lb-ft

Layout

Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive

0-60 mph

3.2 seconds

Top Speed

240 mph

4 1978 BMW 320i - The First Love

Elon Musk's 1978 BMW 320i
British GQ

Just like the F1 above, this BMW is not in Musk's collection today, but it's an important car for him as it was his first-ever car. The first-generation 3 Series will go down in history as one of BMW's most important models. Its combination of style and great driving dynamics made it an instant success and the car has been a key part of BMW's lineup since.

Musk was early to the 3 Series party when he bought a used 1978 example for just $1,400 in 1994. He kept the car for a few years until its wheel fell off as his Zip2 employees ran some errands in it. Musk sold the car not too long after, but he will always remember it.

Specifications

Engine

2.0-litre Inline-4

Horsepower

109 hp

Torque

112 lb-ft

Layout

Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive

0-60 mph

11.4 seconds

Top Speed

108 lb-ft

3 2016 Tesla Model X: The Perfect Car For Elon?

2023-Tesla-Model-X-35
Via: Tesla

If the Audi Q7 was going to serve as the motivational palate upon which he built his dream car, we’d say it’s done a rather good job at helping to create what must surely be one of the most successful cars in the game right now: the 2023 Tesla Model X. After all, the CEO of any carmaker tends to let a few their own needs and wants to seep through into the cars they help create, and the Model X is no different.

Musk has previously stated that he actively enjoys his innovations as well. Notably, Musk revealed this information to the world a few years back through his Twitter account. A mid-size luxury crossover EV that has been in production since 2015, Musk loves the Model X for its practicality, as he uses it mainly when driving his kids.

Specifications

Drivetrain

Electric

Horsepower

417 hp

Torque

485 lb-ft

Layout

Dual-motor, all-wheel-drive

0-60 mph

6.0 seconds

Top Speed

130 mph

2 2019 Tesla Model S Performance: The Gamechanger

Tesla Model S Plaid blue in motion
Via: Tesla

But as much as he loves his big, environmentally-friendly SUV, it’s the Model S that Elon Musk prefers to drive the most. After all, many consider the Model S to be the most versatile car on the Tesla roster at present, owing to its comfortable and accommodating interior, in tandem with the outright pace that would see it leave a BMW M5 on its backside.

As stated, this is also the car that drew inspiration from the V10-powered BM5 HAMANN example he has, and while that is plenty fast enough, it isn’t quite as dynamite as the Model S Plaid it inspired. For more information about this hugely impressive machine, check out the $20,000 Tesla Model S Plaid Track Pack is a 200 mph silent missile.

Specifications

Engine

Electric

Horsepower

518 hp

Torque

387 lb-ft

Layout

Dual-motor, all-wheel drive

0-60 mph

3.0 seconds

Top Speed

155 mph

Related: 10 Fascinating Facts About Tesla And Elon Musk

1 Pre-Production Tesla Cybertruck: A Taste Of What’s To Come

Tesla Cybertruck driven on the road
Via: Tesla

Does it come as any surprise at all that one of the most polarizing individuals on the planet drives around in the most polarizing vehicle this side of the century? Controversially designed, with bulletproof windows advertised, the Cybertruck has seen continued delays as a knock-on effect of the Coronavirus pandemic.

But that hasn’t derailed the interest Musk generated from the public in anticipation of the Cybertruck. By way of hype alone, it raised $20 million for Tesla with only $100 deposits. Sadly, while initial reports claimed that the Tesla Cybertruck had been delayed to 2023, the signs don’t look any more encouraging now. But we do know fully functioning examples exist since Musk attended a high-profile dinner at an exclusive restaurant in Malibu in 2019 behind the wheel of his very own example.

Specifications

Engine

Electric

Horsepower

805 hp

Torque

1033 lb-ft.

Layout

Dual-motor, all-wheel drive

0-60 mph

4.5 seconds

Top Speed

120 mph