Alert the Pulitzer Prize Board! WSJ tech journo blows the lid off of billionaire Elon Musk's Austin living situation

Sarah D | 4:21 PM on December 22, 2021

Journalism is essential. Look no further than the Wall Street Journal’s Rob Copeland, who has blown the lid — or, rather, the roof — off of Elon Musk’s living situation:

1/ You’ve heard @elonmusk talk a lot about his “awesome” ~$50K house on the border

But I live in Austin, and I know he’s here a lot. So I made…a lot of calls

What I found out is he also lives in a colossal mansion borrowed from a friend named “Kenny”https://t.co/hjr2TOOka1

— Rob Copeland (@realrobcopeland) December 22, 2021

2/ Here is the house @elonmusk says is his primary home. It’s basically in the middle of nowhere (but near @SpaceX )

He is registered to vote here.

Despite reports to the contrary, it is not a temporary, modular structure.https://t.co/hjr2TOOka1 pic.twitter.com/cYOSRbiVf0

— Rob Copeland (@realrobcopeland) December 22, 2021

3/ Here is where @elonmusk has been living in Austin

It’s owned by @KenHowery. He’s a longtime friend of Musk’s and a billionaire in his own right. He was also U.S. ambassador to Sweden under Pres. Trumphttps://t.co/hjr2TOOka1 pic.twitter.com/g6RxRS2QYL

— Rob Copeland (@realrobcopeland) December 22, 2021

4/ Here is a photo of Ken Howery. I am reliably informed that IRL he does not look like a movie villain.

His friends like him a lot and are loyal to him. Some of them told me they didn’t even know about the housing arrangement with Elon.https://t.co/hjr2TOOka1 pic.twitter.com/mKxO4yt7tJ

— Rob Copeland (@realrobcopeland) December 22, 2021

5/ Related: I am now the Texas business reporter for @WSJ, a new position covering the torrent of wealth in this region.

I believe I am the first person ever to move from San Francisco to Austin.

Features, investigations, profiles, fun larks TK.

— Rob Copeland (@realrobcopeland) December 22, 2021

Exposés on rich people hanging out in big houses will fill an important void in journalism, most definitely.

6/ Afternoon update: @KenHowery, pictured here preparing for his audition as Blofeld, has responded to our story on @elonmusk.

"He stayed at the house as my guest occasionally when traveling to Austin,” Howery tells me.

Full statement: https://t.co/hjr2TOOka1 pic.twitter.com/5EaUCkDUsq

— Rob Copeland (@realrobcopeland) December 22, 2021

Must be nice to know you can get paid for grilling up nothingburgers.

And?

— Sean Agnew (@seanagnew) December 22, 2021

So when he’s in Austin on Tesla work, far away from SpaceX, he should not stay in his friend’s nice house because… the house is expensive? Or because his friend is rich? I’m confused. What’s the story again?

— Guessingpanda (@guessingpanda) December 22, 2021

So now, Elon can’t live with a friend when visiting Austin per the “investigative” reporter from @WSJ ? 😂, corporate media keeps going down to the lowest form when it comes to ethics, logic and common sense! Or maybe they write stuff for the highest bidder?

— 🌞🌎 𝕾𝖚𝖘𝖙𝖆𝖎𝖓𝖆𝖇𝖑𝖊 𝖊𝖓𝖊𝖗𝖌𝖞 🔋 (@navtown) December 22, 2021