Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, is one of the most famous entrepreneurs in the world. He is known for pushing boundaries in the auto and aerospace industries with his innovative companies. Outside of his professional life, Musk leads an interesting personal life, including having a few unusual pets over the years. So what exactly is Elon Musk’s pet? Let’s take a closer look at the pets Musk has owned to get a better sense of his personal tastes and interests.
Elon Musk’s Love of Animals
First, it’s important to understand Musk’s general fondness for animals. He has tweeted several times over the years about enjoying the company of furry friends. Back in 2017, he was considering getting a dog, asking Twitter followers for breed suggestions. A few months later, Musk tweeted that one of his pet dogs died tragically after being attacked by a neighbor’s dog. He called his dog a “wonderful person” and said he was very sad about losing her.
This suggests Musk appreciates the companionship and personality animals can provide. Beyond dogs, he also seems interested in other domestic and exotic pets, which informs the types of animals he chooses to care for.
Elon Musk’s Cat – Master Buttons
One of Musk’s first notable pets was a cat named Master Buttons. This was no ordinary house cat, however. In a 1997 interview with the San Francisco magazine PC LIVE!, Musk discussed how Master Buttons was only the second cat to undergo a new surgical procedure called feline brain-computer interface implantation.
The surgery connected Master Buttons’ thalamus to a microprocessor embedded in his skull. This allowed the cat’s brain signals to be translated into cursor movements on a computer. Musk explained how he used this technology to create a game where Master Buttons hunted and caught mice on the computer screen through his mental commands.
This avant-garde pet project reflects Musk’s early interests in both animal intelligence and future human-computer brain interfaces he later explored through Neuralink. It’s quite an unusual first pet, showing how Musk was willing to experiment with animals in the name of technological advancement starting from an early age.
Elon Musk’s Goats – Harley, Paget, Dolly, Espadrille, and Armani
In addition to feline friends, Musk also kept a herd of goats at one point in time. During quarantine in 2020, he tweeted that the names of his pet goats were Harley, Paget, Dolly, Espadrille, and Armani.
Goats are quite interesting and unconventional domestic pets. They are known to be intelligent, friendly, and mischievous creatures. Goats require a decent amount of outdoor space to roam and generally like being in groups, making them more challenging pets than traditional house cats or dogs.
Musk hasn’t shared much about what inspired him to keep pet goats. But goats do align with his rugged South African upbringing and desire to have unusual animals around him. The goats likely provided stress relief and entertainment during the difficult early days of the pandemic for Musk and his family.
Elon Musk’s New Dog – Floki
In mid-2022, Musk made huge headlines in the pet world by getting a new Shiba Inu dog named Floki. The name Floki comes from a popular character in the Vikings TV show, adding to the unconventional nature of Musk’s pet names.
Shiba Inu dogs exploded in popularity in 2021 and 2022 due to their association with trendy meme cryptocurrencies like Dogecoin and Shiba Inu Coin. Musk has frequently tweeted about these “memecoins” and seems to share an affinity for the Shiba Inu breed they derive their names from.
Beyond riding the popularity wave of Shiba Inus, Musk also appears genuinely interested in the breed’s energetic, loyal, and family-friendly qualities as a pet owner. He’s tweeted several times about cute things his new dog Floki has done since joining the family.
It’s clear Musk put a lot of thought into choosing such an on-trend dog breed that aligns with his eccentric personal brand. Floki seems to be a playful new addition to Musk’s household that mixes his love of animals, current pop culture fixations, and masterful marketing abilities.
Elon Musk’s Interest in Exotic Pets
In addition to the more traditional house pets above, Musk has also expressed interest in owning larger, more exotic animals. Back in 2018, he talked about wanting to buy a wildebeest at some point when he has more land.
Wildebeests are large antelope-like grazers native to Africa. Owning one would be extremely unconventional. But Musk appears captivated by these horned mammals given his childhood in South Africa. Their wild nature and muscular physique probably also appeals to Musk’s adventurous spirit.
Beyond wildebeest, Musk has also made offers on social media to buy llamas and highland cattle for various people, provided they meet certain conditions. While likely made in jest, these comments demonstrate Musk’s playful fascination with owning uncommon domesticated animals not typically kept as pets.
Why Pets Matter to Elon Musk
Elon Musk is clearly an animal lover based on his wide array of pets over the years. From clever cats to headstrong goats to majestic wildebeests, he appreciates all creatures great and small. But why exactly are pets important to Musk? There are a few possible reasons.
First, pets provide companionship. Musk works grueling hours running multiple high-stress companies, making pet playtime a likely welcome distraction. The affection, loyalty, and silliness pets provide can be centering.
Second, Musk seems to admire the innate intelligence and personality of animals. Advanced pets like Master Buttons allow him to explore brain-computer interfaces. But even his goats and dogs likely display problem-solving abilities he appreciates.
Finally, unique pets suit Musk’s tendency to swim against the tide. While most technology CEOs stick to cats or dogs, exotic wildebeests better fit Musk’s unconventional image. Pets are a way for him to show off his adventurous spirit.
So while Musk appreciates pets for many of the same reasons as everyone else, his choice of companion animals also reflects his eclectic personal tastes and forward-thinking philosophy.
Elon Musk’s Pet Philosophy
Considering his unorthodox collection of pets, it’s clear Elon Musk follows his own set of rules when it comes to choosing animal companions. So what wisdom might his past and present pets impart about the general “pet philosophy” Musk lives by?
First and foremost, Musk believes in adopting pets with a purpose. Master Buttons the tech-savvy cat allowed him to pursue an important brain-computer interface experiment. His current dog Floki embodies the popular sensibilities surrounding cryptocurrency. Musk chooses animals that support his business mission and public image.
Additionally, Musk prefers pets with personality. From sassy cats to headstrong goats, his animals tend to be quite expressive of their needs and opinions. He seems to appreciate that level of independence and originality. Musk himself is known for bold thinking, so it makes sense he enjoys opinionated pets.
Musk also has a spirit of scientific curiosity towards animals. He likes understanding what makes them tick, whether it’s implanting Master Buttons with an AI chip or decoding why his goats behave certain ways. Pets provide a chance for Musk to study animal cognition and behavior.
Finally, Musk views pets as companions for life’s adventures. He sees having wildebeests, llamas, and other exotic creatures as part of living a fun, unique existence. For him, pets are not just household inhabitants but fellow travelers in the journey of life.
Conclusion
Elon Musk’s pets over the years reveal a great deal about his multifaceted personality. His curious cat Master Buttons showed early interest in animal-computer interfaces. The cleverly named Floki demonstrates Musk’s playful side and stays current with Internet trends. Goats and potential wildebeests display his adventurous spirit. For Musk, pets are both supporting players and constant companions in his groundbreaking work and eclectic personal life. He chooses them wisely and cares for them as only an eccentric visionary can. So while Musk’s homes may not contain the average dog or cat, they are nonetheless filled with amazing animals that inform our understanding of this fascinating man.