this post was submitted on 28 Feb 2026
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Today I Learned

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top 48 comments
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[–] Lucidlethargy@sh.itjust.works 7 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

The thing about billionaires dumb enough to be in the public eye, is that they will always be traceable.

[–] pkjqpg1h@lemmy.zip 2 points 20 minutes ago

also criminals they use WhatsApp you know :D

[–] SabinStargem@lemmy.today 13 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

IMO, in a overhauled America, no person should be able to own more than one company. Every company's workers vote for who the leadership and their pay is, while retaining voting power for one year after being fired.

[–] ragebutt@lemmy.dbzer0.com 9 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

No person should own any company unless they are the sole employee. Ownership should be shared with workers in equitable stakes as the company expands.

[–] Tikiporch@lemmy.world 4 points 1 hour ago (3 children)

So a lawyer hires a secretary, they each get 50% of the company. Or are you cool with uneven ownership shares in your model?

[–] ragebutt@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago) (2 children)

Equitable != equal. Shares can and should be distributed commiserate to input. If I work 50-60 hours a week and hire you to do 10 hours of work then obviously equal share is unfair.

However, at the same time, why do you inherently value the lawyer over the secretary? Both do a full weeks work, both are essential to the companies success. You are just attached to consumerism and the idea of hierarchy; that you should be able to be “better than” people you deem as peons. Does the janitor not deserve a fair share either because you will use some bullshit framing like “unskilled labor” to dismiss their essential contributions?

[–] Tikiporch@lemmy.world 2 points 52 minutes ago

Do you know of many law firms that only consist of secretaries?

You are just attached to consumerism and the idea of hierarchy; that you should be able to be “better than” people you deem as peons. Does the janitor not deserve a fair share either because you will use some bullshit framing like “unskilled labor” to dismiss their essential contributions?

You can fuck off with this.

[–] YeahToast@aussie.zone 2 points 1 hour ago

There's clearly a varying degree of education, continuing professional development, risk profile between these two jobs. The two people need to be in their distinct role to make the place function.. but it doesn't mean that their work is equal.

[–] Sinthesis@lemmy.today 3 points 1 hour ago

To be fair, I bet there's some lawyers that couldn't function without a secretary.

[–] SirActionSack@aussie.zone 2 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

Idea is not flawless, therefore it is worthless.

[–] Tikiporch@lemmy.world 0 points 47 minutes ago

Another medal contender for Conclusion Jumping, but I honestly can appreciate the sentiment. I was just asking the dude to figure out how crazy his idea really was.

[–] Mulligrubs@lemmy.world 14 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago)

Check out the Panama and Pandora papers for further details, billions of documents; Musk doubtlessly owns many more companies "discretely"

This is standard operating procedure for the uber wealthy to avoid taxes and launder dirty money

[–] KulunkelBoom@lemmus.org 8 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

Has a shell company bought land within 20 miles of Ft. Knox Kentucky? Big acreage. Rocky. Possible dry river bed. Hmm?

[–] justaman123@lemmy.world 2 points 2 hours ago

Sorry I'm daft, but are you implying that musk plans on robbing fort Knox?

[–] DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world 150 points 18 hours ago

Those are just the ones we know about. He almost certainly also has more registered through Nevis, which is an Island nation that does not reveal who owns which companies are registered there. This is common practice for all billionaires, to hide the money they stole from us from taxes and protect themselves from lawsuits, etc.

[–] acme401@lemmy.world 98 points 18 hours ago (3 children)

Elon Musk is a Nazi and should have his security clearance immediately revoked and he should be imprisoned.

Well, yeah, but Trump and his mob of softcocks like Nazis.

[–] johsny@lemmy.world 67 points 18 hours ago (2 children)

I disagree. He should be kicked in the nuts really hard, and then they can do all those things you said.

[–] hardcoreufo@lemmy.world 2 points 6 hours ago

Every person in the world should be entitled to kick Musk in the crotch once.

[–] acme401@lemmy.world 19 points 17 hours ago (1 children)
[–] SmackemWittadic@lemmy.world 30 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

Oh this is gonna be a long line

[–] curbstickle@anarchist.nexus 16 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

... I'm willing to wait in that line.

[–] L3s@lemmy.world 9 points 12 hours ago

Same, I'll bring some snacks

[–] msage@programming.dev 15 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

He should be fired.

Out of a cannon.

Into the sun.

[–] errer@lemmy.world 6 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

I would pay good money to see his lifeless corpse on the surface of Mars

If you people aren't careful, Elon might find out about these comments, and get the sense he's not as well-liked, manly, intelligent, handsome, and godlike as he programmed his millions of Twitter bot accounts to tell him he is.

[–] FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world 60 points 18 hours ago (2 children)

This is how all of your favorite rich people live.

[–] SolidShake@lemmy.world 14 points 16 hours ago (2 children)

Since when do I have a "favorite rich person"

[–] Viking_Hippie@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 16 hours ago (2 children)

Since you became the biggest Swiftie in your hometown

[–] daychilde@lemmy.world 5 points 14 hours ago

Wow, weight shaming. Nice.^[I kid, I kid]

[–] SolidShake@lemmy.world 1 points 11 hours ago (1 children)
[–] Viking_Hippie@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 10 hours ago

I'm just jokingly pretending that you're a huge fan of the billionaire Taylor Swift lol

[–] FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world 7 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

Most people do.

Usually it's Taylor Swift.

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 2 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago)

excuse me mine is William Howard Taft. He is President, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and dead. not many people manage all 3.

[–] radix@lemmy.world 15 points 17 hours ago

Property records, in particular, are public. In any luxury area, there are probably homes owned by celebrities that are registered to some LLC.

[–] MagnificentSteiner@lemmy.zip 24 points 17 hours ago (3 children)

He also doesn't live off any income. His liquid cash comes from loans against assets which aren't taxed like income.

[–] ChadGPT2@lemmy.world 2 points 57 minutes ago

We need to make this kind of theft illegal when we overhaul everything

[–] anon_8675309@lemmy.world 4 points 8 hours ago

This is how they all do it.

[–] Tempus_Fugit@lemmy.world 28 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

Also, this is how all rich people live.

[–] Viking_Hippie@lemmy.dbzer0.com 25 points 16 hours ago (3 children)

this is how all absurdly rich people live.

The difference between a million and a billion dollars is roughly a billion dollars.

Likewise, Danny DeVito is rich enough to afford a good house and car, but not rich enough for the infinite tax free spending money hack.

[–] MagnificentSteiner@lemmy.zip 7 points 8 hours ago

The difference between a million and a billion dollars is roughly a billion dollars.

My favourite illustration of this is...

1 million seconds = 12 days

1 billion seconds = 32 years

[–] NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world 2 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago)

and then when they die and the loans do need to get paid back, there's all sorts of tax advantages when it gets all settled.

[–] anon_8675309@lemmy.world 6 points 8 hours ago

Right. There was some finance guy that wrote this all up once and you don’t even get a call back unless you have close to half billion. But then the lines they get are like 0.5% APR. it’s nuts.

[–] mrnobody@reddthat.com 32 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago) (1 children)

Elon Musk’s Secret Web of Companies in Texas

The megabillionaire was tied to about 90 companies in the state, which he uses for everything from paying nannies to buying land to supporting Donald Trump’s re-election, according to a Times examination.

Listen to this article · 15:00 min Learn more

AJG Growth Fund LLC

Real Estate

Red Planet Ventures I LLC

Unknown Purpose

Bastrop Alfalfa Land Trust LLC

Real Estate

The Foundation

Nonprofit Foundation

Red Planet Ventures III LLC

Unknown Purpose

2025 Tre Trust

Real estate

CapX 1 LLC

Unknown Purpose

Ad Astra School LLC

Musk School

Horse Ranch LLC

Real Estate

Bushwhacker LLC

Unknown Purpose

BSP 2023 LLC

Real Estate

Excession LLC

Family Office

SHL Property LLC

Real Estate

Gapped Bass LLC

Real Estate

Peninsula LLC

Unknown Purpose

Elon Musk’s Secret Web of Companies in Texas - The New York Times

Kirsten GrindSusanne CraigAlex KlavensLeo Dominguez

By Kirsten GrindSusanne Craig and Alex Klavens

Produced by Leo Dominguez

Kirsten Grind reported from Austin and Bastrop, Texas, as well as San Francisco. Susanne Craig and Alex Klavens reported from New York.

Feb. 27, 2026

In 2020, Elon Musk announced he was moving to Texas from California and embarking on a personal austerity campaign to strip his life of belongings.

“I am selling almost all physical possessions,” he posted on social media. “Will own no house.”

But in the years since, Mr. Musk, 54, has quietly built an empire of more than 90 companies and other legal entities in Texas, which have amassed a vast collection of assets, according to an examination by The New York Times.

The secretive network offers a glimpse into just how central one of the world’s richest men, who has a net worth of more than $650 billion, has made Texas to his operations and ambitions. More than 50 of his at least 90 companies there are subsidiaries or other entities affiliated with his business empire, such as the rocket company SpaceX and the electric vehicle maker Tesla, as well as his nonprofit Musk Foundation.

But The Times identified at least 37 companies that appeared to be largely for Mr. Musk’s personal use. Among them was one that owns two multimillion-dollar condominiums totaling more than 7,000 square feet in the Austin Proper Hotel, with sweeping views of downtown. Other companies managed planes that Mr. Musk uses for private travel and a portfolio of more than 1,000 acres of land, which when combined is bigger than Central Park in New York. The lines between Mr. Musk’s business and personal interests are often blurry, and some of the companies most likely served both purposes.

The Times’s examination also offers a window into how Mr. Musk used private companies to support Donald J. Trump during the 2024 election. Tapping these companies to cover the expenses of a super PAC is highly unusual, campaign finance experts said, and ended up obscuring how money was being spent because they are not subject to the disclosure requirements of super PACs.

The vehicle that Mr. Musk frequently turned to is one that many of the ultrarich use: limited liability companies, which are designed to shield owners from legal and financial risks, as well as public scrutiny. Whatever Mr. Musk’s intent, the effect of using these companies has been to disguise how he is spending his money.

Kirsten Grind is an investigative business reporter for The Times, writing stories about companies, chief executives and billionaires across Silicon Valley and the technology industry.

Susanne Craig is a Times investigative reporter and writes on a variety of topics.

[

[–] Viking_Hippie@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 15 hours ago

Kirsten Craig has the BEST middle name! 👌😄

[–] gens@programming.dev 14 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

"The Foundation"? How far up his ass is he?

Thinking about it it's probably from the show. I doubt he can read books.

[–] ReCursing@feddit.uk 5 points 17 hours ago

Musk can read, he just can't understand the finer points of what he reads. It's trump who has written more books than he has read!

[–] piyuv@lemmy.world 13 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago)

Personal dinner: taxed

Business dinner: tax-deductible