He doesn't just walk into a room anymore. Honestly, those days are long gone. When Elon Musk moves now, it’s a full-scale tactical operation. People used to see him at festivals or hanging out in Silicon Valley with maybe one or two guys in suits nearby. Not now.
If you’ve seen him lately, you’ve probably noticed the wall of muscle. It’s not just for show. It’s basically a mini-Secret Service.
The Codenames and the "Voyager" Protocol
Inside the inner circle, Musk goes by the codename Voyager.
It’s a bit on the nose, right? The man obsessed with space named after a probe heading into the deep unknown. But the security isn’t just about a fancy name. It’s about a revolving door of roughly 20 bodyguards who are with him 24/7. They don’t just stand by the door. According to reports that surfaced in late 2024 and throughout 2025, these guards accompany him everywhere. Yes, even to the bathroom.
Imagine trying to have a private moment and there's a guy with a Glock and a medical kit standing outside the stall. It sounds paranoid until you look at the math of his life.
Why the sudden ramp-up?
Musk hasn't been shy about the "homicidal maniacs." That’s his phrase, not mine. During a Tesla shareholder meeting, he explicitly mentioned that two people had tried to kill him in recent months. Then there was the Cybertruck event incident where a planned mass shooting was allegedly thwarted.
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When you're the world’s richest person and you’ve waded chest-deep into the most polarizing political waters of the decade, you tend to make enemies.
He’s currently ranked as "Target #2" in his own mind, sitting right behind Donald Trump. Whether that's an exaggeration or a cold reality depends on who you ask, but the budget doesn't lie. Tesla’s SEC filings showed the company paid over $2.4 million in 2023 just for his security. By early 2024, that number jumped another $500,000 in just a couple of months.
Special Deputy U.S. Marshals?
This is where things get weird. And kinda controversial.
In early 2025, news broke that members of Elon Musk’s private security detail—specifically from a firm called Foundation Security—were being deputized by the U.S. Marshals Service.
Think about that.
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Usually, private bodyguards are just civilians with permits. They have to follow the same concealed carry laws as everyone else. But as a "Special Deputy," those guards suddenly have federal law enforcement authority.
- They can carry firearms across state lines without worrying about local bans.
- They can enter federal buildings armed.
- They can make arrests.
- They have a layer of federal legal protection if they have to use deadly force.
Critics are losing their minds over this. They say it’s a dangerous precedent to give a private citizen his own federally-sanctioned police force. The counter-argument? Since Musk was tapped to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), he’s technically a government entity. Sorta.
How the Team Actually Operates
The "Voyager" detail isn't just a bunch of guys in sunglasses. It’s a multi-layered system designed by experts, often linked to Gavin de Becker and Associates, the same firm that handles heavy hitters like Jeff Bezos.
- The Advance Team: They arrive hours or days before Elon. They sweep the room, check the exits, and vet the guest list.
- The Close Protection: These are the guys you see in the photos. Usually 4 to 6 men in a "diamond" formation around him.
- The Medical Component: One of the most interesting additions is the constant presence of a medical professional. They carry specialized kits, likely including blood bags compatible with Musk’s blood type.
- The Intelligence Wing: They have people monitoring social media (especially X) in real-time to track "inappropriate pursuers" or credible threats before the person even gets near the building.
The Cost of Being the Main Character
Security is expensive. But for Musk, it’s also personal.
He’s moved into a house with 24/7 guarded gates. He destroys his phones regularly to prevent hacking. He even reportedly had a 50-foot watchtower planned for The Boring Company. He’s living in a fortress.
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His father, Errol Musk, has voiced legitimate fears that Elon is "naïve" about how much danger he’s actually in. This led to Errol’s own home in South Africa getting a high-tech security overhaul paid for by his son.
What This Means for You
You probably don't need 20 guys to go to Target. But there are a few "billionaire-level" security habits that actually make sense for regular people:
- Digital Hygiene: Musk’s team focuses heavily on "doxing" prevention. Check what info you have public. If a stranger can find your home address in two clicks, fix it.
- Situational Awareness: The "Voyager" detail works on the "OODA loop" (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act). It’s basically just paying attention.
- Encrypted Comms: He doesn't use standard apps for anything sensitive. Neither should you.
The reality of Elon Musk bodyguards is that they are no longer just "staff." They are a private army protecting a man who has become a living lightning rod. Whether you love him or hate him, the sheer scale of the operation is a fascinating look at what happens when extreme wealth meets extreme public visibility.
If you're curious about how other tech giants protect themselves, you can look into the security spend for Mark Zuckerberg—who actually outspends Musk, often hitting the $20 million mark annually. Security in the 2020s isn't just a luxury; for these guys, it's the cost of doing business.