Elon Musk Admits to Gaming Cheat Scandal in Leaked Conversation

AUSTIN, Texas — Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has admitted to using a gaming cheat known as “account boosting” to achieve high scores in popular video games, according to a leaked private conversation posted online Sunday by a top Diablo IV player.

The revelation comes after months of speculation about Musk’s claims of being a globally-ranked player in games like Diablo IV and Path of Exile 2. Musk has frequently boasted about his gaming prowess, even stating he was among the top 20 players worldwide in Diablo IV, a claim that raised eyebrows given his demanding schedule running multiple companies and engaging in political activities.

In the leaked conversation, shared by top Diablo player NikoWrex, Musk reportedly admitted to “account boosting,” a practice where players pay others to level up their characters or acquire in-game resources. When asked by NikoWrex if he had used boosting services for Path of Exile 2 and Diablo IV, Musk responded with a 100% emoji, adding, “It’s impossible to beat the players in Asia if you don’t, as they do!”

NikoWrex, whose real name is Nick Hayes, claimed Musk gave him permission to share the conversation. The Guardian could not independently verify the transcript, but Musk and NikoWrex had previously interacted on X in early January to discuss Path of Exile 2.

Musk’s gaming claims first drew scrutiny in November after he discussed his rankings on Joe Rogan’s podcast. Further skepticism arose in January when Musk livestreamed his Path of Exile 2 gameplay on X. High-level players noted mistakes in his gameplay, such as ignoring valuable items, which they said no expert would make.

Musk has since defended himself publicly, engaging in arguments with critics and even declaring himself “a living god of video games.” Grimes, Musk’s former partner and mother of three of his children, came to his defense on Saturday, stating she had witnessed his gaming skills firsthand. “There are other witnesses who can verify this,” she said.

However, new allegations surfaced Monday when Musk’s Path of Exile 2 character was reportedly active in the game while Musk was in Washington, D.C., attending Donald Trump’s inauguration. This has further fueled speculation about the authenticity of his gaming achievements.

The controversy highlights the competitive and often secretive world of high-level gaming, where practices like account boosting are frowned upon but not uncommon. Musk’s admission, if verified, could tarnish his reputation among gaming enthusiasts and raise questions about the billionaire’s claims in other areas.