Does Elon Musk own luxury cars?

Elon Musk’s Love Affair with Iconic Wheels

When it comes to cars, Elon Musk isn’t just about electric innovation—his taste also leans toward the legendary. While he’s best known for driving Teslas (often joking about sleeping in one at the factory), one of his most fascinating automotive possessions isn’t even a Tesla. It’s a piece of cinematic history: a 1976 Lotus Esprit Series 1, famously featured in the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me.

That car, known as the “Wet Nellie,” wasn’t just a prop—it transformed from a sports car into a submarine in the movie, capturing imaginations worldwide. Musk bought the actual car at auction in 2013 for nearly $1 million, not to restore as-is, but to fulfill a boyhood dream: making it actually dive. He later admitted he hadn’t realized the original was just a shell, not a functioning submarine. Still, he’s been determined to build a working version.

This Lotus isn’t just a collector’s item—it’s a symbol of Musk’s fascination with blending fantasy and engineering. While he’s rarely seen behind the wheel of luxury status symbols (his daily driver has been a modest Model 3), this Bond car reveals another side: the visionary who wants to turn movie magic into real-life breakthroughs.

So, does Elon Musk own luxury cars? Not in the traditional sense. No fleet of Lamborghinis or garages full of Rolls-Royces. But he owns stories, nostalgia, and the kind of engineering mystique that fuels his ambitions. The Lotus Esprit isn’t just a car—it’s inspiration on wheels.