Elon Musk loves to play the eccentric mogul card in interviews, especially when it comes to his so-called prowess in gaming. He’s boasted on podcasts about Diablo IV rankings, posted questionable Elden Ring character builds, and even paraded around with top-level characters in Path of Exile 2. But lately, the gaming community has started calling him out. The reason? Many suspect he’s not the one grinding through those digital dungeons and leveling up into the gaming stratosphere.
The Diablo IV Drama
It all began when Musk declared on Joe Rogan’s show (with impeccable timing right before the 2024 election) that he was among the top 20 Diablo IV players worldwide. Sounds epic, right? Except that “top 20” claim hinged on an unofficial leaderboard site—not on official Activision Blizzard data. Sure, he momentarily occupied the number 19 slot for completing a tricky “endgame” scenario in record time, but the list was based on a small pool of recorded runs. Considering Diablo IV has millions of active monthly players, scoring big on a fan-made board didn’t exactly prove Musk was an elite demon-slayer.
The skepticism spread quickly. Some fans theorized Musk had offloaded the dreaded “grind” to paid helpers—folks who’d do the leveling up and let him step in for a flashy final victory. Others argued that a hyper-busy tech titan could conceivably be marathoning sessions until dawn. Either way, the internet smelled something fishy.
Elden Ring Mischief
Before Diablo IV, Musk had already raised eyebrows with his questionable Elden Ring “power mage” build—overloaded with random shields and gear that weighed him down and negated most of his magical advantages. Gamers worldwide pointed and laughed, wondering how in the world a supposed RPG savant had such a sloppy setup.
Still, Musk’s bizarre build reached a high level. Did he truly slog through Elden Ring’s fearsome bosses solo? Or, again, was someone else doing the grunt work? Critics argued that none of his gear selections made sense, sparking the same old debate over whether he really knew what he was doing.
Path of Exile 2 Scrutiny
Fast-forward to 2025, and Musk is now enthralled by the hardcore mode of Path of Exile 2, where death means permanent deletion. One character, “Kekius_Maximus,” topped out at level 94 before biting the dust. Another, “Percy_Verence,” climbed to level 97 and snagged rank 13 worldwide—quite a lofty perch. Musk even livestreamed a session on X (formerly Twitter), only to baffle viewers who noticed he couldn’t manage basic mechanics or inventory management.
A horde of players promptly concluded that once again, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO might be piggybacking off someone else’s labor. Popular streamer Asmongold even went on record, challenging Musk to prove he’d earned that high-level slot. He offered to stream on X for a year if Musk could supply evidence of legitimate gameplay. So far, Musk hasn’t fired back.
Losing Gamer Goodwill
For gamers who’d once admired Musk as a fellow nerd icon, these revelations sting. It’s not just about climbing a leaderboard; it’s about authenticity. The gaming community takes pride in time investment, skill mastery, and fair play. If Musk is cheating—or letting surrogates do the heavy lifting—his entire gamer persona falls apart. One viral X post insisted that this fiasco has “erased” the trust hardcore gamers once had in him.
Then there’s the emotional side: Musk famously described gaming as a way to decompress from his many tech and political obligations. In that same vein, he’s known to get irrationally fierce over digital conquests (allegedly giving the silent treatment to ex-partner Grimes after she blindsided him in a strategy match). For someone so passionate about the medium, you’d think he’d try harder to avoid allegations of faking it.
Where Does This Leave Musk’s Gamer Rep?
Right now, he’s neither confirming nor denying accusations of boosted accounts, leaving an awkward silence that speaks volumes. His once-prized Path of Exile 2 characters have fallen off the map, and he’s stopped bragging about his Diablo IV achievements. Is he busy brushing up on his combos and gear specs, or is the party over for Musk’s gaming alter ego?
Wherever he goes next—be it a new RPG or a fresh season of Diablo—the question lingers: Is Elon Musk really the top-tier gamer he claims to be, or is it all a mirage?
FAQs
- Did Elon Musk actually reach top 20 in Diablo IV?
He appeared on an unofficial leaderboard at number 19, but skeptics doubt he personally achieved that rank. - Why do players think Musk cheated in Path of Exile 2?
Viewers noticed he struggled with basic gameplay mechanics despite having high-level characters, leading many to suspect he used “boosters.” - What’s Asmongold’s stance on Musk’s Path of Exile achievements?
Asmongold openly challenged Musk to prove he reached level 97 himself, offering to stream on X for a year if Musk provides evidence. - Why was Elon Musk’s Elden Ring build criticized?
It was overloaded with mismatched gear, indicating a lack of understanding about the game’s systems. - Has Elon Musk commented on these cheating allegations?
So far, he hasn’t issued a direct response to accusations or Asmongold’s challenge, leaving the rumors unaddressed.
