
Elon Musk’s recent gaming escapades have sparked a significant amount of debate, particularly regarding his use of boosted characters in popular games like Diablo IV and Path of Exile 2. According to a close friend of Musk’s from the gaming community, this controversy may be more of a misunderstanding than anything else. In a direct message exchange on X, Musk confirmed to streamer NikoWrex that he has indeed paid others to play video games on his behalf, asserting that “everyone at the highest level is doing it,” so it’s perfectly acceptable.
While Musk was preparing for a high-profile meeting with President Donald Trump, he found himself embroiled in a heated online dispute about his gaming practices. Earlier this year, he livestreamed his Path of Exile 2 character on X, which raised eyebrows among seasoned players who noted that he appeared to lack the necessary skills. Many speculated that his account bore the marks of someone who had paid for leveling services, leading to a backlash from the gaming community. Even Grimes, the mother of Musk’s children, stepped in to defend him on social media.

Recently, NikoWrex released a YouTube video claiming to clarify the situation. Although Musk has not responded to inquiries from The Wall Street Journal regarding his gaming habits, he did engage with NikoWrex on X. When asked directly if he had used account boosting or purchased gear for PoE 2 and Diablo IV, Musk replied with a confident “100 percent” emoji. He emphasized, however, that when he streams or posts gameplay videos, it is genuinely him playing. “It’s impossible to beat the players in Asia if you don’t, as they do!” he explained.
Musk has cultivated an image as a master gamer, which is integral to his personal brand. While the practice of using boosted characters is not uncommon, it remains a contentious issue. Leveling a character to the maximum can be an arduous process, often requiring hundreds of hours of gameplay. This has led many to question how Musk could achieve such high levels while managing multiple companies and engaging in political activities.
When NikoWrex probed whether Musk intended to take credit for leveling his character, Musk clarified, “No. Never claimed that. The top accounts in Diablo or PoE require multiple people playing the account to win the leveling race.” This admission aligns with the core criticism from the gaming community: Musk is not personally leveling his accounts. It’s puzzling that he could have alleviated much of the drama by being upfront about this from the start, yet he chose to engage in conflicts with prominent streamers like Asmongold instead.
In their conversation, Musk also addressed his fallout with Asmongold, mentioning that he unfollowed the streamer on X and leaked private messages without permission. He suggested that Asmongold lacked independence, implying that he needed approval from others to stream on X. Musk then boasted about his achievements in Diablo IV, even referencing one that Grimes claimed to have witnessed.
As their chat concluded, Musk humorously stated he might allow Asmongold to stream a SpaceX launch, but only if Asmongold acknowledged him as a “living god of video games.”
Just days after this exchange, Musk made headlines again for appearing to salute during Trump’s inauguration celebration, which added another layer of intrigue to his already controversial public persona.