Featured Image Credit: CHIP SOMODEVILLA / Contributor / Getty
As Elon Musk is fully embracing his new role as Head of DOGE and Trump's administration, people are asking how much he's really getting paid for the government role.
It's fair to say that Elon Musk has his fingers in many pies, and as well as being the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, he also owns X, finds time to post what seems like every minute of the day, and has landed himself a role in the US government.
President Donald Trump's self-titled 'First Buddy' was by the POTUS' side on the campaign trail, and with his wealth having soared since the election, it's a lucrative move and a far cry from the pair previously being at each other's throats.
While some think it's all smiles and handshakes for the cameras and will soon come tumbling down, Musk finds himself in a new position of power as the head of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency.
Advert
The tech billionaire is tasked with slashing $2 trillion from government spending, and while even the man himself has admitted it probably can't be done, he's wasting no time in trimming the fat. It already looks like the National Space Council has been shown the door, while Musk has said that USAid is 'beyond repair'.
A lot of work is already underway, and with it, you might be asking what Musk is getting paid for the new position.
Not that he needs the money, but Musk is apparently getting paid, nothing, zero, zilch, nada for working as the head of the DOGE.
He's considered a 'special government employee', and as reported by CNN, that doesn't come with a paycheck. While he's not a volunteer, he's also not considered a full-time federal employee. Although a source close to the site said Musk isn't being paid, he supposedly has 'top secret security clearance'.
Trump has already controversially confirmed that Musk's team has been granted access to the Treasury Department's critical payment system, explaining: "Elon can't do and won't do anything without our approval. And we'll give him the approval where appropriate. Where not appropriate, we won't."
As Musk's SpaceX has received billions in federal money, there are also worries about a potential conflict of interest. Musk is supposedly covered by a federal conflicts-of-interest statute that means government employees can't participate in matters that could boost their financial interests.
USAID is a criminal organization.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 2, 2025
Time for it to die. https://t.co/sWYy6fyt1k
Kathleen Clark, a Washington University law professor who specializes in government ethics, told the site: "We are relying on the Justice Department for enforcement of the financial conflict-of-interest standards against Elon Musk and everyone else.
“There is a reason to doubt that the Trump Justice Department will enforce any statutes, including criminal statutes, against a Trump ally."
News that Musk isn't getting paid for his DOGE role isn't too surprising, especially as he warned those applying that they also wouldn't be getting paid.
Musk likely won't be held to all government stipulations, as it's currently unclear whether he'll have to file a public financial disclosure. A DOJ summary referring to special government employees states they "may be required to submit a financial disclosure report within 30 days of assuming your position."
As for Musk's financial interests, he could already be hit hard in the pocket. Following Trump's new 25% tariff announcement against Canada, Ontario pulled the plug on a contract with Musk's Starlink satellite internet service.
