Upscale Austin suburb annoyed with Elon Musk's security, parties, 16-foot-high chain fence
Residents of an upscale Austin suburb are increasingly frustrated with their neighbor, Elon Musk, enough that the matter is now the subject of official city meetings.
Their complaints on the unneighborly conduct include a 16-foot chain-link fence surrounding Musk’s $6 million property and an evolving rotation of security guards who arrive in a fleet of cars often left parked on the street, according to The New York Times.
Security personnel reportedly change shifts three times a day. In one instance, a passing driver shouted late at night that he was looking for a party at “E’s house,” the Times reported.
The dispute has escalated into a broader debate over city ordinances, permits and exceptions known as variances. It was the subject of a heated Zoning and Planning Commission meeting last month and is now headed to the West Lake Hills City Council on June 11. The agenda item was originally scheduled for next week but was postponed Wednesday morning.
"I call that place Fort Knox,” Paul Hemmer, a retired real estate agent who lives across the street and is president of the neighborhood homeowners association, told The Times.
According to The Times, neighbors said the property is noticeably quieter when Elon Musk is out of town, particularly in recent months, as he’s spent most of his time in Washington advising President Donald Trump. However, they expect that to change soon, after Musk publicly stated he plans to spend less time in the Capitol and return to Texas.
Hemmer — a longtime Tesla owner — told The Times he became so frustrated that he began flying a drone over the property to look for possible city code violations. He also keeps a video camera pointed at the house 24/7. Last year, he filed complaints with West Lake Hills officials about Musk’s towering fence, increased traffic, and his belief that the billionaire was running a security operation from the home.
Musk purchased the home in 2022 through a limited liability company named after the street where the property is located. The house sits in the middle of a residential neighborhood, positioned at the bottom of about two acres of sloping land off a narrow public road — a layout that presents security challenges.
Musk also owns another nearby property that some have described as a “compound.” The $35 million estate includes two large, upscale homes and a third house located nearby. Among them are a 14,400-square-foot Tuscan-style mansion and a six-bedroom residence. The property was reportedly intended to house Musk’s extended family, including their mothers, though not all have lived there.
Despite these holdings, Musk primarily resides in a $50,000 house in Boca Chica, according to Architectural Digest. The modest home is located just outside of Starbase — the site of his SpaceX launch facility — where workers overwhelmingly voted in favor of forming a new city last weekend.