Elon Musk has reportedly been renting a $2,000-per-night cottage at Mar-a-Lago, giving him easy access to President-elect Donald Trump.
Musk, who was Trump’s most important donor and has been giving him policy advice, began staying at the cottage called Banyan nearly full time since Election Day, sources told The New York Times on Monday.
The Banyan is just a few hundred feet away from the main residence at Trump’s Palm Beach, Florida resort.
Trump has reportedly bragged that the world’s richest man is ‘renting’ one of his residential spots.
The Banyan has had the rate of at least $2,000 nightly in the past, a source told the newspaper. But guests are typically billed at the end of their stay, so it remains unclear how much Musk will be charged, and if he will have part or all of his stay made complimentary by Trump.
Musk spent more than a quarter of a billion dollars helping Trump win the November election.
Effectively in exchange, Musk has been picked by Trump to co-lead the new Department of Government Efficiency. Musk has also been invited to join in on Trump’s meetings and listened in on his meeting with foreign figures. The X owner has also been able to dip into some of Trump’s dinners.
Musk apparently left Mar-a-Lago around Christmas and is set to return any day.
Trump seemed to acknowledge Musk’s recent absence in a public X post.
‘Where are you? When are you coming to the “Center of the Universe,” Mar-a-Lago. Bill Gates asked to come, tonight. We miss you and x!’ the president-elect wrote.
‘New Year’s Eve is going to be AMAZING!!! DJT.’
Some of Trump’s advisers have appeared to be irked by Musk’s nearly constant presence and perceived influence on him.
But incoming First Lady Melania Trump reportedly also likes having Musk around.
The Banyan has previously housed Trump’s vice presidential running mate JD Vance and former Speaker John Boehner.
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