Billionaire and tech magnate Elon Musk confessed that he used account boosting and real money trading (RMT) to enhance his characters in popular video games Path of Exile 2 (PoE2) and Diablo 4. The confession came after weeks of speculation and controversy surrounding his video game achievements, sparked by the high rankings of his game accounts and public statements about his skills.

This admission was released in a video by YouTuber NikoWrex, who shared direct messages with Musk with his permission. When asked if he used third-party help to level up his accounts or bought resources with real money, Musk responded affirmatively, using the "100" emoji. He justified such actions by saying: “It’s impossible to beat players in Asia if you don’t”.

“I never claimed to have done it myself”

Musk denied ever attempting to take full credit for leveling up his character in PoE2, which achieved a high ranking in the “hardcore” mode. “The top accounts in Diablo or PoE require multiple people playing the account to win a leveling race”, he explained. However, critics argue that his public statements suggested otherwise, as Musk frequently emphasized his gaming skills on social media and in interviews, specifically claiming to be among the top 20 players in the world for Diablo 4.

Community Outcry

These revelations sparked a wave of outrage among gamers, especially among players of Path of Exile 2. Account sharing and boosting are clear violations of the game’s rules, and many players receive account bans for similar actions. Fans now question whether the game’s developers, Grinding Gear Games, will apply the same rules to Musk’s account. DSOGaming has called for the billionaire’s account to be banned, citing principles of fairness and consistency.

The scandal also heightened tensions between Musk and well-known streamer Asmongold, who has been critical of Musk's claims regarding his game achievements. Responding to the video, Asmongold stated: “When you present something as your account, people are going to think you achieved it yourself.” He also noted that while Musk might be an experienced gamer, reaching level 97 in PoE2 requires much more effort than Musk had publicly demonstrated.

Musk Doesn’t Plan to Repent for Boosting

Despite the criticism, Musk remained steadfast. When asked if he intends to apologize to the PoE2 community, he dismissed the idea, saying: “What would I be apologizing for?”. He also assured that during his streams, he is the one controlling the gameplay, though this does not explain the use of boosting services off-camera.

This scandal raises broader questions about honesty and transparency in competitive video games, especially when prominent figures like Musk use methods deemed unethical by the community and the game’s rules. Whether the developers will take action remains unknown, but Musk’s admission has undoubtedly damaged his reputation as a gamer. For now, his claimed status as a top-level player remains in doubt.