Elon Musk is no stranger to bold claims and headline-making statements. Recently, he added another notch to his belt by asserting that he’s among the top 20 players in Diablo 4, the latest installment of Blizzard’s popular action role-playing game. As someone who’s spent countless hours battling demons in Sanctuary, I was intrigued—but is this accolade as impressive as it seems?
In the Top 20, But There’s a Catch
Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur known for his ventures with Tesla and SpaceX, has a well-documented passion for video games. He’s previously shared his enthusiasm for titles like Cyberpunk 2077—even making a cameo appearance—and Quake. He often posts gaming sessions and clips on his secondary social media account, amusingly named cyb3rgam3r420.
During a recent appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, host Joe Rogan asked Musk if he truly ranked among the world’s top 20 Diablo 4 players. After a moment’s hesitation, Musk confirmed that he does hold such a ranking. He even mentioned that he’s one of only two Americans in that elite group, with the other player—known by the pseudonym Resistance—holding the top spot.
But before we crown Musk as a gaming prodigy, it’s important to dig a little deeper into what this ranking actually means.
A Closer Look at the Rankings
The ranking Musk refers to isn’t from an official Diablo 4 leaderboard but from a specific challenge hosted on an unofficial website called Helltides. This site tracks player performances, but here’s the kicker: players must manually submit their results for them to appear on the leaderboard. That means the rankings only reflect a small subset of the game’s community—specifically, those who know about the site and choose to participate.
Moreover, the challenge in question involves completing The Pit, a high-level dungeon, as quickly as possible. Musk secured the 19th spot with a time of 2 minutes and 45 seconds at the maximum difficulty level. While that’s no small feat, it’s crucial to note that only about 700 players have submitted times for this specific challenge on Helltides. Given the millions of Diablo 4 players worldwide, this ranking represents a very narrow segment of the player base.
Putting Things into Perspective
So, while Musk’s accomplishment is commendable, it’s not quite the global domination one might initially assume. Additionally, Musk achieved his time using the Spiritborn class, which many in the community consider to be overpowered at the moment. In fact, the top 400 players on the Helltides leaderboard for The Pit challenge also used this class, suggesting that character choice plays a significant role in achieving top times.
Finally broke the 3 min barrier! 2:45 T150 clear.
Was worried that I'd had a stroke or something 🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/6GEhjvV7EN
— Gamer (@cyb3rgam3r420) November 2, 2024
As any seasoned gamer knows, leaderboards can be nuanced. Factors like class balance, game patches, and the platforms on which leaderboards are hosted all influence rankings. Musk’s claim, while technically accurate within this specific context, doesn’t necessarily translate to being one of the best Diablo 4 players globally.
Final Thoughts
Elon Musk’s foray into the upper echelons of Diablo 4 is an interesting tidbit that showcases his passion for gaming. However, it’s essential to consider the context behind the numbers. While he may be in the top 20 on a particular unofficial leaderboard for a specific challenge, this doesn’t equate to being one of the top 20 players worldwide.
As gamers, we often celebrate personal achievements and milestones, whether they’re on global leaderboards or personal bests shared among friends. Musk’s accomplishment is a reminder that context matters, and that the gaming community is vast and varied.
So, the next time you hear about someone ranking high in a game, take a moment to look beyond the headline. There might be more to the story—just as there was with Musk’s Diablo 4 ranking.
My name is Noah and I’m a dedicated member of the “Jason Deegan” team. With my passion for technology, I strive to bring you the latest and most exciting news in the world of high-tech.