The Rise of Tesla’s Optimus Robot and Celebrity Endorsements
While the 2004 sci-fi movie I, Robot, starring Will Smith, might have felt like a fictional tale at the time, in 2024, a part of it seems to have become a reality with the launch of Tesla’s Optimus robot. The eerily similar-looking robots recently became a topic of internet discourse after Kim Kardashian posted a series of Instagram stories capturing her interactions with the humanoid robot. However, this isn’t the first time that Kardashian has shown appreciation for Tesla products. Here’s a look at Kardashian and all the other celebrities who own and flaunt their fancy Tesla products.
Kim Kardashian x Tesla Promotion Controversy
Last month, Kim Kardashian introduced a “new friend” to her 359 million followers in videos showcasing her light-hearted interactions with the Tesla robot. From making hand hearts to playing rock-paper-scissors with the robot, Kardashian’s playful banter with Tesla’s Optimus went viral within minutes of posting. While it wasn’t clear whether Kim had bought the USD 30,000 robot, many questioned whether Elon Musk’s company hired her to promote the product.
In her tweet, Kardashian wrote, “meet my new friend @Tesla,” accompanied by a playful image of her with the robot. This post sparked a flurry of speculation regarding her relationship with Tesla.
Besides posting a video with Tesla’s black-and-white robot, Kim Kardashian also appeared in a contentious photoshoot with a gold Tesla robot in a Cybercab, further fueling rumors of her being compensated to pose with Tesla’s newly launched products. Denying these speculations, her publicist told the New York Times that the reality star was not compensated by Tesla in exchange for the posts. Nonetheless, the curious timing of Kardashian’s positive Tesla posts coming on the heels of Elon Musk’s induction into US President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet for a key role raised some eyebrows.
Celebrities Who Own Tesla Products
The Kardashians
Even though Kim Kardashian holding hands with a Tesla robot may have come as a surprise to everyone, it wasn’t the first time that she ostentatiously displayed her new Tesla additions. Previously, in February 2024, she demonstrated her edgy new Tesla Cybertruck with a caption calling herself the “Cool Carpool Mom.” In another Instagram post, she showcased her electric pickup truck with her private jet in the background. The eye-catching EV became a status symbol of sorts thanks to Kardashian and many other celebrities who have sworn by it, shelling out upwards of USD 60,990 and USD 99,990 for it.
The futuristic-looking pickup truck is among Kardashian’s grand car collection, which includes a Lamborghini Urus and a Maybach Sedan. Besides the Cybertruck, the reality TV star also received an exclusive demo of Tesla’s Cybercab in matte gold. Interestingly, the Tesla obsession extends beyond Kim to her kids as well. Her mother, Kris Jenner, famously gifted Kim’s youngest son Psalm a toy Tesla Cybertruck for his fifth birthday earlier this year, matching Kim’s full-size version.
Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s Personalised Cybertruck
Considered to be Hollywood’s big status symbol, the Tesla Cybertruck is also a part of celebrity couple Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s car collection. The duo famously personalised their EV by wrapping it in matte black, providing a Batmobile feel. While the original Cybertruck is available in silver, owners can pay a premium to get their vehicle in several different color options.
Interestingly, the Cybertruck also played an amusing role in the promotion of Beyoncé’s album song “Texas Hold’Em” after fans spotted a Tesla truck carrying a promotional billboard of the song in Los Angeles. It remains unclear who was behind this clever use of Tesla’s Cybertruck for the promotion and whether it was officially signed off by the singer.
Katy Perry
Katy Perry proudly put her army green Tesla Cybertruck on display earlier this year in an X (formerly Twitter) post. Unfortunately for the singer, her new EV post caused an online uproar since it came days after the company issued a recall of over 3,000 vehicles in April 2024, citing concerns about their accelerator pedal pads. While posing alongside her brand new EV, Katy thanked Tesla founder Elon Musk, writing, “thx for the delivery @elonmusk #idol.”
The picture showcased the “Roar” singer leaning against her army green Cybertruck while wearing a chic burgundy outfit. While Perry has maintained a close friendship with Musk and even appeared at his Space Launch Live event, her recent decision to endorse Kamala Harris for the 2024 Presidential election may have caused a stir given Musk’s known support for Trump.
Jason Kelce
Jason Kelce is also among the list of famous celebrities who own a Tesla Cybertruck. The retired Philadelphia Eagles player even put it to good use when he filmed a commercial for Garage Beer — a small-batch light beer company co-owned by Jason and his brother Travis Kelce. While a shirtless Jason displayed his car-washing skills in the hilarious commercial, he later discussed the Tesla product in an episode of the New Heights podcast, expressing his nervousness during the car wash due to news about Cybertrucks undergoing short circuits.
Jason’s Cybertruck previously went viral thanks to a bumper sticker that he proudly showed off in a video. The retired NFL player proved that while he isn’t an Eagles player anymore, he hasn’t put his rivalry with the Dallas Cowboys behind him. In a playful twist, Jason’s luxurious Cybertruck features a bumper sticker depicting Benjamin Franklin urinating on the Cowboys logo.
2 Chainz
Rapper Tauheed K. Epps, professionally known as 2 Chainz, thoroughly enjoyed his introduction to Tesla’s Optimus robot at Elon Musk’s ‘We, Robot’ event. Impressed with his interaction with the humanoid robot, where they exchanged names and spoke about sports, 2 Chainz also mentioned that he would buy a Balenciaga outfit for it and excitedly stated he would be placing an order for Optimus once it was available in the market.
The “Mercy” singer also raved about his experience of enjoying a Cybercab ride on his Instagram, writing, “The future is here !! Just rode around for a half hour with no pedals or steering wheel.” The Cybercab – a self-driving, AI-powered vehicle – is projected to be available from 2026. 2 Chainz is also among the long list of celebrities who own Tesla’s Cybertruck, with his modified EV covered in an orange wrap featuring side decals of a wolf.
G-Dragon
South Korea’s most famous singer, G-Dragon, also known as the “King of K-Pop,” was spotted getting out of a Tesla Cybertruck. Celebrities outside the US are eager for this truck, even though it’s not yet available for sale in their countries. G-Dragon made a significant luxury statement as he was seen arriving at Incheon airport in a Tesla Cybertruck, which has yet to have its official launch in South Korea. As images of G-Dragon getting out of a shiny Cybertruck went viral, netizens hailed it as the perfect marketing move for the EV’s promotion.
Lady Gaga
Back in 2020, Lady Gaga gave her fans a glimpse of her dutiful nature as a citizen by sharing a video where she dropped off her ballot for early voting. To perform her civic duty, the singer appeared stylishly, getting out of a Tesla Model X as the car’s falcon wings opened for her. Posting the video on her X account, she wrote, “Category: Ballot Drop Off Realness.” While the Model X was one of Gaga’s earlier cars, the “Poker Face” singer has since upgraded and now owns the Tesla Cybertruck, which she was spotted driving for a coffee errand in February this year.
The fascination with Tesla products among celebrities continues to grow, reflecting a blend of luxury, innovation, and status that resonates with their lifestyles. As the Optimus robot and Cybertruck gain traction, the intersection of technology and celebrity culture is becoming increasingly evident, captivating fans and followers alike.
