In a bombshell statement that has reignited long-standing debates about America’s gold reserves, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has called for a public audit of the gold stored at Fort Knox, questioning whether the reported 147,300,000 ounces—valued at a staggering $459 billion—are truly still there. Musk, known for his provocative takes on everything from space travel to government transparency, made the comments on X, where his massive following quickly amplified the message, sparking a firestorm of speculation and renewed scrutiny over the nation’s most secretive vault.
Fort Knox, the heavily fortified U.S. Army post in Kentucky, has housed the bulk of America’s gold reserves since 1937, a symbol of economic stability during turbulent times. Official figures from the U.S. Treasury claim the facility holds 147.3 million troy ounces of gold, roughly 4,580 metric tons, making it one of the largest gold stockpiles in the world. At current market prices—approximately $3,120 per ounce—that stash is worth over $459 billion, a fortune that underpins the nation’s financial credibility. Yet, the last full audit of Fort Knox’s gold occurred in 1953, and limited inspections since then have done little to quell conspiracy theories that the vaults might be empty or the gold swapped for less valuable materials.
Musk’s comments cut straight to the heart of those doubts. “147,300,000 ounces of gold, worth $459B, supposedly sits in Fort Knox—but when was the last time anyone actually checked?” he posted on X. “It’s time the public sees if it’s still there. Transparency matters.” The Tesla and SpaceX CEO, who has a history of challenging institutional norms, didn’t stop there. He suggested that modern technology—like blockchain for inventory tracking—could ensure real-time accountability, adding, “If we can track a Tesla down to the mile, we can track our gold down to the ounce.”
The reaction was swift and polarized. On one side, Musk’s supporters hailed his call for transparency as a long-overdue push against government opacity. “Elon’s right—why should we just trust they’ve got $459 billion in gold? Show us!” one user wrote, echoing a sentiment shared by gold enthusiasts and fiscal conservatives who’ve long demanded a full audit. Others, however, dismissed Musk’s remarks as reckless, arguing they fuel baseless conspiracy theories. A Treasury spokesperson responded, insisting the gold is secure and regularly inspected, though they declined to provide details on the last physical count, citing “security protocols.”
This isn’t the first time Fort Knox’s gold has come under scrutiny. In 2017, then-Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin visited the facility and claimed to have seen the gold, tweeting, “Glad gold is safe!” But his visit, which included no independent auditors, did little to silence skeptics. Figures like Ron Paul, a former congressman, have repeatedly called for a comprehensive audit, arguing that the American public deserves proof that the reserves backstopping the dollar are intact. Musk’s intervention, with his unparalleled platform—his X posts regularly garner tens of millions of views—has now thrust the issue back into the spotlight.
The stakes are high. The U.S. gold reserves are more than a financial asset; they’re a symbol of economic sovereignty, especially as global powers like China and Russia amass their own gold stockpiles amid tensions over currency dominance. If even a fraction of Fort Knox’s gold were missing, it could shake confidence in the dollar and send shockwaves through global markets. Conversely, a public audit confirming the reserves could bolster trust in the U.S. economy at a time of rising inflation and geopolitical uncertainty.
For now, Musk’s call has yet to prompt action from the Treasury, but the pressure is mounting. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are beginning to weigh in, with some drafting proposals for an independent audit. Whether Fort Knox’s vaults will finally be opened to scrutiny remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Elon Musk has once again stirred a national conversation, and the question of $459 billion in gold isn’t going away anytime soon.
