Elon Musk’s Top 7 Anime Picks Reveal the Secret Inner World of the World’s Richest Man

In a rare but captivating glimpse into his personal preferences beyond rockets, cars, and controversial tweets, Elon Musk, the world’s richest man and perhaps its most unpredictable tech visionary, revealed a surprising yet deeply resonant side of himself—his love for anime. Not just a passing interest or casual nod, Musk has now publicly shared his list of seven must-watch anime titles that he believes everyone—especially those new to the genre—must experience.

This revelation not only sheds light on his cultural influences but also reveals the profound philosophical and emotional connections he shares with these animated masterpieces.

At the top of Musk’s curated list is Death Note, a psychological thriller that plunges viewers into the mind games between Light Yagami, a genius high school student who stumbles upon a notebook with the power to kill, and L, an eccentric detective who matches him step for step. Musk’s choice of this anime is no surprise for those familiar with his fascination with power, control, and ethics in artificial intelligence.

The eternal battle of justice, the ambiguity of morality, and the chess-like nature of strategic dominance seem to reflect the very conflicts Musk wrestles with in his real-world battles—whether it be with regulators, the media, or competitors in the tech arena. It’s particularly telling that when asked whether he sided with Light or L, Musk chose L by posting a GIF of the detective, signaling his admiration for intellectual discipline over godlike domination.

Next on Musk’s list is Neon Genesis Evangelion, a complex and often disturbing deconstruction of the mecha genre. While to the untrained eye it may appear to be just another show about giant robots, those who dig deeper know Evangelion as a raw and unfiltered meditation on depression, trauma, and human connection.

The central character, Shinji Ikari, is often paralyzed by fear and self-doubt, a stark contrast to the larger-than-life persona Musk portrays in public. Yet this very contrast is what makes Musk’s love for Evangelion so fascinating—it reveals an empathetic layer to his psyche, an acknowledgment of inner turmoil and emotional fragility that often goes unspoken in tech leadership circles.

By embracing Evangelion, Musk signals that even the strongest visionaries are not immune to the existential dread of isolation and failure.

Third in Musk’s anime lineup is Ghost in the Shell, a cyberpunk tale that explores the boundaries of humanity in a world where consciousness can be uploaded, modified, and even duplicated. Few choices could better mirror Musk’s own ambitions with Neuralink and AI. The protagonist, Major Motoko Kusanagi, is a cyborg who constantly questions whether her actions are her own or the result of programming—a theme that resonates with Musk’s frequent warnings about AI control and autonomy.

The anime’s eerie and atmospheric world, drenched in philosophical monologues and identity crises, aligns perfectly with Musk’s recurring public musings about simulation theory, digital consciousness, and the ethics of technology. It’s almost poetic to imagine Musk watching Ghost in the Shell late at night, drawing inspiration for his next startup or pondering the existential cost of technological progress.

Another Ghibli gem on the list is Spirited Away, the Oscar-winning fantasy about a young girl navigating a supernatural realm filled with spirits, gods, and eerie bathhouses. This anime is less about futuristic dilemmas and more about emotional resilience, identity, and growing up in a world that doesn’t explain itself.

Musk’s inclusion of Spirited Away in his essential viewing list indicates that his appreciation for anime goes beyond philosophical depth and extends into the emotional and imaginative. Spirited Away taps into the childlike wonder that drives invention and exploration—two qualities that define Musk’s journey from South Africa to Silicon Valley, from building PayPal to dreaming of Mars.

Perhaps in Chihiro, the young heroine, Musk sees a reflection of his younger self: thrown into unknown worlds, facing overwhelming odds, yet determined to forge a path with courage and adaptability.

Princess Mononoke, another masterpiece from Studio Ghibli, also features prominently in Musk’s selection. This tale of conflict between industrialization and nature, embodied through humans and ancient forest spirits, offers a narrative that couldn’t be more relevant today. With Tesla’s mission to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy, Musk often frames himself as a warrior against environmental destruction.

Princess Mononoke captures the moral complexity of that fight—no side is entirely right or wrong, and progress always comes at a cost. By endorsing this film, Musk highlights his awareness that the road to innovation is paved with ethical dilemmas, and that true leadership lies in navigating those conflicts with awareness and respect for all sides.

Completing the list is Fullmetal Alchemist, a story about two brothers who dabble in forbidden science in a quest to restore their bodies and resurrect their mother. Their journey is marked by sacrifice, war, and the haunting law of equivalent exchange—nothing can be gained without something of equal value being lost. For Musk, who has poured years of his life into ventures that seemed impossible, Fullmetal Alchemist is more than just a fantasy.

It’s a parable of ambition, consequence, and the human cost of breaking boundaries. The Elric brothers’ desperation to reverse their mistakes mirrors the real-world challenges Musk faces when bold experiments go wrong, from exploding rockets to failed software updates. Yet just like the brothers, Musk believes that redemption lies in perseverance and learning from failure.

Finally, Musk includes Your Name, the 2016 global sensation about two strangers who inexplicably swap bodies across time and space. This anime is less cerebral than others on the list, but emotionally potent. It speaks to fate, longing, and the cosmic threads that connect people beyond understanding. For a man known for logical thinking, Your Name reveals a romantic side to Musk—a belief in destiny, in unseen connections, in the beauty of being human.

The story’s themes of missed opportunities and second chances may echo Musk’s own personal relationships, the highs and lows of public scrutiny, and the delicate balance between ambition and intimacy.

What makes this list truly revealing is not just the titles themselves, but the emotional map they create when viewed together. Through these selections, Musk isn’t just recommending good entertainment—he’s telling us who he is.

He’s the detective who sides with logic in Death Note, the dreamer lost in a haunted city in Spirited Away, the technologist wary of his own inventions in Ghost in the Shell, and the idealist seeking balance between man and nature in Princess Mononoke.

He is the haunted alchemist, the tortured pilot, and the stargazer in love with someone he cannot find.

Far from a gimmick or PR stunt, Musk’s anime list reveals an emotional intelligence that often gets lost amid the headlines about stock prices and political endorsements. It shows that he, like many of us, seeks comfort and clarity in stories—animated or not—that confront the deepest questions of existence.

For fans of anime, his endorsement is a validation of the genre’s richness. For skeptics, it’s an invitation to see anime not as cartoons, but as modern mythology—a mirror held up to our most pressing fears and hopes.

So when the world’s richest man, who builds spaceships and reimagines transportation, tells you that Death Note or Your Name is worth your time, perhaps it’s worth listening—not because he’s rich, but because even the most logical minds crave the emotional truths that only stories can reveal. And if Elon Musk, the icon of modern innovation, finds wisdom, courage, and clarity in anime, maybe there’s something in those frames and scenes that the rest of us shouldn’t ignore either.