Federal prosecutors are investigating Tesla’s use of company funds on a secret project that had been described internally as a house for Chief Executive Elon Musk, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday, citing people conversant in the matter.
Neither Musk nor a spokesman for the US Attorney’s office in Manhattan immediately responded to requests for comment.
No dollar figures were disclosed, and the newspaper said the home was near Austin, Texas.
![Elon Musk](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/NYPICHPDPICT000018903835.jpg?w=1024)
The Journal reported in July that Tesla board members had investigated whether company resources were misused on the hassle.
The Securities and Exchange Commission has also opened a civil probe, the Journal reported.
An SEC spokesperson said the agency doesn’t comment on the existence or nonexistence of a possible investigation.
![Tesla logo](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/NYPICHPDPICT000026937531.jpg?w=1024)
The probes are of their early stages and will not result in charges, the Journal said.
Prosecutors were looking for details about personal advantages to Musk, the world’s richest man, in addition to how much Tesla spent on the project and what it was for, the Journal reported.
The paper said prosecutors were also looking right into a lower-than-expected driving range on Tesla’s electric vehicles.
![Justice Department logo](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/NYPICHPDPICT000026725416.jpg?w=1024)
Reuters reported in July that the cars often fail to realize their advertised range estimates and projections reported by the cars’ own equipment, citing experts who tested or studied them.