Tesla CEO Elon Musk‘s old college picture is gaining significant attention on social media after US President-elect Donald Trump announced that the tech billionaire, along with American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, will lead the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) in his administration.
Alex, a physics engineer and Tesla employee, shared a picture of Musk from his college days on Thursday on the social media platform X. He captioned it with Musk’s quote: “When I was in college, I wanted to be involved in things that would change the world. Now I am.”
In the photo, Musk is seen sitting on the floor of a room, wearing shorts and a shirt, alongside another boy. A monitor and keyboards are also visible in the picture.

The X owner reacted to the post by quoting Alex’s tweet and writing, “Hard to believe that things turned out this way.”

Trump recently announced that Musk and Ramaswamy will co-lead DOGE in his administration. Musk, a consistent supporter of Trump in the 2024 US presidential election, also appeared at a campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in October.
Musk’s college picture has received widespread praise from X users. One user commented, “It’s inspiring to see someone live out their dreams and make a real difference. Thanks for showing us what’s possible.” Another said, “Time to fix America through DOGE.”
Some users noted the Rolex watch on Musk’s wrist in the picture, with one saying, “Already wearing a Rolex too. He knew what was up back then.” Another praised Musk’s “relentless drive,” saying, “Hard to believe indeed. From electric cars to space travel, you’ve reshaped our future in ways we never imagined.”