It seems people can’t get enough of Elon Musk‘s latest novelty item.
The Silicon Valley billionaire claims he has sold out of his ‘zombie-killing’ flamethrowers just four days after opening sales.
In total, The Boring Company has sold 20,000 flamethrowers retailing at $500 (£351) each, raising $10 million (£7.02 million) for his high-speed tunnel venture.
The flamethrowers are ‘guaranteed to liven up any party!’ according to Musk.
The man behind electric carmaker Tesla and rocket company SpaceX had earlier sold 50,000 Boring Company hats in similar fashion.
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Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk has sold 20,000 flamethrowers in four days. The flamethrowers were sold to fund Musk’s Boring Company’s plans to build a 6.5-mile (10.5 km) shaft under Culver City, California, to carry cars on electric skates at 150 mph (240 kph)
The latest impromptu fundraising scheme comes at a time when financial analysts and investors in Tesla are wondering if Musk will have to seek billions more in funding for the electric carmaker as it struggles to meet promises on production.
Sales for The Boring Company Flamethrower opened on Sunday, with the 46-year-old proceeding to post regular updates on how many he had sold.
‘When the zombie apocalypse happens, you’ll be glad you bought a flamethrower,’ he tweeted last Saturday.
‘Works against hordes of the undead or your money back!’
Each flamethrower, he said, comes with a free fire extinguisher and buyers need to agree to certain conditions before getting the device in spring.
The company also offered $30 (£21) fire extinguisher, sales for which have now also ended.
The firm said: ‘Buy an overpriced Boring Company fire extinguisher! You can definitely buy one for less elsewhere, but this one comes with a cool sticker and the button is conveniently riiight above.’
On Wednesday, the billionaire tech mogul announced that all flamethrowers will ship with a complimentary boring fire extinguisher
A video posted to Musk’s Instagram account showed two Boring Company employees using the flamethrowers (pictured)
The tech billionaire posted a video to his Instagram account in which he is seen firing up one of the $500 (£351) weapons and charging toward the person filming him
‘I know it’s a little off-brand, but kids love it,’ Musk wrote about the flamethrower when he first announced it.
Most people assumed that the South African entrepreneur was joking.
But as sales opened on Sunday, orders flooded in, with Musk comically advising on Twitter that people shouldn’t buy the devices.
‘Obviously, a flamethrower is a super terrible idea. Definitely don’t buy one. Unless you like fun,’ he wrote on Sunday.
Over the weekend and the last few days, Elon Musk posted regular updates on how many flamethrowers he had sold
The Boring Company, a firm Musk founded to dig tunnels under Los Angeles that could one day relieve traffic congestion, also offered $30 (£21) fire extinguishers, sales for which have now also ended
Before shipping in April, the Boring Company’s website says that ‘aspiring flamethrower aficionados will be sent a terms and conditions rhyme for review and acceptance’
While Musk faces production troubles with Tesla, his electric car company, the Boring Company has made significant progress in recent months.
On Monday, January 22, the Boring Company presented plans to build a 6.5-mile (10.5 km) shaft under Culver City, California, at a council meeting.
According to the plans, the privately-funded tunnel would carry cars on ‘electric skates’ at 150 miles per hour (240 kph) to help with LA’s ‘soul-destroying’ congestion.
The proposed route goes through West Los Angeles passing underneath Sepulveda Boulevard through Culver City.
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