Elon Musk has shared an exciting update on Tesla’s humanoid robot Optimus on his X account that it will cost less than an average American’s yearly wage. He shared a photo of the robot in a ballet stance, saying it can dance ballet perfectly.
In another clip shared by Elon, Optimus, the robot, is seen dancing to a set of choreography on different tunes. The video has been seen millions of times on social media, and soon netizens started talking about it.
Do you think robots really change the world for the better? And how close is Tesla to putting one in your home for only $20,000? Let’s find out!
Tesla Optimus Is Rocking
Elon Musk’s vision of a humanoid robot assistant is inching closer to reality with a rather interesting price tag. The Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, recently shared a video clip of Optimus, their humanoid robot.
Tesla introduced the project in 2021, and Optimus has come quite far from being just a Tesla Bot image to a fully walking, talking humanoid. Dancing to the tunes, Optimus barely lacks balance and is seen doing it better than many of us.
The six-second clip, viewed millions of times, shows the robot’s newfound fluidic flexibility, balance, and coordination looking substantially better than its debut in 2021.
Musk has confirmed that Tesla is targeting a price tag of $20,000 to $30,000, with the long-term goal of dropping below the cost of a car. He even said that one day everyone will want an Optimus for themselves and said, “I think it will be the best product ever created.”
$20,000 Robots To Replace Humans?
That price point is not only insane if you say it out loud, but looks unachievable in terms of the expected vast array of applications for the robot.
One Reddit user was quick to mention how useful robots can be, while many others criticised them for being a machine. One user said that if Tesla can get the robot right, they can even very well sell the Optimus for $100,000.
One X user was also not giving the $20,000 pricing any attention, commenting on the clip that the first one could even retail for $250,000.
The price is competitive with that of average compact cars, but a lot cheaper than what many people earn annually in developed economies. For reference, the average salary in the U.S. is around $60,000, which is nearly three times what Optimus is expected to cost.
That’s clearly the long term goal… but I would be surprised if the first wave of 🤖’s retails for less than $250,000.
— NLR (@NestorLRamos) May 17, 2025
Purpose-Built Robot With Tesla’s Heart
Unlike many other humanoid robots that rely on third-party components, Optimus is designed entirely using in-house components by Tesla. Its motors, gearboxes, AI, and other control electronics are custom-built to fit the precise needs of humanoid robotics, optimizing for power efficiency and performance.
This level of vertical integration could give Tesla a significant advantage, not just in cost but in production scalability. It also reflects the company’s broader strategy, seen in its vehicles and energy products: control the stack, move fast, and scale.
From Prototype To A Dancer
Initially introduced as merely a picture during Tesla’s AI Day in 2021 as a dancing human in a robot suit, Optimus has evolved immensely. Though still in development, Musk is sure of a future where robots like Optimus would help with household chores, working in factories, caregiving, or even doing any work designed for them.
Elon said in a reply that they will have a legion ready by the end of this year. Last year, he confirmed that these robots are already doing tasks in a factory. He recently mentioned that Optimus even walks around their Palo Alto facility without anyone watching over them.
It does this every day in our Palo Alto lab.
And multiple Optimus robots walk around the office 24/7 with no one watching over them, charging themselves as needed.
— Kekius Maximus (@elonmusk) May 14, 2025
Who knows, robots might actually give humans a break from mundane or otherwise physically taxing tasks for good soon. Right?
Critics, however, remain skeptical as many users on Reddit had mixed reaction to the recent appearances and quite frequently even questioned their existence.
Comment
byu/Gab1024 from discussion
insingularity
One user says they cannot do it for the said price.
Comment
byu/praguer56 from discussion
inRealTesla
People might be questioning whether they really are close to their robot project’s practical deployment. But the latest video suggests Tesla is far ahead in its game to get the robots to the production line.
Bottomline: A Robot For Every Home
With a projected price tag of $20,000, Tesla’s Optimus could become a household name if everything works in its favor. While practical applications are still uncertain as the Optimus is still in development, Musk’s ambitions are high.
He wants to make humanoid robots as common as Tesla cars and possibly as essential as them. So, would you hire a robot that costs less than a year’s wages?
