Sylvie Willis
In 2018, Elon Musk's The Boring Company sold 20,000 Not-A-Flamethrowers for $500 each, with an additional fee for taxes, shipping, and a fire extinguisher. The device is powered by a propane tank and propels fire, with a range of under 10 feet. While Musk has since called the sale of the flamethrowers a terrible idea, the product has become a collector's item, with some resellers listing them for under $1,000. The cost of fuel for the flamethrowers is unknown, but given that they are powered by propane, the fuel is likely inexpensive and widely available.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Not-A-Flamethrower |
| Price | $500 |
| Shipping | Additional fees for international shipping |
| Fuel | Propane |
| Range | Under 10 feet |
| Safety | Marketed as the "world's safest flamethrower" |
| Fire Extinguisher | $30 |
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What You'll Learn
The Boring Company flamethrower is powered by a propane tank
The Boring Company Flamethrower, also known as the "Not-A-Flamethrower", is a unique product created by Elon Musk's company, The Boring Company. While it is referred to as a flamethrower, the device is more akin to a blowtorch or a BB gun in terms of functionality and design. The flamethrower is powered by a propane tank, which propels fire rather than spraying burning liquid fuel like traditional military flamethrowers. With a range of under 10 feet, it is designed to be fun while minimising danger.
The Boring Company Flamethrower was initially priced at $500, plus taxes and shipping fees. The first batch of 20,000 flamethrowers sold out quickly, generating $10 million in revenue. The flamethrowers were marketed as a limited edition item, and their release was highly anticipated by Musk's followers, especially YouTubers and DJs, who saw them as a unique prop for their content. The flamethrowers were also included as merch for those who pre-ordered The Boring Company hats, with the sale of 50,000 hats being the trigger for the flamethrowers to be released.
Despite the success of the initial sales, Musk later referred to selling the flamethrowers as a "terrible idea". The product faced criticism, particularly in light of California's history of wildfires, with some deeming it an insensitive move. However, the flamethrowers have become collector's items, with some resale markets listing them for under $1,000, attracting multiple bids.
The Boring Company Flamethrower is an interesting example of Elon Musk's unique approach to marketing and product development. By leveraging his loyal fan base and creating exclusive, unconventional items, he was able to generate significant revenue for his tunnelling venture, The Boring Company, even before it had significant operational results. The flamethrowers, with their propane-powered functionality, became a symbol of Musk's innovative, and sometimes controversial, business strategies.
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Musk sold 20,000 flamethrowers at $500 each
In 2018, Elon Musk sold 20,000 flamethrowers at $500 each, priced at £350 in the UK, plus taxes and shipping. Musk's company, The Boring Company, sold the devices as a method of funding the project until it generated revenue or significant results. The flamethrowers were powered by a propane tank and propelled fire, with a range of under 10 feet. Musk advertised the product as the world's safest flamethrower, and included a complimentary fire extinguisher with each purchase.
The flamethrowers were initially available for pre-order, with 10,000 of the 20,000 units being snapped up at this stage. By the end of the week, all 20,000 flamethrowers had been sold, generating $10 million in revenue. The main demographic of buyers was YouTubers, who purchased the flamethrowers to add entertainment value to their videos. Several DJs also purchased the product, as did fans of Musk and his various companies.
Despite the success of the sales, the flamethrowers caused controversy. The Home Office warned that flamethrowers were prohibited weapons and that it was illegal for those under 18 to buy any imitation firearm. Democrat Miguel Santiago attempted to block the sale of the flamethrowers in California, criticising the product as insensitive following the state's worst wildfire season in history. Musk himself described the flamethrowers as a terrible idea and warned people not to buy them, although he did end his tweet with "unless you like fun".
A resale market has since sprung up online, with some eBay users listing Not-A-Flamethrowers for under $1,000 and attracting numerous bids. It is unclear whether the higher-priced listings are selling.
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The flamethrower has a range of under 10 feet
The Boring Company's Not-A-Flamethrower was sold for $500 plus taxes and shipping. The device was powered by a propane tank and propelled fire, rather than spraying burning liquid fuel. According to Elon Musk, the flamethrower has a range of under 10 feet. Musk also tweeted that the product was designed for "max fun for least danger". The flamethrower was initially sold as a pre-order, with 10,000 of the 20,000 available devices sold within two days of the announcement.
The Not-A-Flamethrower was first distributed at an event at the Boring Company's headquarters in Los Angeles in June 2018. The event included a performance by a mariachi band, and attendees were able to test out the flamethrowers by roasting marshmallows. The flamethrower was also featured in the music video for Travis Scott's "Gang Gang", alongside a Cybertruck developed by Musk's company Tesla.
Following the release of the Not-A-Flamethrower, a resale market emerged online, with some eBay users listing the product for under $1,000. The Boring Company also sold a fire extinguisher for $30, which was offered as an upsell to customers purchasing the flamethrower.
While some customers expressed enthusiasm for the novelty and entertainment value of the flamethrower, others criticised the product as a "terribly insensitive" stunt in light of the recent wildfire season. Musk himself later described the sale of the flamethrowers as a "terrible idea".
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Musk sold fire extinguishers for $30
Elon Musk's Boring Company sold 20,000 flamethrowers, priced at $500 each, in 2018. The sale of these flamethrowers, officially named "Not-A-Flamethrower", was met with criticism from a California state lawmaker, who promised to introduce legislation to block the sale. The product was also deemed a “terrible idea” by Musk himself, who later said that people were "wrong" for buying them.
Alongside the flamethrowers, Musk sold fire extinguishers for $30 each, which he admitted was more expensive than usual for such a product. However, the Boring Company's fire extinguishers came with a sticker, which likely added to their appeal for some customers.
The flamethrowers were initially offered as a joke incentive to sell 50,000 of the company's $20 logo hats. Musk's sales pitch centred around the idea of a zombie apocalypse, with the flamethrowers being advertised as a defence mechanism against zombies. The Boring Company's flamethrowers were powered by propane tanks and had a range of under 10 feet, which was deemed safer than a steak knife by Musk.
Despite the lighthearted nature of the product's marketing, the sale of flamethrowers proved controversial, particularly in the wake of a devastating wildfire season. The Boring Company's flamethrowers have since become collector's items, with some resellers listing them on eBay for prices ranging from $700 to $800.
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Resellers are listing Not-A-Flamethrowers for under $1,000
Elon Musk's Boring Company sold 20,000 "Not-A-Flamethrowers" in 2018 for $500 each. The product was marketed as a guarantee to liven up any party and was deemed the world's safest flamethrower. The device is powered by a propane tank and propels fire, with a range of under 10 feet. Musk himself has since described the sale of the flamethrowers as a terrible idea.
Despite this, the product has acquired a cult status among Musk's fans, and a resale market has since sprung up online, with some eBay users listing Not-A-Flamethrowers for under $1,000 and attracting numerous bids. At the time of writing, one listing for a Not-A-Flamethrower was at $700, with four bids and three days left.
Other listings for the product are priced much higher, with some sellers asking for as much as $3,000 on eBay. These higher prices may be due to the limited release of the product, with only 20,000 units produced, as well as its novelty. The Boring Company's flamethrowers are no longer available for purchase, as they are now discontinued.
In addition to the flamethrowers, the Boring Company also sold fire extinguishers for $30, which included a sticker.
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Frequently asked questions
The flamethrowers are powered by a propane tank. The cost of propane tanks varies depending on the size and supplier.
Elon Musk's Boring Company flamethrowers were sold for $500 each.
Elon Musk sold 20,000 flamethrowers, making $10 million.
Elon Musk sold flamethrowers as a way to fund his Boring Company, which focuses on tunnel boring.
The flamethrowers have a range of under 10 feet, as per Musk's tweet.
