In a tale that tugs at the heartstrings, Elon Musk, the billionaire genius behind Tesla and SpaceX, stumbled upon a frail, malnourished dog with a permanently disabled leg during a late-night walk near his Austin estate on March 24, 2025. The pitiful sight—matted fur, sunken eyes, and a limp that spoke of neglect—stirred Musk’s compassion, prompting him to scoop up the stray and bring it home. What began as a rescue has blossomed into a remarkable transformation, turning the once-ailing pup into an adorable, chubby companion that’s now stealing hearts worldwide.

Musk named the dog Rocket, a nod to his spacefaring dreams, and wasted no time tending to its needs. Veterinary visits revealed a laundry list of woes—malnutrition, infections, and a leg injury likely from an old accident—but Musk spared no expense, funding top-tier care, custom meals, and even a tiny prosthetic to ease Rocket’s limp. “He looked like he’d given up, and I couldn’t let that stand,” Musk said, reflecting his knack for fixing what’s broken, whether it’s tech or a trembling stray. Over months, with love and attention, Rocket’s frail frame filled out, his coat gleamed, and his spirit soared.

The transformation, captured in a photo Musk shared on X, is nothing short of miraculous. Once a shadow of a dog, Rocket now waddles happily around Musk’s home, his chubby cheeks and wagging tail a testament to recovery. Staff say he’s become a fixture—napping by Musk’s desk, hobbling after his kids, and even greeting visitors like Donald Trump with a playful bark. “He’s part of the family now,” Musk grinned, tossing Rocket a treat as the pup’s three good legs danced in delight. The pic, showing a plump Rocket beaming beside Musk, exploded online, with fans gushing, “Elon saved a soul—look at that glow!”

This isn’t Musk’s first act of kindness—recently adopting newborns and funding slums—but Rocket’s story hits a uniquely tender note. Perhaps it’s the parallel to his own journey, rising from humble Pretoria roots to global titan, or his soft spot for underdogs, seen in his care for abandoned kids. He’s rigged a mini Cybertruck bed for Rocket, who naps there between romps with X Æ A-Xii, Musk’s toddler son. “He’s a fighter, like me,” Musk mused, scratching Rocket’s ears, a bond that’s softened his image amid Tesla’s 2025 storms.

For Rocket, the shift from street survivor to pampered pet is a quiet triumph. Once too weak to stand, he now chases balls—albeit clumsily—and barks at squirrels from Musk’s porch. Vets marvel at his turnaround, crediting not just medical care but the love that’s fattened him up to a healthy, cuddly size. On X, one user wrote, “Elon’s not just a billionaire—he’s a dog dad with a heart of gold,” a sentiment echoed as Rocket’s tale trended with heart emojis and adoption pleas.

As Rocket snoozed in Musk’s lap, the world saw a man whose wealth builds more than empires—it rebuilds lives, even the four-legged kind. “He’s proof you can come back from anything,” Musk said, gazing at his chubby companion. In a year of bold headlines, this rescue shines as a small, sweet victory—a dog once discarded, now adored, wagging his way into Musk’s legacy of compassion. From frail to fabulous, Rocket’s journey proves that with care, even the weakest can grow strong—and steal the show.