Who is Harry Bolz and Why Did Elon Musk Use Him as an Alias?

Elon Musk’s unpredictable online antics have once again captured the internet’s attention. On Tuesday, February 11, 2025, Musk changed his display name on X (formerly Twitter) to “Harry Bōlz”, reigniting speculation about the meaning behind the alias. 

This isn’t the first time he’s done this—Musk previously adopted the name in April 2023, seemingly as part of his signature brand of playful trolling and internet wordplay.

But who exactly is Harry Bolz? And why does Musk keep using this pseudonym?

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The Meaning Behind “Harry Bolz”

The alias is widely interpreted as a cheeky play on words, referencing the phrase “hairy balls.” This type of crude humor aligns with Musk’s well-documented love for internet memes, dad jokes, and provocative social media stunts. In April 2023, when Musk first used the name, he confirmed the joke by tweeting:

“Tbh, I’m just hoping a media org that takes itself way too seriously writes a story about Harry Bolz.”

That tweet was a clear indication that the name change was Musk baiting mainstream media into covering the joke—which, of course, they did.

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Impact on the Crypto Market

As with many of Musk’s online moves, his “Harry Bolz” stunt had unintended financial consequences. Following his name change, a little-known meme token called HARRYBOLZ saw a 127% price surge against SOL (Solana), according to GeckoTerminal.

The illiquid cryptocurrency, which previously had little trading activity, saw its market capitalization jump to $17.35 million, with a 24-hour trading volume exceeding $4 million. 

This type of market reaction is reminiscent of Musk’s past tweets that have caused meme coins like Dogecoin ($DOGE) and Floki Inu ($FLOKI) to skyrocket in value.

Is There More to “Harry Bolz”?

While the most obvious explanation is the crude joke, some users have suggested other possibilities:

A Reference to Hanns Bolz?

Some speculate the name could reference Hanns Bolz, a German painter, sculptor, and illustrator from the early 20th century. However, there’s no clear link between Musk and the artist, making this theory less convincing.

A Hidden Business Move?

Musk’s antics are rarely random—they often serve as distractions or hints about future projects. Some X users speculate that “Harry Bōlz” could be related to an AI or tech venture, possibly connected to Musk’s ongoing battle with OpenAI.

A Strategic Distraction?

The timing of the name change is also notable—it came just hours after reports emerged that Musk and a consortium of investors had placed a bid to take over OpenAI. It’s possible the “Harry Bolz” joke was simply a way to dominate headlines and distract from more serious business moves.

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Musk’s History of Trolling with Aliases

This isn’t the first time Musk has used a playful or cryptic name change on X. Some of his previous aliases include:

Mr. Tweet – A name Musk used in early 2023, which he claimed was a mistake but kept because Twitter wouldn’t let him change it back.

Kekius Maximus – A reference to the internet slang “Kek”, commonly used in meme culture.

These stunts have frequently resulted in viral trends, media coverage, and even financial market shifts—just as we’ve seen with “Harry Bolz”.

Just a Joke, or Something More?

Elon Musk’s latest name change to “Harry Bōlz” is likely just another example of his love for crude humor and online trolling. 

However, as history has shown, Musk’s jokes often have ripple effects—whether it’s sparking meme coin surges, generating media buzz, or serving as a distraction from larger business moves.

While some speculate there might be a deeper meaning behind the alias, the simplest explanation is usually the correct one: it’s a joke that worked exactly as intended.

FAQ

Who is Harry Bolz?

"Harry Bolz" is widely believed to be a humorous pseudonym created by Elon Musk, playing on the phrase "hairy balls." Musk has used the alias on X (formerly Twitter) as part of his signature internet trolling and meme-driven humor.

Why did Elon Musk change his name to Harry Bolz?

Musk frequently engages in online wordplay and trolling, often baiting the media into covering his antics. The name change likely serves as a lighthearted joke rather than signaling any deeper meaning.

Did Musk’s name change impact the crypto market?

Yes. Following Musk’s "Harry Bolz" stunt, an obscure meme coin called HARRYBOLZ saw a massive price surge, similar to past meme coin spikes caused by Musk’s tweets.

Is there a deeper meaning behind "Harry Bolz"?

While most believe it to be a crude joke, some have speculated connections to a historical figure, an AI venture, or even a strategic distraction from Musk’s business dealings. However, no concrete evidence supports these theories.

Has Musk used aliases like this before?

Yes. Musk has previously changed his display name to "Mr. Tweet," "Kekius Maximus," and other playful pseudonyms, often leading to viral media coverage and market reactions.