> I think that no matter how bad the news about Elon and his companies might be, his net worth keeps skyrocketing and is currently around the $400B mark.

I'm not really sure about that. Tesla's stock price dropped around a third during the past year. Which source are you using to support that assertion?

By "the past year" I assume you mean 2025? Because it's still higher than it was in October 2024 (https://www.google.com/finance/quote/TSLA:NASDAQ?window=1Y). A better argument would be sales of Tesla cars, which last I heard were consistently dropping in most important markets.

If SpaceX is able to eventually deliver starship and take people to Mars, Musk will quickly become a multi trillionaire. The riches of space are out there for anyone with the technology and will to take it, we have plenty of people with the will but only one company that is getting closer on the tech front. There is quadrillions in wealth on other worlds and asteroids (obviously bringing a trillion of gold to earth severely reduces the price of gold, I mean economic opportunities).

Antarctica is more hospitable and accessible than Mars

Nobody has made a profitable scheme to build a colony there

I don't see how going to Mars will make anyone a dime. It'll just be a thing for researchers and funded by the tax payer on Earth

Its not going to Mars that makes money, its the technology required to get there. That same tech can be used to setup asteroid mining facilities. Imagine life is found on one of the moons of Jupiter, the biological gold rush would be like nothing seen before. In addition there will be well funded people willing to travel to other worlds and moons to start new frontiers. It may take centuries but these outposts may eventually thrive opening up more economic opportunity.

Its not getting to Mars thats important, its the ability to get to Mars and what it grants humanity

Wow, so all he has to do is find life on another planet and he’s quids in? Why has nobody else thought of this.

Feel better?

He won't be able to do that with adversarial domestic political relations. There are plenty of ways for Trump admin to hamstring SpaceX.

I agree, there are few people as frustrated as I am that Musk had a tantrum and torpedoed his relationship with Trump. Primarily because I want humanity to go to space.

Winner takes all.

Also inflation.

Given how immigration and trade controls have worked over this century.

Anybody who goes up there first will put restrictions on who else can arrive and thrive.