Quadrillion for Musk: Why Factories on the Moon and Mars Are Essential
Elon Musk believes that the status of a quadrillionaire is not science fiction, but a fully achievable goal. However, this will require something more than just a rise in Tesla or SpaceX stock. We are talking about colonizing other planets.
Recently, it was calculated online that Musk is short by approximately $998.9 trillion to reach the coveted quadrillion dollars. The billionaire himself did not dispute this figure; instead, he supported the idea: in his opinion, such sums can only be accumulated through production beyond Earth.
The Limit of Earthly Wealth
Musk's response drew attention — it became clear where the upper limit of wealth creation on a single planet lies. According to his assessment, it is impossible to accumulate such sums with "earthly" assets alone. He stated directly: "It's realistic, but it definitely requires factories on the Moon and Mars."
Moreover, the entrepreneur pondered what currency would even mean in the future. He did not name a replacement but suggested that the very concept of money could completely change. "By that time, I think dollars will no longer be the currency. Only mass and energy," Musk emphasized.
Space Race and Volcanic Lair
All of this is being said against the backdrop of SpaceX's rapid growth. The company held a record IPO with a valuation of $2 trillion on the Nasdaq and briefly entered the top six most valuable companies in the U.S. Musk previously predicted that by 2030, SpaceX's revenue could reach $1 trillion, although in 2025 the company expects to earn $18.7 billion.
The same logic is evident in all of Musk's projects. Under a contract with SpaceX, he will receive 200 million shares with enhanced voting rights if a permanent colony of at least one million people is established on Mars. SpaceX has already formed the first crew for a flight around Mars, which includes a crypto billionaire.
Musk did not miss the opportunity to joke that he would finally get that "volcanic lair" he has repeatedly mentioned publicly with a smile. Presenting the boldest ideas through references to science fiction is his signature style.
Cryptalist Analysis: Musk's statement about "mass and energy" as a new currency is not just a provocation. It is a direct signal that traditional fiat systems and even digital assets may give way to resource tokens in the era of interplanetary economics. For the crypto industry, this means that the concept of "asset-backed" tokens will reach an entirely new level, where the base will not be gold or oil, but solar energy and materials mined from asteroids. For now, this sounds like science fiction, but SpaceX is already turning it into a business plan.