A quadrillion for Musk: factories on the Moon and Mars as the only path to wealth
Elon Musk is seriously considering the possibility of becoming the first quadrillionaire in history. In his view, achieving such a level of capital is not a matter of time, but of scale: it would require deploying industrial production beyond Earth.
Recent calculations on social media showed that the billionaire is short by about $998.9 trillion to reach the coveted quadrillion dollars. Musk not only did not refute these figures but also supported the idea, stating that accumulating such sums solely with "earthly" assets is impossible. According to him, the only realistic scenario is building factories on the Moon and Mars.
Mass and Energy Instead of Fiat Money
In response to a corresponding post, Musk emphasized that the very concept of currency could change radically in the future. "By that time, I think dollars will no longer be currency. Only mass and energy," the entrepreneur noted. This statement echoes his long-held views on the transformation of the global financial system, where traditional money gives way to fundamental physical quantities.
Notably, these reflections unfold against the backdrop of SpaceX's impressive growth. The company held a record IPO with a valuation of $2 trillion on Nasdaq, briefly entering the top six most valuable US corporations. Musk previously predicted that by 2030, SpaceX's revenue could reach $1 trillion, although for 2025, the company expects to earn $18.7 billion.
"Volcanic Lair" and Martian Colony
Musk's logic is consistently traceable across all his 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. The first crew for a flight around Mars has already been formed, including a well-known crypto billionaire.
Musk did not miss the opportunity to joke that he would finally get that "volcanic lair" he has often mentioned publicly with a smile. Presenting his boldest ideas through references to science fiction is his signature style.
The key facts of SpaceX's stock market debut clearly demonstrate how much Musk has changed perceptions of the value of private companies. The talk of a quadrillion is a logical extension of this idea. The limit of personal and corporate wealth is now set not by the market, but by how far humanity advances in exploring other planets.
Analyst's opinion: Musk's statements are not just shock value, but a clear signal to the market about where future capital is heading. Cryptocurrencies and decentralized finance are already breaking traditional notions of value, but Musk goes further, proposing to link value to real resources—mass and energy. If his predictions come true, we will witness not just the emergence of a new rich person, but a fundamental paradigm shift in the global economy.