Elon Musk fired back after an X user said the US government “throws money at him” and his companies while receiving little in return.
The X user shared a chart from a Washington Post investigation last year, which found that Musk’s companies have received upward of $38 billion in government contracts, loans, subsidies, and tax credits since 2003. Musk did not respond to the investigation at the time.
“The funny part about that clown’s analysis is that even if every bit of bullshit he says is true, it still amounts to less than 1% of the value of Tesla and SpaceX,” Musk responded on X on Sunday, followed by two crying-laughing emojis. “Where did the other 99% come from?”
Tesla has a market capitalization of around $1.5 trillion. SpaceX is reportedly planning to go public at a similar valuation later this year.
Musk’s retort comes at a time of intense scrutiny of the tech billionaire, his companies, and their reliance on government support. Tesla is facing fresh questions over the feasibility of Musk’s vision of self-driving cars and humanoid robots as its core auto business continues to slow. Meanwhile, SpaceX has moved to acquire Musk’s AI company, xAI.
Also on Sunday, Musk replied to another user who wrote that Starlink “already produces massive cash” and “Elon doesn’t need military money.”
“True. I love NASA, but they will only be ~5% of SpaceX revenue this year,” Musk wrote. “Vast majority of SpaceX revenue is the commercial Starlink system.”
The world’s richest man later replied “yes” to a post saying the US government contracts with Musk because he’s the “most efficient vendor” and saves the government money.
“SpaceX won the NASA contracts by doing a better job for less money,” Musk said in a X post last July. “Moving those contracts to other aerospace companies would leave astronauts stranded and taxpayers on the hook for twice as much!”
NASA relies heavily on SpaceX for transport to the International Space Station and for key elements of its moon-exploration program, Artemis. The Department of Defense taps Musk’s rocket company for tasks such as satellite launches.
As an electric-vehicle manufacturer, Tesla earns regulatory credits that it sells to other automakers so they can comply with emissions standards and other requirements. Revenue from those accounted for about $2 billion last year.
In recent years, Musk has taken aim at government subsidies, saying that mature companies shouldn’t receive them and public funds are better used elsewhere. His Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cut support programs such as renewable energy incentives last year.
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