economy

The SpaceX IPO made Musk a trillionaire. The old rules of capitalism no longer apply

The economic principles taught in school aren’t as relevant as hype, connections and total, arbitrary control

The SpaceX IPO made Musk a trillionaire. The old rules of capitalism no longer apply

TL;DR

  • Elon Musk is reportedly the world's first trillionaire after SpaceX's IPO on the Nasdaq.
  • SpaceX's market valuation reached approximately $1.77tn, raising Musk's net worth into the trillions.
  • The article argues that capitalism is now based on hype, connections, and arbitrary control, not traditional economic principles.
  • SpaceX's stock was priced high, despite consistent negative profitability and unmet goals.
  • A deal between SpaceX and Musk's AI startup, xAI, is highlighted as a self-serving transaction.
  • Brendan Carr, FCC chair, is cited for approving SpaceX regulatory requests, leading to dominance in low-Earth orbit satellites.
  • Musk will have total control over SpaceX, with his shares holding significantly more voting power than public shares.
  • Changes to stock index rules, such as Nasdaq 100's 'fast entry' rule, will automatically tie retirement savings to SpaceX's market value.
  • Insiders may be able to sell shares sooner than usual, potentially profiting before any market downturn.
  • The article suggests this IPO could lead to a redistribution of wealth from the public to Musk and his associates.