SpaceX's recent deal with Hexagon Purus is a game-changer for their manufacturing capabilities, but it's just one piece of a much larger puzzle. This move strengthens SpaceX's position in the aerospace industry, and it's a bold statement about their future ambitions.
The Rise of SpaceX and Tesla: A Story of Innovation and Resilience
Let's rewind a bit. Back in 2018, SpaceX launched its first Falcon Heavy rocket, with a very special payload - Elon Musk's personal Tesla Roadster. At the time, SpaceX was a risk-taking private launch provider, while Tesla was battling through the production hell of the Model 3. Critics questioned the valuation of both companies, but little did they know what was to come.
Fast forward to today, and Tesla is the world's most valuable automaker, with a market cap of a whopping $1.54 trillion. The Model Y has dominated global sales for three years straight, a feat that seemed unimaginable back then. And SpaceX? Well, they've become the undisputed leader in the launch industry, with their Falcon 9 completing over 600 missions and landing boosters over 560 times.
But here's where it gets controversial...
The Apple Connection
Remember Apple's now-defunct Project Titan? It turns out, Apple was trying to recruit Tesla engineers left, right, and center during the project's development. Elon Musk revealed in a podcast interview that Tesla engineers were getting bombarded with calls from Apple, but they simply unplugged their phones. Musk said, "Their opening offer without any interview would be double the compensation at Tesla."
And this is the part most people miss... Tesla didn't take any legal action against Apple, unlike their lawsuit against EV rival Rivian in 2020. Why? Perhaps because they knew Apple wasn't a real threat. After all, Apple had already abandoned Project Titan by early 2024, conceding that they weren't prepared to take on industry giants like Tesla.
The Future is Bright: A $100 Trillion Valuation?
Now, let's talk about the future. With Tesla's expansion into AI and robotics, some investors are predicting a massive valuation for the company. Cathie Wood of ARK Invest believes a $100 trillion valuation is reasonable, considering Tesla's ambitious reach across industries. Elon Musk himself doesn't dismiss the idea, even if it sounds far-fetched.
To put this into perspective, the top ten most valuable companies in the world are worth around $26 trillion combined. So, a $100 trillion valuation for Tesla would be nearly four times that amount. Musk has even said that all his companies seem to be "heading toward convergence," and with SpaceX's recent acquisition of xAI, this massive umbrella of companies under Musk's watch is becoming a reality.
SpaceX's Dramatic Trajectory
SpaceX's journey has been nothing short of remarkable. The Falcon 9 has become the go-to launch vehicle, flying more often than all other active launch vehicles combined. And with Starship, Musk's fully reusable launch system, SpaceX is taking the next giant leap for mankind - making humans multiplanetary.
In conclusion, the Roadster is still orbiting the Sun, a constant reminder of SpaceX and Tesla's willingness to think big, move fast, and take risks. The question now isn't "What if this works?" but rather, "How far can they go?"
What do you think? Is a $100 trillion valuation for Tesla and its ecosystem of companies a realistic goal, or just a pipe dream? Let's discuss in the comments!
