Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk believes SpaceX could eventually become more valuable than the entire global economy if the company successfully achieves its long-term vision of expanding economic activity beyond Earth.

In a post on X, Musk said his ultimate goal is for SpaceX to one day exceed the value of Earth's economy by developing large-scale industries in space and unlocking its vast economic potential.

His comments came in response to an online discussion about SpaceX's artificial intelligence computing agreement with Anthropic.

Space-Based Economy at the Center of Musk's Vision

Musk argues that the greatest economic opportunity lies in harnessing solar energy outside Earth, where energy resources are far greater than those currently utilized on the planet.

He referenced the Kardashev Scale—a framework that measures the technological advancement of civilizations based on their ability to harness energy—saying humanity currently uses only a tiny fraction of the energy available to it.

According to Musk, developing space-based industries, orbital infrastructure, data centers in space, and eventually cities on Mars could generate economic value exceeding today's global gross domestic product, which is currently estimated at nearly $100 trillion.

Analysts Remain Skeptical

As with many of Musk's long-term projections, the remarks drew skepticism from analysts and industry observers, who argue that such ambitions remain far beyond today's technological and economic capabilities.

Critics point to the significant engineering challenges facing several of SpaceX's major projects, as well as the high costs associated with developing advanced space technologies.

Questions Over Valuation and Execution

A report published by Futurism noted that Musk has frequently promoted ambitious long-term visions—including establishing a city on Mars, building orbital data centers, and transforming humanity into a multi-planetary civilization—to inspire investors and public interest.

However, many of those projects continue to face substantial technical, financial, and regulatory hurdles.

The report also said some investors remain cautious about such projections, citing concerns over SpaceX's valuation relative to its financial performance and the broader risks associated with the commercial space industry.

Competition in the Global Space Industry

The report highlighted growing international competition in the space sector, particularly from China's expanding space program, which could make achieving Musk's long-term vision increasingly challenging.

Despite the skepticism, the SpaceX CEO continues to argue that the future of the global economy will become increasingly tied to space exploration and industrial development beyond Earth, with companies that establish large-scale off-world infrastructure positioned to capture significant economic value in the decades ahead.