Merging SpaceX and Tesla would be a "good idea," Musk says

In its public financial documents, SpaceX has indicated that the bulk of its future revenues are likely to come from orbital data centers that will provide the backbone of computing for artificial intelligence on Earth. Tesla sees its future in sophisticated self-driving cars, robots, and industrial hardware. Both enterprises would require advanced computer chips and energy. SpaceX could provide the connectivity for Tesla hardware.

Beyond these synergies, the merger would be attractive to Musk—already the world’s richest person and first trillionaire—because it would give him more control.

Based on SpaceX documents filed as part of its IPO, Musk holds more than 82 percent of voting power in SpaceX. In contrast, Musk holds about 20 percent of voting power at Tesla. By merging SpaceX with Tesla, where he has less direct control, Musk could acquire a majority of shares eligible for voting at the combined company. This would depend on the nature of valuations and negotiated agreements at the time of the merger. At the time of Musk’s announcement, SpaceX and Tesla had market valuations of about $2 trillion and $1.5 trillion, respectively.

Scrutiny ahead

The merger will face scrutiny by US regulators. Additionally, Morningstar reported earlier this year that valuation disagreements will likely be significant, especially among Tesla shareholders. Musk said Tuesday that 50 percent of all Tesla shareholders, not just those with voting shares, would have to approve of the merger. Such a vote would only come if the two special committees reached an agreement on merger terms.

Some political leaders, already wary of Musk’s outsized power and influence and willingness to use both freely, may also object to a single Musk mega-corporation.

It’s not definitive what the merger’s implications are for SpaceX’s traditional space business and its longtime goal of settling Mars, or for Tesla’s one-time aspirations to bring electric vehicles to the global market. Most probably, however, a combined Musk-universe would focus on artificial intelligence and the computing power needed to back those ambitions. Less Mars and cars—and more silicon.