07/01/25
Funding of Tesla and SpaceX
In 2010, Tesla Motors received a critical $465 million loan from the U.S. Department of Energy, facilitated by the Obama administration. This funding was a part of the government’s effort to promote sustainable transport and was pivotal in Tesla’s development of the Model S sedan, which has been a critical factor in the company’s success. The support did not stop there; Tesla has accumulated approximately $2.8 billion in government subsidies over the years, underscoring the significant role governmental support has played in its operations [1, 2].
Since its inception in 2002, SpaceX has successfully raised over $9 billion through numerous funding rounds. This substantial financial backing underscores the confidence and commitment of various high-profile investment firms in SpaceX’s vision and goals [3].
Key investors include Andreessen Horowitz, co-founded by Zionist Ben Horowitz. Founders Fund, another significant contributor, is led by Peter Thiel, who has also been linked to Zionist support. Thiel’s contributions extend beyond financial to strategic, having co-founded Palantir, a company with deep ties to Israeli defence and intelligence sectors. Sequoia Capital, instrumental in the tech investment realm since 1972, includes key figure Michael Moritz, also a Zionist, emphasising the firm’s long-standing impact on technology funding. Fidelity Investments rounds out this group of prominent backers, providing substantial financial support to further SpaceX’s ambitious projects [3].
The involvement of investors who are openly Zionist reflects a broader network of influence, showcasing a convergence of technological ambition and geopolitical interests, which underscores the complex interplay between technology advancement and political ideologies.
Acquisition of Twitter
In October 2022, Elon Musk finalised the acquisition of Twitter for a staggering $44 billion. This monumental transaction was financed through a combination of personal equity, strategic sales of existing assets, and significant external funding. Musk himself contributed approximately $27 billion in cash, a sum amassed primarily by selling Tesla shares in April and August of the same year [5, 6].
To support this acquisition, Musk garnered approximately $7.1 billion from a diverse group of investors. Notable contributions came from Larry Ellison, a Zionist and co-founder of Oracle, who invested $1 billion; Sequoia Capital, a major venture capital firm partly organised by Zionist Michael Moritz, which added $800 million; Binance, the cryptocurrency exchange, which contributed $500 million; and the Qatar Investment Authority, with a $375 million investment. Additionally, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, a prominent Saudi investor, rolled over his existing Twitter shares into the new arrangement, which were valued at approximately $1.89 billion [5, 6].
Further financial leverage was achieved through $13 billion in loans secured from a consortium of banks including Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, and Barclays. These loans were particularly structured against Twitter’s assets, which effectively placed the responsibility for debt repayments onto the company itself [5, 6].
Military Contracts
SpaceX has entered into numerous lucrative contracts with NASA and the U.S. Department of Defence, marking a substantial revenue stream that has supported its ambitious projects. Key contracts include:
- NASA Contracts: Since its inception, SpaceX has been a crucial partner for NASA. Notable contracts include the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) awarded in 2006 worth $278 million, and the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) phases 1 and 2, totaling $3.2 billion, which involve cargo missions to the International Space Station (ISS). More recently, in 2021, SpaceX secured a $2.9 billion contract under NASA’s Artemis program for the development of the Human Landing System for lunar missions [7].
- Military Contracts: SpaceX’s engagement with the U.S. military has provided additional substantial revenue. The company has secured multiple contracts for national security launches, including the 2024 National Security Space Launch (NSSL) contracts worth $733.5 million. Additionally, the development of military technologies such as missile-tracking satellites and the Falcon Heavy launches have further entrenched SpaceX’s role in national defence [8].
In 2023, SpaceX’s revenue breakdown showed a total of $8.7 billion, with $3.5 billion (40%) coming from launch services for NASA and the Department of Defence. Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet venture, contributed $4.1 billion (60%), with approximately 25% of that from military applications under the Starshield program, demonstrating the significant impact of government contracts on SpaceX’s financial health [9, 10].
Starlink, a satellite internet constellation being constructed by SpaceX, aims to provide satellite Internet connectivity to underserved areas of the planet. Launched in 2019, Starlink has grown rapidly to become a significant player in global communications, claiming 6400 of the 9000 total satellites in earth’s orbit. In addition to its commercial applications, Starlink has a military dimension known as Starshield, which caters to the U.S. military’s needs for secure and robust communication systems [9, 10].
These government partnerships not only provide financial backing but also validate the technological innovations of Musk’s enterprises, playing a crucial role in their current market positions. More importantly, although we cannot say for certain, they may also be a key reason for Musk’s recent political donations and support.
[1] Bloomberg. (2020). Tesla got a major boost from 2009 U.S. stimulus. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-09/tesla-got-a-major-boost-from-2009-u-s-stimulus.
[2] Subsidy Tracker. (2024). Tesla Inc subsidies. https://subsidytracker.goodjobsfirst.org/parent/tesla-inc.
[3] Sacra. (2023). SpaceX funding. https://sacra.com/c/spacex.
[4] Al Jazeera (2022) ‘How Elon Musk financed his Twitter takeover’, Al Jazeera. Available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2022/10/28/how-elon-musk-financed-his-twitter-takeover (Accessed: 6 January 2025).
[5] The Verge (2022) ‘Elon Musk’s Twitter funding: What you need to know’, The Verge. Available at: https://www.theverge.com/2022/5/5/23058295/elon-musk-twitter-funding-qatar-larry-ellison (Accessed: 6 January 2025).
[6] Yahoo Finance (2022) ‘Elon Musk’s Twitter buyout backers’, Yahoo Finance. Available at: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/elon-musk-twitter-buyout-backers-151302642.html (Accessed: 6 January 2025).
[7] NASA. (Various). Commercial Crew Transportation Capability. https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/nasa-awards-spacex-more-crew-flights-to-space-station
[8] The Defense Post. (2024). SpaceX to launch nine satellites for US Military under $733M contract. https://thedefensepost.com/2024/10/22/spacex-us-military-satellites.
[9] Forbes. (2020). Elon Musk to build missile-warning satellites for the US military after SpaceX wins contract. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathanocallaghan/2020/10/06/elon-musk-to-build-missile-warning-satellites-for-the-us-military-after-spacex-wins-contract.
[10] The Verge. (2017). SpaceX signs US military contract over ULA. https://www.theverge.com/2017/3/15/14928638/spacex-signs-us-military-contract-over-ula-gps-iii-satellite.
