Elon Musk Predicts Post-Currency Economy and Pledges SpaceX Shares

Elon Musk predicted on The Builders podcast that advances in robotics and space travel will create a multiplanetary economy where conventional currency becomes irrelevant. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO argued that AI and robotics will eventually outperform humans in all tasks, leading to an age of abundance where value is measured by mass and energy rather than money.

Musk stated that his personal fortune, estimated at $920 billion, will be diminished by taxes over several generations. He intends for his foundation to use his current wealth to pursue sustainable energy on Earth and expand human life to other planets. As a concrete action, Musk pledged to gift a share of SpaceX to every child in the United States next year, a contribution valued at over $10 billion.

President Donald Trump praised the pledge of generosity. However, Nobel economist Daron Acemoglu challenged the logic of Musk's predictions, questioning why Musk would not pledge to donate his current wealth to charity by 2036 if money is destined to become irrelevant.