




What a SpaceX–xAI merger could mean for Tesla stock
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The idea that Elon Musk’s artificial-intelligence company, xAI, and his rocket company, SpaceX, could merge ahead of a potential mid-year initial public offering of SpaceX stock is gaining steam. There have been several reports about Musk weighing the idea. Neither SpaceX nor xAI responded to a request for comment.
The idea isn’t as far-fetched as some might think. SpaceX is planning to raise capital to expand its AI ambitions, including building data-center capacity. It recently filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission to build a “space cloud" of up to one million satellites.
That’s roughly 100 times the scale of SpaceX’s existing space-based broadband product, Starlink. The idea is to use the power of the sun and the cold vacuum of space to free AI computing from its terrestrial bonds such as electricity supply and cooling. So if SpaceX is morphing into an AI company, why not merge it with xAI, which has been valued at roughly $200 billion in recent funding rounds, while SpaceX is reported to be seeking an IPO valuation as high as $1.5 trillion? That would value SpaceX at roughly 60 times estimated 2026 sales.
xAI isn’t likely profitable yet and carries its own lofty price-to-sales multiple based on recent funding rounds. Using similar valuation frameworks makes the merger math easier to envision, even if it remains aggressive. Then there is Tesla, which is also positioning itself as an AI company.
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