If you’ve spent any time on the internet lately, you know the vibe around Elon Musk has shifted from "tech billionaire" to something more like a global weather system. You can't really ignore it. Honestly, keeping up with the guy is a full-time job. As of January 2026, he isn't just running car companies and rocket labs anymore; he is effectively a fixture of the US government, the richest person to ever walk the earth, and the guy trying to put a robot in your kitchen by next year.
It's a lot.
Most people are still arguing about things he did in 2024, but the reality on the ground has moved way past that. Whether you love the chaos or find it exhausting, the sheer scale of what Musk is doing right now is unprecedented. We are talking about a man with a net worth hovering around $720 billion. That’s not just rich. That is "wealthier than most countries" rich.
The SpaceX IPO and the Race to $1 Trillion
The biggest news hitting the markets right now is the confirmed SpaceX IPO. For years, people begged Musk to take the rocket company public, and he always said "not until we have a regular rhythm to Mars." Well, apparently, 2026 is that year.
Musk recently confirmed that SpaceX is eyeing an initial public offering with a valuation target north of $1 trillion. Think about that. A private aerospace company becoming a trillion-dollar entity. Most of this value isn't even about the rockets themselves; it’s about Starlink. The satellite internet service has basically become the backbone of global connectivity, especially in areas where traditional fiber just can't reach.
Wait, it gets weirder.
Musk isn't just looking for cash. He’s mentioned that the funds from this IPO are earmarked for building space-based data centers. Basically, he wants to put the "cloud" in actual space. It sounds like sci-fi, but when you own the rockets and the satellites, the overhead for putting servers in orbit drops significantly. He’s also hinted at giving loyal Tesla shareholders priority access to the SpaceX stock, which is a classic Musk move to keep his fan base happy.
What Really Happened With the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)
You’ve probably seen the headlines about DOGE. No, not the meme coin—though the name is a deliberate nod to it. Last year, Musk took on a role leading the "Department of Government Efficiency" under the Trump administration.
It was... a mess.
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Depending on who you ask, it was either a necessary "chainsaw" to bureaucracy or a total train wreck. Musk originally claimed he could cut $2 trillion from the federal budget. By the time 2026 rolled around, he’d walked that back to about $1 trillion, and actual reported savings are closer to **$214 billion**.
The DOGE Legacy
- Mass Layoffs: There were over 26,000 instances where federal employees were fired and then hired back because the "efficiency" cuts broke essential services.
- Credit Card Limits: One of the wilder stories was a $1 limit placed on most government credit cards to "stop waste," which mostly just resulted in federal agents not being able to buy printer paper or travel for work.
- The Pivot: Musk recently admitted on a podcast that he probably wouldn't do it again. He said he’d rather spend his time "building my companies."
The experiment seems to be winding down. The "United States DOGE Service" is officially scheduled to end on July 4, 2026. It leaves behind a Washington that is deeply divided and a lot of federal agencies that are still trying to figure out where their funding went.
Tesla’s Pivot: Robots and Subscriptions
Tesla isn't just a car company anymore. If you look at their 2026 strategy, they are morphing into an AI and robotics firm.
The most immediate change for owners is the death of the "buy it once" model for software. As of February 14, 2024, Tesla is stopping the outright sale of Full Self-Driving (FSD). From now on, it’s a $99 monthly subscription only.
Why? Because recurring revenue is king. Musk needs to prove to investors that Tesla can make money like a software company (think Netflix) rather than a hardware company (think Ford). Tesla claims they have over 7.2 billion miles of FSD data now. Musk says they need 10 billion miles to achieve "safe unsupervised self-driving." They aren't there yet, but they are getting close.
The Optimus Factor
Then there’s Optimus. The humanoid robot.
Musk has moved production to the Fremont plant with a goal of making one million units a year. He’s pricing them at $20,000.
The goal for 2026 isn't just to have them dancing on stage. Tesla is trying to integrate them into their own factories to do the "boring, repetitive" stuff. If he can prove they work in a factory, he’ll try to sell them to you for your house.
Starship and the 2026 Mars Window
Every 26 months, the planets align for a trip to Mars. That window opens this year.
SpaceX is planning to launch the first Starships to Mars in 2026.
To be clear: there won't be people on these. Not yet.
The mission is carrying what Musk calls a "mankind's ambassador"—basically a high-tech robotic payload designed to test if the ship can actually land without blowing up.
Starship is the largest rocket ever built. It’s designed to carry 150 metric tons to orbit. If the 2026 uncrewed missions work, the timeline for actual humans hitting the red planet moves into the early 2030s.
Why Musk Still Matters (The Bottom Line)
It’s easy to get lost in the tweets and the political drama. But if you strip all that away, you have a single individual who controls:
- The world’s primary satellite internet network.
- The only reusable orbital rocket system.
- The most data-rich autonomous driving program.
- A significant portion of the US electric grid infrastructure via Tesla Energy.
His influence isn't just about money; it's about infrastructure. Whether he's open-sourcing the X algorithm (which he just did again this month) or fighting with world leaders, he is operating at a scale that most humans can't really wrap their heads around.
Actionable Insights for 2026
If you are trying to navigate the "Musk Economy" this year, keep these three things in mind:
- Watch the SpaceX IPO: This will be the largest financial event of the decade. If you are an investor, look for ways to get exposure to the space economy now, as the "trillion-dollar" valuation will set the benchmark for everyone else.
- Monitor FSD Milestones: The "10 billion mile" mark is the one to watch. Once Tesla hits that, expect a massive push for regulatory approval for "unsupervised" driving. This will change property values in cities if people can sleep while they commute.
- Prepare for "Subscription Everything": Tesla’s move to a $99/month model for FSD is a signal. Expect more hardware companies to lock features behind monthly paywalls. It’s annoying, but it’s the 2026 reality.
The drama is constant, and the "bromance" with the White House is back on for now, but the real story is the technology. We are watching the transition from a car-centric world to an AI-and-robotics world, and like it or not, Musk is the one holding the map.
Check your Tesla app for that FSD update before the February 14 deadline if you’re still on the fence about the old pricing model.
Sources and References:
- Bloomberg Billionaires Index, January 2026 data.
- SpaceX Internal Mission Briefing: Mars 2026 Windows.
- Tesla Investor Relations: Q4 2025 Earnings Call and FSD Subscription Pivot.
- Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Final Performance Review, January 2026.