Starship to Mars: How SpaceX Might Build the First Trillionaire (And How to Invest)

Starship to Mars: How SpaceX Might Build the First Trillionaire (And How to Invest)

SpaceX’s Starship could be more than a rocket—it may launch the first trillionaire by opening the door to Mars colonization and a new space economy.

Introduction: A Rocket to Wealth?

When Elon Musk speaks of traveling to Mars, most people hear science fiction. But under the headlines and social media memes lies a business plan so enormous, it might reshape the financial destiny of human beings. With his private space firm SpaceX and its revolutionary rocket Starship, Musk isn't sending off just space missions—he's sending off a whole new industry. One that might make the world's first trillionaire.

SpaceX is no longer simply a space exploration firm. It's an infrastructure giant, a satellite constellation, a cargo delivery vehicle, and perhaps the beginning of a new economy—back on Earth as well as in space. At the heart of all that is Starship, so it's time to wonder: Is this another moonshot concept, or the next trillion-dollar opportunity? And how can ordinary folks position themselves to profit?

What Makes Starship So Important?

Starship is not just another rocket. It's the biggest and strongest space vehicle ever built, capable of transporting 150 tons of payload—or 100 people—into space and ultimately to the Moon and Mars. Its reusability is what makes it revolutionary, not merely its size or strength.

Reusable rockets used to be impossible. SpaceX made them happen, however. Starship goes even farther by being completely reusable—meaning the whole rocket, from the booster to the actual ship, can be reused repeatedly. That significantly reduces the cost of space travel. Launching stuff into space has until now cost tens of thousands of dollars per kilogram. Starship could reduce that by more than 90%.

Why does this matter to investors? Because making space cheaper to access unlocks new industries. It becomes affordable to launch satellites, transport cargo, construct space stations, and sooner or later, take people off Earth. In short, Starship is not a rocket—it's a key that opens up new trillion-dollar industries.

Musk's Bigger Vision: Mars and Beyond

Elon Musk has never been one to think small, even for other CEOs. While others care about scaling profits, Musk cares about scaling planets. His big picture with SpaceX and Starship is to create a self-reliant city on Mars that can support as many as 1 million inhabitants.

This is no nebulous fantasy. SpaceX has already tested and flown prototypes of Starship, secured contracts with NASA to send humans back to the Moon, and is constructing infrastructure to enable interplanetary transport. Mars is at the center of that strategy, but so is the Moon, low-Earth orbit, and global satellite internet.

What's most interesting is that Musk is creating an entire ecosystem. It begins with Starship. But it goes on to Starlink, the satellite internet project of SpaceX already in service across the globe. It goes on through NASA, the US military, and even global telecom firms. 

SpaceX is designing the rails of an economy based in space. If the ecosystem works, it won't merely take people to Mars—it may redefine wealth on our planet.

Can Elon Musk Actually Be the First Trillionaire?

Let's be real: Elon Musk is already among the richest individuals in all of history. With a net worth fluctuating between $200 billion and $250 billion, depending on Tesla shares and private estimates, he's already in very exclusive company. But a trillion dollars? That would amount to a jump of historic magnitude.

And yet, when you examine the numbers, it's not as crazy as it seems.

SpaceX today is worth more than $180 billion and remains in private hands. That figure could double in the next few years, particularly if Starship starts to pay off. But still more promising is Starlink, the satellite network of internet that could generate tens of billions of dollars a year in revenue. With tens of millions of subscribers and increasing interest from airlines, cruise liners, and rural communities, Starlink is fast emerging as one of the most lucrative segments of SpaceX.

Consider this: if SpaceX eventually gets listed and hits a valuation of $1–2 trillion—and Musk retains 40–50% ownership of the company—his individual holding can easily push his net value into the trillion-dollar range.

It's not about having a rocket company. It's about having the infrastructure of the next industrial age—space.

Why Mars Isn't Just Sci-Fi—It's a Business Plan

Everyone hears "Mars colony" and thinks science fiction films. But Musk sees something different: supply lines, contracts, employment, property, building, water recycling, and energy systems. In other words, a whole new economy.

Mars is not just about exploring—it's about establishing a new market. A base on Mars would require food, shelter, fuel, energy, communications, and security. That requires companies (and investors) to establish those services. And the initial company that sends people there? It will own a significant portion of that ecosystem.

If SpaceX becomes the main delivery and services provider for Mars, it's owning the railroads of the industrial revolution. That's not only lucrative—it's empire-building.

How You Can Invest in the Space Race Today

Now here's the part most people are actually wondering: how do you invest in this future?

Unfortunately, SpaceX remains private, so you can't invest directly—yet. But there are intelligent and legal means to position yourself now ahead of the door opening wider.

First, keep an eye on Starlink, which Musk has said will ultimately have its own IPO. This might come as early as 2026 or 2027, when it becomes reliably profitable. Starlink's IPO may be the most highly anticipated in history. Investing early—if you are a believer in the long-term potential—may prove to be a game-changer.

Second, you can invest in publicly traded companies associated with the space economy. They are aerospace titans such as Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, or companies like Alphabet, which made an investment in SpaceX. There are some satellite companies and infrastructure companies that might gain from the expansion of global internet penetration and launch demand.

Lastly, you can turn to space-themed ETFs. They contain a roster of dozens of businesses that specialize in rocket technology, defense, satellites, and the like. They're a low-risk means of being exposed to the space economy if you don't know which stocks to invest in individually.

The Risks to Consider

Naturally, no investment—particularly one that involves a rocket—is risk-free.

SpaceX continues to work on Starship. A number of test flights have resulted in explosions, delays, or failed landing. And although failure is a natural part of the engineering process, it still affects timelines, partnerships, and valuations.

Next there is the matter of regulation by government. Space law is developing. Who owns space? Who governs the Moon or Mars? What are the boundaries of private enterprise in space exploration? These are questions without answers that can influence the future of SpaceX.

And then--Musk himself. Visionary that he is, his tweets, personal politics, or incendiary decisions on occasion influence investor confidence. Investing in spacefax--that is, betting on Musk--is a bet on an unpredictable--but often genius-level--boss.

What the Future Might Look Like

Fast forward to the 2030s, and here's one vision: Starship is making routine trips to the Moon and Mars. Starlink provides the whole world with cheap, high-speed internet. SpaceX is assisting lunar cargo missions, assisting NASA in building a lunar base, and paving the way for commercial Martian landing.

In that future, it's well within the realm of possibility Elon Musk won't be merely a billionaire. He might be the wealthiest human being ever to have existed.

But most of all, those who caught the vision early on—whether they invested in Starlink, purchased stock in space ETFs, or launched companies serving the space economy—will all stand to gain. Because this isn't merely about one individual making a trillion dollars. It's about a new class of investors and entrepreneurs taking the rocket ride higher.

A New Financial Frontier: Final Thoughts

SpaceX and Starship aren't only pioneering the way to Mars—they're transforming what's possible in business and wealth. With reusable rockets, global constellations, and interplanetary ambitions, Musk has made SpaceX more than a technology company. It's the economic foundation of the future space economy.

And while the journey is risky, the potential reward is unlike anything we’ve ever seen. Whether you’re investing, innovating, or simply following the story, one thing is certain: the road to Mars is paved with opportunity.

So keep your eyes on the sky. The first trillionaire may not just reach Mars—they might be made by it.