But that is not actually the order things happened. He was talking about mars colonies before he become the wealthiest on the planet.
> Mars? Mars? How does that sound enjoyable?
Nobody said they want to do it because it is enjoyable. Where are you getting this?
> millions of people? I’m no expert but are there even anywhere near enough launch windows for that?
In what way do you think the number of launch windows constrain the number of colonist?
> I’m guessing even just figuring out the cost of the fuel to reach escape velocity would show how this a non-starter
You are guessing? :)
Yeah, well, that’s just, like, your opinion, man. Say what you will about the tenets of Martian colonialism but at least it’s an ethos.
> Why can’t our billionaires at least just slink off to the lovely beaches of some island somewhere. Oh wait, egos…
One person’s egotism is another’s genuine belief. I’m personally not surprised someone who had the ambition and luck to be a billionaire would continue doing things they believe in. I’m not even convinced it would be beneficial for them to disappear. What happens to the immense amount of capital they control?
> But Mars? Mars? How does that sound enjoyable? I actually hope he makes it there.
Does he actually want to go to Mars personally? I thought the idea was that he wants humanity to be multi-planetary.
He said "I'd like to die on Mars, just not on impact." in 2013, no idea how serious he is though.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/elon-musks-vision-die-mars-16....
> And I’m guessing even just figuring out the cost of the fuel to reach escape velocity would show how this a non-starter for more than Musk himself and a few companions.
You'd definitely be wrong about that. Fuel costs specifically are very obviously fine, the hard parts are (1) "can they make the superheavy/starship combo as reusable as they hope?" (2) "solve in-orbit refuelling", and (3), "kiloton/year Sabatier process ISRU without human supervision or maintenance, growing to megaton/year when humans become available for such tasks".
[0] Which is also why a criticism I see others making, "Musk didn't found Tesla!", isn't a big deal. It's true, but also Tesla had delivered no more than 147 individual cars by the time Tesla took over as CEO.
And, no, personally I don’t think Tesla or SpaceX count as giving back.
Why can’t our billionaires at least just slink off to the lovely beaches of some island somewhere. Oh wait, egos…
But Mars? Mars? How does that sound enjoyable? I actually hope he makes it there.
And millions of people? I’m no expert but are there even anywhere near enough launch windows for that? And I’m guessing even just figuring out the cost of the fuel to reach escape velocity would show how this a non-starter for more than Musk himself and a few companions.