xAI has acquired X, xAI now valued at $80B

Re:xAI has acquired X, xAI now valued at $80B by bumby on Saturday March 29, 2025 @06:40PM (#43519374)

I agree it applies to other contractors. My point is that the success is tightly coupled to the willingness of taxpayers to fund the operations.

You’re muddling points. I’m not saying the NASA contract was a subsidy. Tesla is a better example of subsidies.

No private capital was willing to contract to SpaceX until the risk was lowered. They’ve succeeded in doing so and deserve credit. However, they would have never gotten to that point without taxpayer dollars. Governments were the only institutions capable and willing of taking on that high initial risk. That point still stands. It’s odd that your stance denies that when Musk himself has admitted it.

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Re:xAI has acquired X, xAI now valued at $80B by WalterBright on Saturday March 29, 2025 @07:11PM (#43519595)

Musk founded SpaceX with $100m along with other investors providing another $100m.

The payoff for government was getting rockets at 10% of the cost of other rockets.

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Re:xAI has acquired X, xAI now valued at $80B by bumby on Saturday March 29, 2025 @07:17PM (#43519635)

You seem to be bent on have an altogether different discussion because you’re continuously missing the point. It’s exhausting, boring, and goes against HN guidelines about fostering a curious conversation.

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