Ross Gerber, co-founder of the investment company Gerber Kawasaki, voiced skepticism surrounding the strategy of Elon Musk's portfolio of companies, particularly in the wake of the merger between SpaceX and the artificial intelligence startup xAI. These concerns spotlight potential ongoing financial difficulties within Musk-led ventures.
On Monday, Gerber utilized the social media platform X to express his doubts about the cash flow sustainability of these entities. He initially pointed out that X, Musk's social media platform, was reportedly experiencing financial shortfalls, leading to its merger with xAI. However, Gerber emphasized that xAI itself was also financially strained, an issue that may have been the impetus for its consolidation with SpaceX.
His remarks continued with an implication that SpaceX as well faces similar monetary challenges, questioning a hypothetical merger with Tesla in the event of continued financial depletion across Musk’s companies. Gerber concluded his commentary by challenging the logic behind a series of mergers driven by their cash flow issues, asking, "When they are all out of money…."
Financial details about xAI showcase the scale of its cash usage and losses. The startup reported a substantial loss of $1.46 billion in the third quarter and expended nearly $7.8 billion during the first nine months of 2025. Nevertheless, xAI managed to generate $107 million in revenue during the same quarter, indicating some revenue inflows amid significant expenditures.
The merger between SpaceX and xAI is valued notably high in market estimates. SpaceX's valuation is close to $1 trillion, while xAI holds an approximate valuation of $250 billion. Sources familiar with the deal indicate that the newly combined company’s shares might be priced at approximately $527 each.
Aside from financial considerations, the strategic intentions behind the merger reflect Musk's aspiration to broaden his footprint in space-based data center technology. He has publicly promoted this approach as a financially efficient alternative to traditional ground-based data centers, leveraging the unique capabilities afforded by space infrastructure.
Meanwhile, speculation persists regarding further integrations among Musk’s holdings, particularly the possibility of a merger between SpaceX and Tesla Inc. Tesla, publicly traded on NASDAQ under the ticker TSLA, has been the subject of conjecture following cryptic posts by Musk that hinted at a potential "convergence" of his enterprises. Additionally, reports indicate that SpaceX is preparing for an initial public offering (IPO) slated for June of this year.
However, views within the investment community express caution. Gary Black, representative of The Future Fund LLC, has advised that a merger between SpaceX and Tesla might not serve Tesla shareholders optimally due to the anticipated 35% dilution of shares coupled with differing price-to-earnings ratios between the two companies.
Moreover, Michael Burry, known for his astute investment insights and dubbed "The Big Short" investor, recently characterized Musk on social media as a "desperately incentivized futurist," a remark that calls attention to the ambitious yet potentially risky pursuit of futurist projects under Musk’s leadership.
As this landscape evolves, stakeholders observe developments with cautious interest, balancing the prospects of groundbreaking innovation with the inherent challenges linked to financial sustainability and corporate structure within the Musk ecosystem.