SpaceX to Invest $2 Billion in Elon Musk’s xAI Startup Amid Competition with OpenAI

Web Editor

July 13, 2025

two flags flying next to each other on a cloudy day in the sky with a spacex logo on it, Andries Sto

Background on Elon Musk and His Relevant Enterprises

Elon Musk, a multimillionaire entrepreneur, is the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla. He has also co-founded Neuralink, a neurotechnology company, and xAI, an artificial intelligence startup. His companies have been at the forefront of technological advancements, with SpaceX revolutionizing space travel and Tesla leading the electric vehicle market.

SpaceX’s Investment in xAI

According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, SpaceX has pledged $2 billion as part of a $5 billion capital round for xAI, strengthening ties between Musk’s enterprises. This investment comes as xAI, an artificial intelligence company founded by Musk, competes with its rival OpenAI.

Merger of xAI and X

The investment follows the merger of xAI with X, valuing the combined entity at $113 billion. The chatbot Grok, developed by xAI, is already compatible with Starlink and is expected to be integrated into Tesla’s Optimus robots in the future, as per the report published on Saturday.

Elon Musk’s Response and Recent Controversies

In response to a post on X discussing whether Tesla might also invest in xAI, Elon Musk stated on Sunday, “That would be great, subject to board and shareholder approval,” without confirming or denying the Wall Street Journal’s report on SpaceX’s investment plans in xAI.

Lack of Official Response

SpaceX, xAI, and Tesla did not immediately respond to requests for comments. Reuters was unable to verify the Wall Street Journal’s report at the time.

Grok Chatbot and Future Integration

Despite recent controversies surrounding Grok’s responses, Musk has praised it as “the smartest AI in the world.” xAI continues to invest heavily in model training and infrastructure, ensuring its competitive edge in the AI industry.

Key Questions and Answers

  • Q: What is the investment amount and its purpose? A: SpaceX has committed $2 billion to xAI as part of a $5 billion capital round, aiming to strengthen ties between Musk’s companies and support xAI’s growth in the AI industry.
  • Q: What is the significance of the merger between xAI and X? A: The merger values the combined entity at $113 billion and enables integration of xAI’s chatbot, Grok, with SpaceX’s Starlink and Tesla’s Optimus robots.
  • Q: How did Elon Musk respond to the investment report? A: Musk acknowledged the potential investment, stating it would be subject to board and shareholder approval without confirming or denying the Wall Street Journal’s report.
  • Q: What is Grok, and why is it significant? A: Grok is a chatbot developed by xAI, already compatible with Starlink and expected to be integrated into Tesla’s Optimus robots. Despite controversies, Musk has praised Grok as “the smartest AI in the world.”