Elon Musk, the tech billionaire known for reshaping industries from electric cars to space travel, is once again in the spotlight. This time, it's not about Mars colonization or autonomous rockets. Musk is reportedly preparing a major SpaceX funding round of approximately $4 billion (IDR 65 trillion), a move that could boost the company’s valuation beyond that of OpenAI, the artificial intelligence firm he helped co-found before stepping away.

This funding push is not just about capital. It's a bold statement that SpaceX, under Musk’s leadership, remains a formidable force in the tech world and a direct competitor to the hype surrounding AI unicorns. The battle of valuations is on, and Musk clearly wants SpaceX to come out on top.

SpaceX Funding Push: What We Know So Far

According to a report by Bloomberg and recent coverage by Indonesian business media, SpaceX is planning to raise around $4 billion in fresh capital. If successful, the round would likely boost SpaceX's valuation from its current $180 billion to over $200 billion. That would place it above OpenAI, which was last valued around $90 billion following its secondary share sale earlier this year.

The SpaceX funding round is expected to come from both institutional and strategic investors, including those already embedded in the company’s previous fundraising cycles. The proceeds will reportedly be used to accelerate satellite production, expand the Starlink internet network, and invest in the Starship launch system for future deep space missions.

The move also suggests that Musk is leveraging the current interest in space commercialization and satellite infrastructure as a profitable counter-narrative to AI-centric investing.

Why Elon Musk Is Competing With OpenAI

Elon Musk has a complex relationship with OpenAI. As one of its original co-founders in 2015, Musk envisioned the organization as a nonprofit that would democratize artificial intelligence. However, he parted ways with the company in 2018 over disagreements about its direction, particularly its shift toward commercialization and its close ties with Microsoft.

OpenAI's explosive growth and ChatGPT’s global success put it at the center of the AI revolution, drawing billions in funding and partnerships from tech giants. Musk has since launched his own AI company, xAI, but it is still in its early stages compared to OpenAI.

The upcoming SpaceX funding round seems to reflect a deeper motivation: to demonstrate that Musk's original empire, rooted in aerospace engineering and interplanetary exploration, still has more substance and value than the latest AI sensation.

Musk’s competition with OpenAI is not just financial, but philosophical. While AI firms promise to reshape productivity and automate cognition, SpaceX aims to expand the physical boundaries of humanity. These two visions of the future are now colliding in the race for investor confidence.

Strategic Vision: How SpaceX Plans to Use the Funding

SpaceX is more than just rockets and satellites. It is building the infrastructure for the next era of global connectivity, space commerce, and potentially extraterrestrial life. The new funding will support several key projects:

• Starlink Expansion: SpaceX's satellite internet network currently has over 5,000 operational satellites in orbit. With more funding, the company can increase coverage in underserved regions, monetize enterprise and defense contracts, and launch second-generation satellites with higher bandwidth.
• Starship Development: The fully reusable Starship vehicle is critical for Musk’s goal to transport humans to Mars. Funding will accelerate testing and improve reliability for commercial and NASA missions.
• Commercial Launches: As demand for satellite launches grows, SpaceX remains the world’s leader in orbital launches. More capital enables rapid infrastructure scaling and launch cadence improvements.

By positioning SpaceX not only as a space company but also as a communications provider and commercial infrastructure backbone, Musk is appealing to a broader set of investors than traditional aerospace backers.

How SpaceX Funding Compares With AI and Tech Giants

The competitive landscape for mega funding rounds has changed significantly over the past five years. Companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Inflection AI have raised massive amounts based on future potential, often without profitable business models. SpaceX, on the other hand, already generates revenue from Starlink subscriptions, government contracts, and satellite launches.

Comparing valuations:

• SpaceX (projected): $200 billion
• OpenAI: $90 billion
• Anthropic: $15 billion
• Blue Origin: $120 billion (estimated, not publicly confirmed)

While AI companies grab headlines, many still operate with limited revenue streams. SpaceX's real-world business and tangible assets give it a more defensible valuation.

Moreover, SpaceX’s presence in dual-use sectors (civilian and defense) gives it access to long-term government contracts, an advantage that AI companies often lack.

Implications for Global Investors and the Tech Ecosystem

Elon Musk’s SpaceX funding round has major implications:

1. Investor Sentiment Shift: This move may encourage investors to diversify away from overhyped AI ventures and consider space infrastructure as a long-term growth category.
2. Valuation Benchmarking: Musk is challenging the idea that AI is the only game in town, suggesting space tech deserves equal or greater valuation.
3. Emerging Markets Engagement: SpaceX’s Starlink services are already being tested in Indonesia, the Philippines, and other Southeast Asian countries. This could bring more regional investors into the funding round.

This development also signals to governments and regulators that investing in physical infrastructure, from launch pads to satellites, is just as essential as betting on algorithms and data science.

The Future of SpaceX in a Post-AI Bubble Economy

If history is any guide, Musk’s boldest bets often defy the trends. In a time when venture capital is flooded with AI startups and LLM-based business models, Musk is doubling down on space hardware, reusable rockets, and orbital internet.

This latest SpaceX funding push is not just a cash grab, but a strategic repositioning of the company as the most valuable private tech firm on Earth. In doing so, Musk is reminding the world that long-term vision still matters in Silicon Valley, even if the market is momentarily distracted by chatbots and synthetic content.