How much funding (in USD) did Elon Musk’s various enterprises come from the United States government?

Elon Musk
Elon Musk always had a habit of suckling from the teat of the US Government

Overall, Musk’s enterprises have received billions of dollars in funding from the U.S. government, which has been crucial in supporting their growth and technological advancements. This funding has come in various forms, including direct loans, contracts for services, and subsidies aimed at promoting renewable energy and space exploration.

Elon Musk’s companies have received substantial funding from the United States government through various channels, including loans, contracts, and subsidies. Here’s a breakdown of some of the key funding sources:

SpaceX

  • NASA Contracts: SpaceX has secured significant contracts from NASA, including a $1.6 billion contract for cargo resupply missions to the International Space Station and a $2.89 billion contract to develop the Starship spacecraft for lunar missions[2][5].
  • Department of Defense Contracts: SpaceX has received contracts from the U.S. Air Force and other military branches, such as a $149 million contract for missile-tracking satellites and a $102 million contract for the Rocket Cargo program[2].
  • Federal Loans: SpaceX has also utilized federal loans, receiving $106.1 million since 2010[4].

Tesla

  • Department of Energy Loan: Tesla received a $465 million loan from the Department of Energy in 2010 to produce electric vehicles and develop manufacturing facilities. This loan was repaid in 2013[3][5].
  • Environmental Credits and Tax Incentives: Tesla has benefited from selling environmental credits and federal tax credits for electric vehicle buyers. As of 2015, Tesla had sold $517 million in environmental credits[5].
  • Pandemic Relief: Tesla accepted payroll-related benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic as part of the federal relief efforts[5].

SolarCity

  • Federal Grants and Tax Credits: SolarCity, another Musk venture, received $497.5 million in direct grants from the U.S. Treasury Department and benefited from federal tax credits covering 30% of the cost of solar photovoltaic systems before 2020[5].

Citations:

[1] https://www.statista.com/statistics/1290771/neuralink-total-funding/ 

[2] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/spacexs-launch-success-how-federal-grants-contracts-new-emdjian-mba 

[3] https://www.energy.gov/lpo/tesla 

[4] https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2023/07/cage-fight-elon-musk-mark-zuckerberg-money-in-politics/ 

[5] https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-list-government-subsidies-tesla-billions-spacex-solarcity-2021-12 

[6] https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hy-musk-subsidies-20150531-story.html 

[7] https://futurism.com/the-byte/spacex-tesla-government-money-npr