Money Won’t Matter In 2036, Elon Musk Says

Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, has predicted that money could become largely irrelevant within the next decade as advances in artificial intelligence and robotics transform the global economy.

Speaking in an interview with The Economist, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO argued that rapid technological innovation could make traditional economic systems less significant.

“Money won’t matter in 2036,” Musk said, explaining that AI and robots would eventually provide more goods and services than people could consume.

“If robots and AI are providing more goods and services than any human could consume, what do you need money for in that case?” he asked.

On concerns that widespread AI adoption could lead to mass job losses, Musk said he expects society to transition to what he described as “universal high income,” suggesting people would continue to enjoy a high standard of living despite reduced reliance on traditional employment.

The billionaire also weighed in on the global race for AI dominance, saying China has a strong chance of leading the sector once it expands its computing capacity.

According to him, Chinese technology companies have already demonstrated impressive progress despite operating with comparatively limited computing resources.

Musk also reflected on his involvement in American politics, admitting that he became “a little too involved” and “got carried away” during the 2024 United States presidential election, which was won by President Donald Trump.

Following Trump’s re-election, Musk was appointed senior adviser and co-head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative that officially concluded operations on July 4, 2026.

He maintained that the department’s objective was to promote prudent government spending and eliminate fraudulent practices, while acknowledging that the role attracted significant public criticism.

“I got a lot of flak from this,” Musk said.