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“Money Won’t Matter in 2036” — Elon Musk Predicts AI Will Make Wealth Less Relevant
“Money Won’t Matter in 2036” — Elon Musk Predicts AI Will Make Wealth Less Relevant
The world’s richest man and widely regarded as the first trillionaire, Elon Musk, has made a bold prediction about the future of the global economy, declaring that money could become largely irrelevant within the next decade as artificial intelligence and robotics transform the way people live and work.
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Speaking during an interview with The Economist, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO argued that rapid advancements in AI technology will fundamentally reshape society by enabling machines to produce more goods and services than humanity could ever consume.
“Money won’t matter in 2036,” Musk told The Economist, explaining that Artificial intelligence and robots are increasingly doing the work.
Questioning the long-term role of money in such a future, Musk said, “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 queried.
His comments come amid growing global conversations about the impact of artificial intelligence on employment, productivity, and economic systems. Experts have increasingly debated whether AI will replace millions of jobs while simultaneously creating new opportunities and reshaping industries.
When asked how people would survive if AI eventually replaced large portions of the workforce over the next 10 years, Musk offered a straightforward response.
“Universal high income.”
The billionaire has previously advocated the idea that governments and societies may need to adopt new economic models to support citizens in an era where machines perform most forms of labour.
Musk also shared his views on the international race for AI supremacy, expressing confidence that China could emerge as a dominant force in the sector. According to him, the country is already making remarkable progress despite operating with comparatively limited computing resources.
He believes there’s a good chance that China will dominate AI when it has a lot of compute, noting that Chinese companies are doing well even with a small amount of compute.
Beyond technology, Musk reflected on his recent involvement in American politics, admitting that he may have become too deeply engaged.
The tech entrepreneur acknowledged that he got “a little too involved in politics” and “got carried away,” referring to his participation in the 2024 United States presidential election, which was won by President Donald Trump.
Following Trump’s re-election, Musk was appointed as a senior adviser and co-head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative aimed at improving government spending and eliminating waste. The department officially ceased operations on July 4, 2026.
Defending the purpose of the initiative, Musk maintained that its objective was to ensure that public funds were used responsibly and not lost to fraudulent activities.
“I got a lot of flak from this,” the billionaire said, while reiterating that the goal of DOGE was to ensure money is spent in sensible ways and not expended on fraudulent activities.
