Elon Musk has made a lot of wild statements, but this one might top them all: "I'd like to die on Mars. Just not on impact." He first said it back in 2013 at South by Southwest and more than a decade later, he's still dead serious about it.
At the same event, Musk laid out his reasoning in typical Musk fashion—big picture, long term, and just a little apocalyptic. "The sun is gradually expanding. In 500 million years—a billion at the outside—the oceans will boil and there will be no meaningful life on Earth. Maybe some very high-temperature bacteria, but nothing that can build rockets." His solution? "Space travel is the best thing we can do to extend the life of humanity."
Don't Miss:
- Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — this is your last chance to become an investor for $0.80 per share.
- This Startup Is On The Brink Of A Huge Disruption To The $654 Billion Industry – Invest In It Before It Fulfills 800 Pre-Orders
Musk's obsession with interplanetary survival goes beyond escaping a distant cosmic disaster—it's about shaping a future worth looking forward to. As he put it on the SpaceX website, "You want to wake up in the morning and think the future is going to be great—and that's what being a spacefaring civilization is all about." He continued, "It's about believing in the future and thinking that the future will be better than the past. And I can't think of anything more exciting than going out there and being among the stars."
This isn't just a billionaire's fantasy—SpaceX is actively working to make it happen. According to Reuters, Musk just announced that Starship is set to launch for Mars by the end of next year, carrying none other than Tesla's humanoid bot, Optimus. And if that mission goes well? Human landings could begin as early as 2029–2031 if delays hit.
Trending: If there was a new fund backed by Jeff Bezos offering a 7-9% target yield with monthly dividends would you invest in it?
But Musk isn't talking about visiting Mars. He's talking about living there. His argument? Staying on Earth is the real risk. Climate disasters, asteroid impacts, AI taking over—pick your apocalypse. In his mind, Mars isn't just a backup plan—it's survival.
Of course, Mars is a death trap. No breathable air, subzero temperatures, deadly radiation—it's more of a "don't die" challenge than a dream home. Even Musk admitted in a 2021 interview with XPrize founder Peter Diamandis, "It's uncomfortable. It's a long journey, You might not come back alive."
Still, he's pushing ahead. Starship, SpaceX's fully reusable spacecraft, is central to the plan, with the goal of transporting humans and supplies to build a self-sustaining city on the Red Planet. The timeline is aggressive, optimistic, and exactly what you'd expect from Musk.
So will he actually die on Mars? That part's still up in the air—but he's making sure that if anyone does, they won't be alone.
Read Next:
- Are you rich? Here’s what Americans think you need to be considered wealthy.
- BlackRock is calling 2025 the year of alternative assets. One firm from NYC has quietly built a group of 60,000+ investors who have all joined in on an alt asset class previously exclusive to billionaires like Bezos and Gates.
© 2025 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Trade confidently with insights and alerts from analyst ratings, free reports and breaking news that affects the stocks you care about.
