Jimmy Kimmel says Elon Musk is 'stealing from us' as SpaceX IPO fuels trillionaire milestone

Jimmy Kimmel raised concerns about Elon Musk's influence, taxes and growing reach as SpaceX's market debut boosted his fortune
Jimmy Kimmel criticized Elon Musk's growing wealth and influence during a recent monologue (Getty Images)
Jimmy Kimmel criticized Elon Musk's growing wealth and influence during a recent monologue (Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: Late night host Jimmy Kimmel slammed Elon Musk in his Thursday monologue, calling the SpaceX founder a "wealthy weirdo" and accusing him of "stealing from us" after Musk reportedly became the world's first trillionaire with the blockbuster SpaceX IPO hitting the market.

Kimmel on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' questioned whether the increasing influence of Musk's businesses and the growing footprint of SpaceX in financial markets could pose risks to the retirement accounts of ordinary Americans. His remarks came after Musk's net worth surged thanks to investor enthusiasm for the aerospace company's public launch.

Jimmy Kimmel says SpaceX's market impact could affect retirement accounts

During his monologue, Kimmel said Musk's wealth and influence had reached a level that should concern the public.



During his monologue Thursday, Kimmel criticized Musk while raising concerns about SpaceX's stock market presence potentially being "very risky for retirement accounts."

"What makes that even more unsettling is that this man, our first trillionaire, the richest man in the world, is also one of the weirdest people we've ever seen on this planet," he said.

"This obscenely wealthy weirdo has the ability and means to blow up the moon if he chooses and also to put a lot of other people's money in his pockets."

The comedian also warned viewers that SpaceX's IPO could become "very risky for retirement accounts," suggesting that the company's growing role in the market might expose ordinary investors to significant volatility.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 12: Host Jimmy Kimmel speaks onstage during the 95th Annual Academy Aw
Kimmel questioned whether SpaceX's expanding role in financial markets could affect retirement accounts (Getty Images)

In his monologue, Kimmel claimed Musk "paid almost no federal income tax over the past three years" after referencing his move to the US from South Africa in 1995.

"You know, for a guy who has been openly cheering immigrants getting kicked out of the country for stealing from us, sure seems like an immigrant who's been stealing from us to me," the host said.

Elon Musk reportedly becomes world's first trillionaire after SpaceX IPO

Kimmel's comments came just after reports that Musk had become the world's first trillionaire following SpaceX's much anticipated IPO.

The public offering sent the company's valuation soaring and added hundreds of billions of dollars to Musk's net worth, reports said.

Tesla, SpaceX and X CEO Elon Musk arrives to speak during an inauguration event at Capital One Arena on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Tesla, SpaceX and X CEO Elon Musk arrived to speak during an inauguration event at Capital One Arena on January 20, 2025, in Washington, DC (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

The milestone has added to scrutiny of Musk, who already runs a number of major companies from Tesla to SpaceX to xAI and Neuralink.

Supporters see him as a disruptive entrepreneur at the forefront of space exploration, electric vehicles and artificial intelligence, while critics say his vast fortune gives him too much political and economic influence.

Jimmy Kimmel's criticism adds to long-running feud with Elon Musk

It's also not the first time Kimmel has blasted Musk.

The host consistently called him out during his time as head of the Department of Government Efficiency, labeling him as a "narcissistic megalomaniac."

An Anthology of Fashion
The reported trillionaire milestone intensified scrutiny of Musk's leadership across multiple companies (Getty Images)

Kimmel's criticism is the latest example of the long-running tension between Musk and celebrity commentators. The billionaire has frequently clashed with media figures and late-night hosts over politics, free speech and business practices.

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