Elon Musk Refocuses on Business After Political Stint

Elon Musk Wants to Get Back to Business

After months of headline-grabbing political antics, Elon Musk—the world’s richest man—is swapping his MAGA hat for a CEO cap once again. Musk recently vowed to become “super focused” on running his companies, and he’s already jumping back into action.

Last night, Musk oversaw the ninth test launch of SpaceX’s Starship rocket, which soared further than previous attempts but ultimately ended in another fiery failure. Still, this test marked a pivotal step in Musk’s ambitious goal of landing humans on Mars by 2029.

Why It Matters: The Mars Mission Is Serious

Despite the dramatic end, the latest Starship launch showed meaningful progress, reinforcing SpaceX’s goal of sending an unmanned rocket to Mars as early as next year.

Quick facts:

• Rocket height: 400 feet
• Goal: Reusability and Mars colonization
• Outcome: Reached new milestones before disintegration

Musk’s renewed focus on business suggests he’s serious about accelerating these ambitions—just in time, because his other companies are in urgent need of attention.

Musk Leaves Washington—And DOGE Behind

While Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) didn’t hit its lofty target of cutting $2 trillion in government waste, it did achieve something: hurting the image of his own brands.

The Fallout:

Tesla

• Boycotts and Layoffs: DOGE’s controversial federal layoffs triggered widespread backlash.
• Q1 Impact: Tesla’s Q1 profit dropped 71%.
• Europe Sales Crash: Down 49% in April, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association.

X (formerly Twitter)

• Weekend Outages: Tens of thousands of users experienced access issues.
• Traffic Decline: Roughly 8% drop from the 2024 presidential election through March 2025.

Neuralink

• Good News: Raised $600 million at a $9 billion valuation, per Semafor.
• Bright Spot: The brain chip company is showing strong investor confidence despite the noise.

The Big Picture

Despite these short-term blows, Elon Musk’s empire remains strong over the long term:

• He is still the richest man in the world
• The combined value of his companies has grown significantly over the last four years
• Musk’s leadership—when focused—still commands investor and public trust

With his MAGA era seemingly behind him, all eyes are on how effectively he can resurrect Tesla’s reputation, stabilize X, and realize the Starship dream.

FAQ: Elon Musk’s Business Reboot

Q: Why did Elon Musk leave his role in government?
A: He announced plans to scale back and refocus on his businesses, particularly following backlash related to DOGE layoffs and political involvement.

Q: What happened with the latest Starship launch?
A: The rocket made it farther than any prior test but ended in failure. It’s still seen as a milestone toward the Mars mission.

Q: How is Tesla doing financially?
A: Not great in Q1 2025. Profits are down 71%, and European sales dropped nearly 50% in April.

Q: Is anything going well for Musk?
A: Yes—Neuralink secured $600 million in funding and is valued at $9 billion, showing strong market interest in brain-computer interface technology.

Q: What’s next for Musk?
A: He appears to be doubling down on leading SpaceX, Tesla, and Neuralink as CEO, potentially pulling back from political distractions.

What do you think—can Musk turn things around now that he’s back in the driver’s seat? Share your thoughts in the comments.