Elon Musk’s companies had received an estimated $4.9 billion in government free money, according to the Los Angeles Times. Since then, the companies have received billions more in contracts and other free money.
Elon Musk’s companies, Tesla and SpaceX, have received at least $15.4 billion in government contracts over the past decade. In 2024 alone, SpaceX received at least $3.8 billion in government contracts.
Independent analyses often point to roughly $5–6 billion in non-contract support across Tesla, SolarCity, and SpaceX, plus $15–25+ billion in cumulative awarded contracts, mainly through SpaceX.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/20/business/elon-musk-wealth-government-help/index.html
Here is a list of U.S. states that have provided tax increment financing (TIFs), grants, and other forms of free money to Musk companies (Tesla, SpaceX, and related ventures).
Tesla
Nevada – $1.3 billion in tax incentives for the Gigafactory (2014), including sales tax abatements, payroll tax breaks, and property tax exemptions.
New York – $750 million in state funds to build and equip the Buffalo solar panel factory (previously SolarCity, now Tesla Energy).
California – Hundreds of millions in state tax credits, low-interest loans, and direct grants for Tesla’s manufacturing and energy programs.
Texas – Over $60 million in local tax breaks and incentives for Tesla’s Gigafactory in Austin, along with property tax abatements.
Oregon – Tax credits and incentives for Tesla’s battery research and energy storage programs.
Louisiana – Tax incentives for Tesla’s energy division, including solar and battery storage projects.
SpaceX
Texas – Over $15 million in state and local incentives for the SpaceX launch site in Boca Chica, including property tax reductions and grants.
California – State grants and tax credits for SpaceX’s headquarters and launch facilities, including funding from the California Competes program.
Florida – Over $40 million in state incentives for launch infrastructure upgrades at Cape Canaveral.
SolarCity (Tesla Energy)
New York – $750 million for the Buffalo Gigafactory to produce solar panels (part of Tesla Energy after the merger).
California – Hundreds of millions in state-level solar incentives, including rebates and direct subsidies for solar installations.
Other states may have provided smaller-scale grants, workforce training funds, or incentives that aren’t widely reported, but the states listed above provided the most substantial TIFs, grants, and free money to Musk’s companies.
