Elon Musk, the third richest person in the world, can’t pay his contractors on time – SpaceX, one of the billionaire’s companies, has failed to pay more than $2 million.
According to a Reuters report, more than two dozen companies have filed at least 72 liens against sites developed by SpaceX since 2019, totaling more than $2.5 million. The amount is insignificant compared to Musk’s $187 billion fortune, according to Bloomberg.
“If they were to call me today, I’d tell them to fuck off,” said Brian Rozelle, owner of Hydroz Energy Services, an excavating company hired by SpaceX. After the company finished its job, SpaceX failed to pay its $19,214 bill.
“SpaceX is the big bully on the playground,” Carlos Carrasco, former Texas secretary of state and an accountant told Reuters. “They get away with this stuff because people want to do business with them.”
Musk also has a history of not paying his contractors. When he bought Twitter, several contractors filed lawsuits claiming the billionaire didn’t pay the bills. Many of the lawsuits have since been settled.
Even now, SpaceX has settled some liens. The company paid contractor Martin Marietta the $557,611 it was owed in March 2023. Still, it’s difficult for small companies to collect the money they demand from a giant like SpaceX.
Despite the unpaid bills, SpaceX is growing in Texas. The company is building more launch facilities, office buildings, and even a shopping mall in the state.
