The world's richest man, Elon Musk, has forecast that money will become insignificant within a decade as AI and robotics advance. "Money won't matter in 2036," Musk told The Economist in an interview, arguing that once robots and AI can produce more goods and services than any human could consume, currency loses its purpose.

Asked how people would live after AI displaces their jobs, Musk pointed to what he called "universal high income," describing a future economy so abundant that traditional employment becomes optional rather than necessary. He suggested people might still choose to work in some form — comparing it to growing your own vegetables even though buying them is easier — but that it would become a matter of preference rather than survival.

Musk also touched on the global AI race, saying China has a strong chance of eventually leading the sector once it scales up its computing capacity, noting that Chinese firms have already made notable progress despite operating with comparatively limited compute resources.

On his own political involvement, Musk admitted he got "a little too involved in politics" and "got carried away," referencing his role in Trump's 2024 campaign and his subsequent stint co-leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which officially wound down on July 4, 2026.

This isn't a new theme for Musk — he's floated the "money won't matter" idea repeatedly over the past year, including at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum in November and on the Moonshots with Peter Diamandis podcast, tying it consistently to his broader prediction that AI and robotics will eliminate scarcity.