Jimmy Kimmel weighs in on Elon Musk's 'unsettling' trillionaire status
The SpaceX founder and controversial tech magnate became the world's first trillionaire with the launch of his company into the stock market.
Edward SegarraJimmy Kimmel won't be hitting up Elon Musk for spare cash any time soon.
The outspoken late-night host criticized the SpaceX founder and controversial tech magnate as his company enters the stock market for the first time, a seismic move that made Musk the world's first trillionaire.
The once privately held commercial rocket company, established by Musk in 2002, issued an initial public offering, or an IPO, on Friday, June 12, which means SpaceX will now sell shares of stock to the public after listing them on the U.S.-based Nasdaq.
The IPO is expected to raise a record $75 billion at a valuation of roughly $1.75 trillion, Reuters previously reported. That valuation would be the largest public debut in market history and make SpaceX one of the most valuable U.S. private companies.
Musk's current net worth is listed as $1.1 trillion, according to Forbes.
Kimmel slammed the financial milestone Thursday night during his monologue on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"
"Elon Musk is expected to become the first ever trillionaire in the history of the world," Kimmel, 58, said. "And what makes that even more unsettling is 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."
Musk, along with other prominent businessmen such as Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has come under fire for his wealthy status in recent years amid growing discussions of income inequality. In November, pop star Billie Eilish called the Tesla CEO "pathetic" and a "coward" on social media after shareholders approved a separate deal that had the potential to make Musk a trillionaire.
Kimmel echoed Eilish's sentiment in his late-night remarks, raising concerns about the negative impact SpaceX's stock market presence could have on people's 401K plans. "This maneuver could make Elon a trillionaire and your parents Walmart greeters," Kimmel quipped.
"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," Kimmel said. "Wasn't he supposed to be going to Mars? Can't we chip in to help speed that up?"
Contributing: Eric Lagatta and Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY