Saturday, March 29, 2025
A bold new chapter in Elon Musk’s corporate ambitions may begin today as Elon Musk Starbase city moves closer to reality. Residents of Boca Chica, Texas—most of them employees of Musk’s SpaceX—are voting on whether to incorporate their community into an official city named Starbase.
The vote, expected to pass overwhelmingly due to the dominance of SpaceX workers and their families in the area, would transform the unincorporated neighborhood into a fully recognized city with the authority to enact ordinances and manage its own infrastructure. If approved, Starbase would become one of the rare modern-day examples of a company town in the United States.
As of 2025, around 500 people live in the area, with over half directly employed by SpaceX. The rest are largely family members, making the election outcome nearly a foregone conclusion.
Though Elon Musk wouldn’t hold a formal office in Starbase, his influence would loom large. From infrastructure to road closures and local development, the city’s affairs are expected to center around SpaceX operations.
Bobby Peden, a long-time SpaceX executive and vice-president of test and launch operations, is running unopposed for mayor. Two other SpaceX employees are also running unchallenged for city commissioner positions.
Musk’s ambitions for Starbase aren’t new. He first hinted at the idea in 2021, predicting explosive growth. Today, his vision appears to be materializing—with streets like “Memes Street” and an employee-exclusive “Astropub” already in place, complete with a neon “Occupy Mars” sign.
Despite the enthusiasm among SpaceX insiders, environmentalists and local groups are raising red flags. The South Texas Environmental Justice Network has protested the move, warning that incorporating Starbase could restrict public access to Boca Chica Beach, a location long used by families for recreation and revered by the Carrizo/Comecrudo Tribe for its spiritual significance.
“Boca Chica Beach is meant for the people, not Elon Musk to control,” the group said in a statement, urging Texans to oppose the incorporation and contact state representatives.
The Elon Musk Starbase city project aligns with the billionaire’s broader Texas expansion. Having relocated his residence and businesses to the Lone Star State, Musk now resides in a $35 million estate in Austin. SpaceX, meanwhile, has become a crucial revenue source amid Tesla’s struggles, with billions in government contracts driving its growth.
While Musk’s short-lived role in the Trump administration recently ended, his focus appears to be shifting firmly back to his corporate empire—starting with today’s Starbase vote.
