Don’t Save for Retirement’: Elon Musk Says AI Will Make Money Irrelevant
Elon Musk’s claim that saving for retirement may soon be pointless didn’t come out of nowhere. It’s the latest chapter in a nearly decade-long argument he has been making about artificial intelligence, automation, and the end of scarcity; an idea he has repeated across podcasts, conferences, and social media over the years.
“Don’t Worry About Saving for Retirement”
Musk’s most direct statement yet came on Jan. 6, 2026, during the Moonshots with Peter Diamandis podcast. Speaking about the pace of AI and robotics, Musk told listeners not to stress about long-term savings.
“Don’t worry about squirreling money away for retirement in 10 or 20 years,” he said. “It won’t matter.”
The remark quickly went viral because it cut against a century of conventional financial advice; and because it came from the world’s richest man.
Musk’s Core Argument: Abundance Breaks the Old Rules
At the heart of Musk’s claim is his belief that AI, robotics, and energy technology will soon drive productivity to unprecedented levels. When machines can make almost anything cheaply and at scale, Musk argues, scarcity disappears; and with it, the need to save money for future security.
In this future, he says, income, savings, and even money itself stop being the gatekeepers of quality of life.
2030 and Beyond: AI Smarter Than All Humans Combined
Musk has repeatedly tied his retirement comments to bold technical forecasts. He predicts that by around 2030, AI will surpass “the intelligence of all humans combined,” while humanoid robots eventually outnumber people.
On the Moonshots podcast, he said that “anything short of shaping atoms” can already be done by AI at scale; a capability he believes will only accelerate.
Work Compared to a Hobby
Musk expanded on the social impact of this shift at the U.S.–Saudi Investment Forum in November 2025. There, he suggested work would become optional, not necessary.
“If you want to work, [it’s] the same way you can grow vegetables in your backyard,” he said. “Some people still do it because they like it.”
In that world, jobs are about enjoyment or purpose, not survival.
“There Will Be Universal High Income”
Musk reignited controversy on Dec. 17, 2025, when he posted on X that people would no longer need to save money because AI would eliminate poverty.
“There will be no poverty in the future and so no need to save money,” he wrote. “There will be universal high income.”
The comment came in response to billionaire Ray Dalio’s praise of new “Trump Accounts” that seed investment accounts for newborns; a policy Musk called a “nice gesture,” but ultimately unnecessary in his envisioned future.
From Universal Basic Income to Universal “High” Income
Musk’s thinking has evolved over time. In the early days, he told that universal basic income would be “necessary” once robots took many jobs. Over the years, his language shifted from “basic” to “high,” reflecting his growing confidence that AI productivity will be extreme, not incremental.
At the Viva Technology conference in Paris in 2024, Musk said that in a best-case outcome, “probably none of us will have a job,” paving the way for what he called “universal high income, not universal basic income.”
Money as Obsolete as Oxygen
In several appearances, Musk has gone even further, suggesting money itself could become largely irrelevant. He has compared future money to oxygen; something that still exists, but is so abundant you no longer think about it.
If goods, services, healthcare, and education are effectively unlimited, he argues, stockpiling currency becomes unnecessary.
Social Media Backlash Meets Economic Reality
Each time Musk repeats this idea, backlash follows; especially online. After his December 2025 X post, users on X, Reddit, and personal-finance forums pointed out the disconnect between Musk’s optimism and current realities like housing shortages, medical debt, and stagnant wages.
Critics argue that even modest universal income programs remain politically controversial today, let alone a “high income” standard for everyone.
The Missing Blueprint: Who Pays and How?
Despite nearly a decade of commentary, Musk has never laid out a concrete plan for universal high income. There’s no detailed tax structure, no distribution mechanism, and no explanation for how AI-generated wealth would reliably end up in individual bank accounts.
So far, his vision remains a philosophical and technological forecast rather than a policy proposal.
Why Financial Experts Still Say: Keep Saving
Personal finance professionals warn that taking Musk literally would mean betting on several uncertain outcomes at once; rapid AI progress, effective redistribution, and political coordination; all happening before your retirement date.
History suggests major technological revolutions take decades to deliver broad, stable gains, often with deep inequality and social upheaval along the way.
The Takeaway: A Decade-Long Vision, Not New Advice
Musk’s claim that saving for retirement will be “irrelevant” isn’t a one-off sound bite. It’s a long-running belief he’s been refining, repeated at conferences in 2024, on social media in 2025, and most bluntly on a podcast in January 2026.
He may ultimately be right that AI forces societies to rethink work, income, and money itself. But until there’s real legislation, real funding, and real payments showing up in everyday lives, his advice remains a provocative forecast; not a financial plan you can safely build your future on.
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$774 Billion on Hand: Treasury Braces for Tariff Refunds as Supreme Court Weighs Trump’s Powers
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the federal government has more than enough cash to cover any tariff refunds if the Supreme Court rules against President Donald Trump’s emergency tariffs. With roughly $774 billion on hand, Bessent stressed that refunds would not pose a liquidity problem, even if payouts stretch over months or more than a year.
$774 Billion on Hand: Treasury Braces for Tariff Refunds as Supreme Court Weighs Trump’s Powers
2026 State Tax Shake-Up: See How Your Income, Property, and Sales Taxes Will Change
As the calendar flips to 2026, taxpayers across the country will feel the impact of sweeping state tax changes. From income tax cuts and flat-tax expansions to corporate reforms, sales tax overhauls, and property tax relief, 43 states are implementing notable tax changes, most taking effect January 1, 2026. Together, they reveal a clear trend: states are competing harder than ever to attract workers, families, retirees, and businesses. Below are some of the significant changes.
2026 State Tax Shake-Up: See How Your Income, Property, and Sales Taxes Will Change
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John Dealbreuin came from a third world country to the US with only $1,000 not knowing anyone; guided by an immigrant dream. In 12 years, he achieved his retirement number.
He started Financial Freedom Countdown to help everyone think differently about their financial challenges and live their best lives. John resides in the San Francisco Bay Area enjoying nature trails and weight training.
Here are his recommended tools
Personal Capital: This is a free tool John uses to track his net worth on a regular basis and as a retirement planner. It also alerts him wrt hidden fees and has a budget tracker included.
Platforms like Yieldstreet provide investment options in art, legal, real estate, structured notes, venture capital, etc. They also have fixed-income portfolios spread across multiple asset classes with a single investment with low minimums of $10,000.
