Launch Of The NASA Probe Europa Clipper To Jupiter

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center. SpaceX has done tender offers to give its employees liquidity while staying private (Manuel Mazzanti/Getty Images)

ROCKETING

SpaceX’s valuation has reportedly jumped ~$100 billion in about four weeks

An internal share sale could see Musk’s rocket-launching co. valued at $350 billion.

Tom Jones

12/4/24 6:46AM

Lift off… and off… and off again

In mid-October, SpaceX successfully “caught” its Super Heavy, 230-foot-tall rocket booster with a pair of giant metal “chopsticks” — an achievement that could have dramatic implications for the economics of space flight. Roughly three weeks later, Donald Trump, heavily backed by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, won the presidential election.

Both events seem to have been good for SpaceX shareholders, as the company is reportedly looking at selling shares internally that could value it at $350 billion, just one month after Bloomberg reported that it was considering a similar tender offer at $255 billion.

The latest $350 billion figure would make it the most valuable startup in the world, ahead of TikTok owner Bytedance’s $300 billion valuation, The Wall Street Journal reported.

While SpaceX, or Space Exploration Technologies Corp., is yet to comment on the reported valuation record, it would cap off a pretty remarkable few months for Musk’s various businesses. For instance, X (née Twitter) has recently regained some of the dollar value shed since 2022, while Tesla shares have rallied strongly in the wake of Trump’s election win, up more than 40%.

As the mythically tinged name suggests, “unicorns” — private companies that manage to defy the terrifying statistics about failure rates of new businesses to reach $1 billion valuations — are a rare breed. Adding ~$100 billion to your startup’s valuation in a month? That’s unheard of.

Max Knoblauch10/16/25

Uber launches “digital tasks” in the US, paying some drivers to train AI

Beginning later this fall, US Uber drivers will be able to earn money by completing short “digital tasks” like uploading restaurant menus or recording audio samples.

CEO Dara Khosrowshahi teased the new gig income stream back in June at the Bloomberg Tech conference.

At that time, Khosrowshahi said drivers and couriers were “labeling maps, translating language, looking at AI answers, and grading AI answers.” According to Thursday’s announcement, the tasks won’t be so focused on Uber’s business, but instead on connecting workers with “companies that need real people to help improve their technology.”

Per Uber, digital tasks can be done when drivers aren’t on a trip, be it at home or when not driving, and will take only “a few minutes” each.

Uber’s having drivers train its AI while partnering with robotaxi companies that could replace them

Per Uber, digital tasks can be done when drivers aren’t on a trip, be it at home or when not driving, and will take only “a few minutes” each.

Max Knoblauch

10/15/25

United Airlines posts stronger-than-expected profit but weaker sales in its third quarter

United’s full-year profit outlook falls somewhere in between the dual forecasts it issued back in April.

United Airlines Airplanes at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey

Hyunsoo Rim, David Crowther

HEAD OF MACROS

10/15/25

Pop-Tarts, Doritos, and Uncrustables have joined the protein craze taking over America’s snack aisle

Food giants are catching up with the latest diet obsession.

Apple TV dropped the “plus” as streamers keep pulling back on originals

After the spray-and-pray approach led to a wave of cancellations, Hollywood is settling into an era of just making fewer shows.

Hyunsoo Rim10/15/25

Max Knoblauch10/14/25

The average price of a new vehicle in the US passed $50,000 for the first time ever in September

The average price of a new vehicle in the US surpassed $50,000 in September, according to Cox Automotive’s Kelley Blue Book.

At $50,080, that’s the highest industry average ever, reflecting the price hikes faced by new car buyers in recent years amid pandemic supply shortages, tariff-induced increases, and the high cost of EV production. The figure marks a 3.6% jump from the same month last year.

“Tariffs have introduced new cost pressure to the business, but the pricing story in September was mostly driven by the healthy mix of EVs and higher-end vehicles pushing the new-vehicle ATP into uncharted territory,” Cox executive analyst Erin Keating said. Passing the $50,000 mark was inevitable, Keating said, especially considering that the country’s bestseller is a Ford truck that “routinely costs north of $65,000.”

Year over year, new vehicle prices rose nearly 6% for GM, while Ford’s climbed 2.5%. Volkswagen new prices were up 12.5%.

As prices climb, so do delinquencies on loans to borrowers with lower credit scores. Recent data from Fitch Ratings shows the portion of subprime US auto loans 60 days or more overdue reached 6.43% in August.