Adeo Ressi, entrepreneur and longtime associate of Elon Musk, recently reflected on the origins of Musk’s aerospace company, SpaceX, following its landmark public listing on the Nasdaq exchange. The move valued SpaceX at approximately $1.7 trillion, propelling Musk to become the world’s first trillionaire with an estimated net worth of $1.3 trillion.

Ressi and Musk first met in 1992 while attending the University of Pennsylvania, having transferred from other institutions. Their early discussions about space exploration, conducted during a nighttime car ride, laid the conceptual groundwork for what would eventually become SpaceX. The two envisioned a project initially dubbed “Life to Mars,” aiming to demonstrate the feasibility of private-sector space missions by sending biological material, such as a plant, to Mars.

In the early 2000s, with a projected budget of $50 million, Musk and Ressi explored purchasing intercontinental ballistic missiles in Russia to launch their mission, anticipating possible failure on the first attempt to refine the process. However, negotiations collapsed when the Russians increased prices substantially, prompting Musk to consider establishing his own rocket company. Despite widespread skepticism from the space community—who unanimously advised against the venture—Musk pressed forward.

Ressi recalled efforts by Musk’s peers to intervene, fearing the billionaire would risk his fortune on a high-stakes gamble. Ultimately, Musk’s determination prevailed, and SpaceX was founded in March 2002. Over the last two and a half decades, the company has endured numerous challenges and near failures, sustaining a level of resilience that Ressi attributes to Musk’s exceptional willpower and high standards for himself and his team.

Since going public, SpaceX has surpassed Amazon to become the world’s fifth-most valuable company, with a market capitalization reaching $2.4 trillion at the close of trading. The company launched more than 150 missions last year and has deployed over 10,400 satellites to support its broadband network, Starlink.

While Musk’s rise to unprecedented wealth has sparked debate around the implications of concentrated wealth, late-stage capitalism, and democratic accountability—particularly given Musk’s visibility as owner of X, formerly Twitter—Ressi emphasized Musk’s overarching goal. “The main reason he’s amassing wealth is to help us to become multi-planetary, because no one else is doing it,” Ressi said, underscoring Musk’s commitment to the long-term survival of humanity.

Ressi also shared insights into Musk’s unique working style and visionary thinking, noting how Musk can design products mentally without formal engineering tools, coupled with an unyielding drive to advance ambitious projects. Reflecting on their initial conversations, Ressi framed the pursuit of space colonization as a necessary priority alongside global health and environmental concerns, given the existential risks humanity faces.

From modest beginnings to becoming a transformative force in the aerospace sector, SpaceX’s journey is marked by innovation, setbacks, and the unrelenting ambition of its founder—a trajectory mirrored by the enduring partnership and early encouragement from figures like Adeo Ressi.