I find it interesting he is 'dabbling' in two areas where liberal governments would predictably throw HUGE cash his way to subside their liberal fantasy world vision of electric cars and solar driven reality.
On this assumption I believe Musk's business plan was and is all along to get the government to fund him and his life. But oh damn! He's finding out the only way to do that is to get a government job.
Nancy Pelosi has a steady income as does anyone else she wants to help subsidize. Musk made the wrong, long term, career investment. Should have become a politician. Then he really could have a sustained life of ripping us taxpayers off.
SpaceX.
He is the owner of SpaceX, and a new satellite internet company which will use SpaceX to launch satellites in the next couple of years.
I think Tesla will only go down if Musk decides not to keep investing in it with income from SpaceX.
Much of his business model depends on federal $$$
Tesla and Space-X are the two biggies.
He is also involved in the high speed train and interstate corridor from AZ to Oregon thru NV.
Lots of good design were put into the high end Tesla cars but its hard to put the same quality into 1/3 the price point.