It shows how some of Musk's wealth has come and was still expected to come from taxpayers before the plans were put on hold.

According to SpaceX’s own calculation, the Roadster completed its first orbit around the Sun in August 2019 and made its first close approach to Mars on Oct. 7, 2020.

The case is a reminder of how much of Musk’s wealth comes from taxpayers. His companies have government contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars a year.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Elon Musk has long railed against the U.S. government, saying a crushing number of federal investigations and safety programs have stymied Tesla, his electric car company, and its efforts to create fleets of robotaxis and other self-driving automobiles.

The U.S. State Department has quietly revised a planned purchase of “Armored Tesla” vehicles worth $400 million by removing any direct reference to Elon Musk’s electric car company. In its December release,