There's an intriguing theory floating around about what might happen in 2026: SpaceX could reverse merge into Tesla, allowing Elon to consolidate his two major ventures under a single structure. Sounds plausible on the surface given the cross-synergies and unified control benefits.

But realistically? That's a long shot. The regulatory hurdles alone—antitrust scrutiny on combined aerospace and automotive assets, market complexity, shareholder dynamics—make it a steep climb. Both companies operate in drastically different ecosystems with separate stakeholder interests. Sometimes bold consolidation plays just don't pencil out, no matter how visionary the founder.