From Shells to Watts: Elon Musk's Vision of the Future Wealth Revolution

Elon Musk’s recent remarks have caused a sensation in the tech industry. He stated that the money people are currently hoarding is as meaningless as primitive humans piling up shells. A bolder prediction is that the true unit of wealth in the future will not be today’s currency, but the “watt”—a measure of energy. This is not a sudden radical idea, but a core thesis he clearly expressed during an in-depth nearly three-hour interview on the Moonshots podcast, at Tesla’s Gigafactory in Texas. He has also reiterated similar views multiple times at shareholder meetings and on social media platforms.

This perspective sounds bold but is supported by solid logic. Musk’s core judgment is: the entire logic of people today accumulating money for security is heading toward its end in history.

Why Saving Money Will Fail—Fundamental Changes in the Foundation of Wealth

In modern society, we work hard to earn money, essentially exchanging current labor for control over the future. But Musk believes that once AI and robotics mature, the rules of the game will change fundamentally.

Imagine a future scenario: robots capable of 24/7 continuous production—whether mining, construction, or pharmaceutical manufacturing—without human intervention. When labor costs approach zero, the prices of goods will approach their actual costs of raw materials and energy. At that point, will the paper money people are actively saving now become as meaningless as shells piled up by primitive humans, ultimately turning into worthless trash with no exchange value?

This logic exposes a vulnerability in the current monetary system: the value of money is essentially artificially regulated. Governments can print more paper currency at will, which is why inflation exists. But in a highly automated future economy, what will become of truly scarce and non-duplicable things?

Energy Is the Hard Currency—Why Money Will Devalue Like Shells

The answer points to energy. In Musk’s vision, energy is the true “blood” of the future world.

Whether it’s training AI models, powering robots, or running data centers, these infrastructures supporting future civilization all have a common critical requirement—electricity. Musk defines energy as the future standard of currency because it follows the laws of physics.

Unlike paper money, which can be printed infinitely, energy production is constrained by real costs. You cannot generate a kilowatt-hour out of thin air; every watt of energy requires real resources and a production process. This objectivity, scarcity, and non-reproducibility are the fundamental reasons Musk believes that watts will replace currency as the measure of wealth.

Ironically, his own company’s布局 has already fully validated this judgment. Tesla’s energy storage business, with the core goal of storing and distributing excess electricity; his plans to launch solar satellites into space, and even to build factories on the Moon—these seemingly sci-fi projects are essentially aimed at controlling more energy resources.

Musk’s Energy Battle—From Tesla to Solar Satellites

If Musk’s remarks are just theoretical, his business actions are a living proof.

During the construction of large-scale data centers, he once had to cobble together gas turbines for power due to insufficient electricity supply, while also deploying massive battery packs to stabilize the current. This real-world dilemma clearly shows that in today’s high-tech competition, electricity is no longer optional but a constraint. Energy shortages are becoming a ceiling for technological development.

Tesla’s energy business matrix—from energy storage batteries, to solar panels, to future space-based solar power plans—points in one direction: whoever controls more energy, controls the future.

Watts vs. Currency—The Challenge of Physical Laws to Economic Laws

The most interesting part of Musk’s prophecy is his emphasis on a fundamental distinction: currency is a human-created economic symbol, while energy is a physical reality of nature.

Economic laws can be rewritten by policy, and currency value can be artificially adjusted, but physical laws are inviolable. The scarcity, non-reproducibility, and objective costs of energy make it a more “real” standard of wealth than any man-made currency.

In a highly automated and energy-intensive future economy, the fundamental logic of resource allocation will shift from “who has the most paper money” to “who controls the most energy.” Hoarding shells-like currency today will be like bargaining with a pile of worthless paper in the future.

Change Your Mindset, Seize the Future

There are indeed different voices in the tech and economics circles regarding Musk’s views. Some see it as profound forward-thinking, while others think this kind of prophecy is too radical and difficult to realize. But regardless of stance, these ideas are built on the practical development trends of AI and the energy industry.

He is not simply advising people to stop saving, but reminding us of a deeper transformation: the future logic of wealth will shift from abstract currency symbols to concrete energy control. Over-obsessing with traditional currency accumulation now is less wise than focusing on energy technology development, energy industry布局, and sustainable energy solutions. That is the true way to grasp the future wealth code.

From shells to currency, humanity has experienced an evolution in defining wealth; from currency to watts, the next wealth revolution may already be quietly underway.