# Monuments to Elon Musk at Starbase: Admiration and Criticism Statues honoring the SpaceX CEO near Starbase complex spark both praise and controversy. - **Source:** [Business Insider](https://www.businessinsider.com) - **Published:** 2026-08-14 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/7b505c51-03ab-49b1-a631-7b9660be48dd ## Starbase: SpaceX's Rocket Hub and New City Located near the US-Mexico border in Texas, Starbase is SpaceX's massive rocket launch and development complex. Incorporated as a city in 2025, the area houses over 500 residents and thousands of workers. As SpaceX operations expanded, Starbase has become home to monuments reflecting Elon Musk's legacy. The site has turned into a pilgrimage destination for both tech enthusiasts and critics, showcasing the polarizing nature of modern tech leadership. ## Prometheus Statue: Gift to Humanity French foundry Atelier Missor is erecting a 50-foot-tall Prometheus statue near Starbase. Depicting the Greek titan who stole fire from gods, the monument symbolizes SpaceX's hopeful endeavors for humanity. The workshop plans to complete the project by August 2026. While Musk has previously praised the foundry's other designs, his direct involvement in this project remains unclear. The group describes the statue as celebrating 'humanity's boundless potential' represented by SpaceX's missions. ## Cards Against Humanity's Protest Monument The card game company launched a crowdfunding campaign for a critical monument targeting Musk. They claim their 2017 land purchase (originally meant to block Trump's border wall) was damaged by SpaceX operations. Dubbed 'Official Elon Musk is a Sad Little B—h Monument,' the $10-donation project raised $150,000 in 24 hours with over 12,000 contributors. A spokesperson stated this represents 'the kind of humanity we're actually against,' framing it as resistance to corporate overreach. ## Vandalized Musk Bust In 2025, crypto group ElonRWA installed a Musk bust inspired by viral internet memes. The statue was vandalized during April 2025 anti-Musk/Trump protests, with deep gashes appearing on its face. A large pink bandage sticker was later added to the damaged cheek. ElonRWA founders said they aimed to 'bring internet culture into physical reality.' The defaced bust remains near Starbase as an unintended symbol of public dissent against tech billionaires. ## Starbase's Transformation and Disputes Cards Against Humanity's spokesperson contrasts their 2017 land purchase—then surrounded by peaceful nature—with today's 'corporate hellscape of broken rockets and ugly mansions.' Their legal battle with SpaceX over property damage culminated in a 2024 lawsuit and confidential 2025 settlement. While SpaceX removed equipment per agreement, the company claims ongoing challenges from employee housing developments. This conflict exemplifies growing tensions between tech expansion and local communities. ## Clash of Art and Technology Starbase's monuments reflect the tension between technological ambition and artistic expression. While Atelier Missor's mythological tribute celebrates human progress, Cards Against Humanity's provocative installation resists industrial encroachment. These opposing approaches mirror Musk's dual perception as both visionary and controversial figure. The area has become a microcosm of contemporary tech culture, where physical monuments materialize digital-era debates about power and responsibility. ## Monuments as Social Commentary The Starbase monuments represent more than physical structures—they're manifestations of societal polarization. Musk's admirers view him as a modern Prometheus, while critics challenge his leadership and corporate practices. These public artworks crystallize ongoing debates about tech giants' societal impact. Each project embodies distinct perspectives on technological influence, from celebratory to cautionary, creating an open-air forum for 21st-century cultural discourse. ## Symbolic Legacy of Tech Leadership Starbase's monuments prompt reflection on tech leaders' place in modern society. Figures like Musk embody both inspirational and contentious qualities, reflecting 21st-century cultural dynamics. This evolving landscape merges technology, art, and activism into new forms of public dialogue. As more such projects emerge, they signal technology's growing cultural footprint—not just in infrastructure, but in shaping collective memory and values through physical symbols in the digital age. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-starbase-elon-musk-monuments-statue-prometheus-cards-against-humanity-2026-8 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._