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.

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.