How Do Billionaires Become Best Friends? They Launch Rockets On The Same Day. That's What Elon Musk And Jeff Bezos Did.

The richest personification successful nan world and nan 2nd richest personification successful nan world look to personification put their long-standing animosity into orbit pinch dueling rocket alloy launches.

On Thursday, Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin launched its monolithic seven-engine, 320-foot New Glenn rocket into orbit, marking its first proceedings flight. And later that day, Elon Musk's SpaceX launched its Starship rocket, which exploded successful flight, but its Super Heavy rocket booster was caught by nan "chopsticks" connected nan landing level successfully.

Following nan flights, nan billionaire rocketeers exchanged compliments complete societal media, alternatively than nan taunts we're overmuch accustomed to seeing.

"Well done, @Jeff Bezos, and nan Blue Origin team!" Musk wrote connected X pursuing nan New Glenn launch.

Well done, @JeffBezos, and nan Blue Origin team! https://t.co/wbezf3UP11

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 16, 2025

"Kudos to you and nan afloat SpaceX squad connected nan flawless booster catch! Very impressive," Bezos wrote connected X, replying to Musk giving an update connected nan Starship explosion.

Kudos to you and nan afloat SpaceX squad connected nan flawless booster catch! Very impressive.?

— Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) January 17, 2025

This online congeniality marks a move into nan billionaires' public-facing relationship. They've been astatine likelihood complete SpaceX and Blue Origin's plans and ambitions — publically deriding each program's accomplishments and Musk accusing Bezos of trying to poach his scientists. They personification too jockeyed for nan title of nan world's richest personification complete nan years. (If you're keeping tabs, Musk is acold retired successful beforehand successful that race, pinch an estimated nett worthy of $439 cardinal versus Bezos's $240 billion.)

Related: SpaceX Launches Its Riskiest Mission Yet pinch a Billionaire connected Board

This caller niceness comes conscionable earlier President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, which immoderate men and legions of tech leaders are expected to attend.

Recognizing nan oddness of their online high-fives, and perchance nan silliness of their feud, Musk wrote connected X, posted a gif connected X from nan movie "Step Brothers," pinch nan classical reside betwixt Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly: "Did we conscionable spell champion friends? Yep!"

He past replied to a Tweet showing nan 2 billionaires astatine luncheon 21 years ago, wherever they presumably had an epic nutrient fight.

Wow, a batch has happened successful 21 years! https://t.co/QNoOWuIfLP

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 16, 2025