xAI Loses Seventh Co-Founder as Departures Mount Amid $1.25 Trillion SpaceX Merger Shake-Up

Feb 27, 2026
Bloomberg.com
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Summary

xAI loses its seventh co-founder as Toby Pohlen departs Elon Musk's AI startup, accelerating a leadership exodus tied to the company's massive $1.25 trillion merger with SpaceX and a potential record-breaking IPO.

Key Points

  • xAI co-founder Toby Pohlen announces his departure from Elon Musk's AI startup, becoming the seventh of 12 co-founders to leave in less than three years.
  • Pohlen's exit follows a recent restructuring triggered by xAI's merger with SpaceX, a deal valuing the combined company at $1.25 trillion, with SpaceX now eyeing what could be the largest IPO of all time.
  • Other recent departures include co-founders Jimmy Ba and Tony Wu earlier this month, while Greg Yang stepped back after a Lyme disease diagnosis, signaling growing instability in xAI's founding leadership.

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