Optimus by Tesla Could Reshape the Global Economy and Job Market

Musk predicts that up to 80% of Tesla’s future value could come from its Optimus robots

Elon Musk has once again captured attention with a video of Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus, practicing kung fu. The robot moves autonomously, powered by AI, and is designed for far more than martial arts.

Tesla envisions Optimus as a versatile assistant capable of performing routine factory work and household tasks, potentially replacing humans in dangerous or repetitive jobs.

However, Musk’s bet on Optimus is not just a step toward the future – it’s a strategic business move. He predicts that up to 80% of Tesla’s future value could come from its robotics division rather than electric vehicles. The goal is ambitious, but the numbers seem encouraging: according to Business Wire, the global humanoid robot market is expected to grow from $2.98 billion in 2025 to $243.4 billion by 2035, an increase of nearly 80-fold.

This growth will inevitably transform the economy and the nature of work. Research from National University suggests that by 2030, automation could lead to the loss of around 300 million jobs worldwide, or roughly 9% of the global workforce. At the same time, new roles will emerge – from robotics engineers to maintenance and AI specialists.

Financially, replacing just 10% of Tesla’s workforce with Optimus robots could save the company $2.5 billion annually (Morgan Stanley). Musk plans to price Optimus at $20,000–$30,000, potentially making it accessible for large-scale deployment.

Production remains a bottleneck: Tesla aimed to build 5,000–10,000 units in 2025, but only a few hundred have been completed. Still, Musk remains bullish, predicting that Optimus could help drive Tesla’s market capitalization to $25 trillion, a bit less than half the total value of the S&P 500 in October of 2025.