Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos trade compliments and 'Step Brothers' memes on X after rocket launches

SpaceX's Musk and Blue Origin's Bezos exchange praise and humor after their latest space missions.

Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, two tech moguls who have spent years battling it out for supremacy in the space race, seem to have buried the hatchet—at least, publicly. Their friendly exchange on social media following the results of their respective rocket launches marks a possible end to their long-standing rivalry.

The two billionaires, who each own powerful space ventures, SpaceX and Blue Origin, were at it again on Thursday, launching high-profile missions that had mixed results. SpaceX’s Starship rocket suffered an explosion, though its Super Heavy booster returned to Earth successfully, which caught the eye of Bezos.“@elonmusk Kudos to you and the whole SpaceX team on the flawless booster catch! Very impressive,” Bezos wrote on X (formerly Twitter), reflecting a rare moment of mutual respect between the two.

Kudos to you and the whole SpaceX team on the flawless booster catch! Very impressive.🚀

— Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) January 17, 2025

Earlier that day, Bezos’ Blue Origin celebrated a major milestone when its New Glenn rocket reached orbit. However, the rocket lost its booster during the test flight. Musk took to social media to extend congratulations, saying, “Well done, @JeffBezos, and the Blue Origin team!”

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

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 16, 2025

These positive exchanges are a stark contrast to the fiery feud that has defined their relationship over the years. The rivalry, which has included clashes over space ambitions, company talent, and even the coveted title of the world’s richest person, has been intense. Musk currently holds the top spot, with a net worth of $439 billion, while Bezos follows with $240 billion.

In the past, Musk has accused Blue Origin of poaching SpaceX talent and mocked Bezos for his space pursuits. The feud has also seen moments of public jabs, such as when Musk teased Bezos after SpaceX landed its Falcon 9 spacecraft, or when Blue Origin protested a NASA contract awarded to SpaceX in 2021.

However, Thursday’s exchange marks a dramatic departure from their past interactions. Musk, known for his sense of humor, posted a GIF from the comedy film Step Brothers, featuring the characters declaring, “Did we just become best friends? Yep!” He added, “Step Brothers is the perfect meme for @JeffBezos & me.” He followed up with another clip from the same movie, suggesting that their dynamic had shifted toward harmony.

“Actual footage of @ElonMusk & @JeffBezos at the Catalina Wine Mixer,” Musk quipped, in another playful jab that hinted at the new camaraderie between the two billionaires.

Actual footage of @ElonMusk & @JeffBezos at the Catalina Wine Mixer
pic.twitter.com/XE7VV8cCG1

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 16, 2025

Despite their years of competitive tension, Thursday’s friendly tweets suggest a shift in the relationship between Musk and Bezos. While this may all be unfolding online, the change in their dynamic is certainly noticeable, and followers of the space race are eagerly watching to see if this marks the beginning of a new chapter for the two tech giants.