The biggest hurdle to a SpaceX merger with Tesla isn’t Elon Musk. It’s Tesla’s shareholders

Merging SpaceX and Tesla, companies valued at $3.5 trillion each, presents formidable challenges beyond Elon Musk's direct involvement. Musk, CEO of both entities, faces a conflict of interest as he controls significant voting power in both firms. To move forward with the merger, he must secure approval from the majority of Tesla shareholders, a task described as "herding cats" by analysts due to its complexity and expense.

The shareholder vote requirement is particularly challenging, as it necessitates support from those holding the bulk of outstanding shares, rather than merely a majority vote. This hurdle is exemplified by the need for approval from holders of most of Tesla's shares, rather than a simple majority, which could delay the merger process.

Despite these obstacles, experts believe the merger could be beneficial for both companies, citing potential efficiencies from combined technological resources and engineering expertise. However, Musk remains cautious about treating the merger as inevitable, emphasizing that such assumptions could be overstated.