Google will pay SpaceX $920 million per month for computing services.
SpaceX has made another major computing deal ahead of its historic IPO, this time with Google. The company announced the deal in a regulatory filing on Friday.
Under the terms of the deal, Google will pay SpaceX $920 million per month from October through June 2029. This payment is for the use of “approximately 110,000 NVIDIA GPUs, CPUs, memory, and other related components.”
The deal is similar in length and scope to the one SpaceX made with Anthropic at the end of May. Under that deal, Anthropic agreed to pay SpaceX $1.25 billion per month through 2029. This payment was to lease all available computing power from its Colossus 1 data center near Memphis, Tennessee, which xAI — now part of SpaceX — originally built for its own artificial intelligence efforts.
Google’s deal appears to pay for roughly half the computing capacity that Anthropic receives at Colossus 1. SpaceX did not specify which data center Google will use. CEO Elon Musk had previously suggested that his company would reserve the Colossus 2 data center for xAI.
Before its deal with SpaceX, Anthropic was significantly limited in its computing capacity, and it raised usage limits on the same day the deal was announced. Google is in a very different position, with some estimates placing it as the world’s largest owner of AI computing power.
In a statement, a Google representative described the deal as a result of unexpected demand for its recently launched AI products. Google said in a statement, “Google Cloud and SpaceX have long been partners. This is a short-term, timely agreement to ensure we have bridge capacity to meet growing customer demand for our agent platform, Gemini Enterprise, which is even higher than we anticipated.”
Colossus 1
Colossus 1 was a pioneering electronic computer built in 1943 at Bletchley Park, England, designed by engineer Tommy Flowers to help break German Lorenz ciphers during World War II. It is widely considered the world’s first programmable, digital, electronic computer, using over 1,500 vacuum tubes to process data at unprecedented speeds. The machine’s success in decrypting high-level German military communications significantly contributed to the Allied war effort, though its existence remained classified until the 1970s.
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee, is a historic city on the Mississippi River, best known as a major center for blues, soul, and rock ‘n’ roll music, with landmarks like Beale Street and Sun Studio. Founded in 1819, it played a key role in the cotton trade and was the site of the 1968 assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Lorraine Motel, now home to the National Civil Rights Museum.
Colossus 2
The Colossus 2 appears to be a reference to the Colossus of Rhodes, a giant statue of the sun god Helios erected in the city of Rhodes, Greece, around 280 BC. Built to celebrate a military victory, it stood over 30 meters tall until an earthquake destroyed it in 226 BC. Though no longer standing, it is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Google Cloud
Google Cloud is a suite of cloud computing services offered by Google, launched in 2008. It provides infrastructure, platform,
Colossus 1
Colossus 1 is a massive, 28-meter-tall sculpture of a male figure located in the town of Magliano in Tuscany, Italy. Created in the 1980s by sculptor Nino Caruso, it was originally part of a now-abandoned art park and theme park project called “Parco dei Colossi,” inspired by ancient mythological and historical figures. The sculpture, made of reinforced concrete, stands as a striking, solitary remnant of this ambitious but incomplete cultural initiative.
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee, is a major city on the Mississippi River known for its profound impact on American music, particularly blues, soul, and rock ‘n’ roll. Founded in 1819, it became a key cotton and slave trading hub in the 19th century before emerging as a civil rights landmark, notably as the site of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination in 1968. Today, it is home to iconic attractions like Graceland, Beale Street, and the National Civil Rights Museum.
Colossus 2
The Colossus 2 is a large-scale robotic sculpture by artist Jonathan Paul, first unveiled in 2023. It is designed as a movable, interactive art piece that can walk and respond to its environment, drawing inspiration from ancient myths of giant automatons. The work reimagines the legendary Colossus of Rhodes as a modern, kinetic marvel, blending history with cutting-edge technology.
Google Cloud
Google Cloud is a suite of cloud computing services offered by Google, launched in 2008 to compete with Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure. It provides infrastructure, platform, and software services, including data storage, machine learning, and analytics. Originally built on Google’s internal infrastructure, it has grown to become one of the top three global cloud providers.
Beale Street
Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee, is a historic thoroughfare renowned as the birthplace of blues music, with a legacy dating back to the early 20th century when it flourished as a hub for African American culture, commerce, and entertainment. Originally established in the 1840s, it became a vibrant center for musicians like W.C. Handy, who helped popularize the blues there. Today, it is a National Historic Landmark and a lively destination for live music, dining, and nightlife.
Sun Studio
Sun Studio, located in Memphis, Tennessee, is widely known as the “Birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” It was here that Sam Phillips recorded early hits for legendary artists like Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis in the 1950s. Today, the studio operates as a museum and active recording space, preserving its historic role in shaping modern music.
Lorraine Motel
The Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, is best known as the site of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination on April 4, 1968, while he was in the city to support striking sanitation workers. Originally opened in the 1920s as a whites-only hotel, it later became a motel that welcomed African American travelers during the segregation era. Today, the building houses the National Civil Rights Museum, which chronicles the history of the civil rights movement.
National Civil Rights Museum
The National Civil Rights Museum, located at the former Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, is where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968. Established in 1991, the museum chronicles the history of the American civil rights movement from the 17th century to the present, with exhibits on key events like the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington. It serves as a powerful tribute to the struggle for racial equality and justice.
