--- title: "Billionaire Space Tourist Basically Says “Let Them Eat Cake”" description: "A Japanese billionaire who spent tens of millions of dollars to take a trip to the International Space Station doesn't care that he can only do so because he's obscenely wealthy." date: "2021-12-16" modified: "2021-12-16" authors: - name: "Noor Al-Sibai" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/nooralsibai" url: "https://futurism.com/billionaire-space-tourist-speaks" categories: - "Future Society" tags: - "billionaires" - "international space station" - "space tourism" - "yusaku maezawa" --- # Billionaire Space Tourist Basically Says “Let Them Eat Cake” ![A Japanese billionaire who spent tens of millions of dollars to take a trip to the International Space Station doesn't care that he can only do so because he's obscenely wealthy.]() *\Image: Yusaku Maezawa\* A Japanese billionaire who spent tens of millions of dollars to take a leisurely trip to the International Space Station doesn't care that his vacation among the cosmos is only accessible due to his obscene wealth. In [an interview with the ]()*[Associated Press]()* conducted from his $80 million vacation aboard the ISS, fashion tycoon Yusaku Maezawa mused that "those who criticize are perhaps those who have never been to space." No kidding, sir! "Yes, it is still rather expensive, but it is not only about money," he admitted to the *AP*. "It takes time for your body to adjust in this environment and the training for emergencies takes at least a few months. So, honestly speaking, it is only accessible for those who have time and are physically fit and those who can afford it." We poor suckers on Earth may not have to wait forever, though: Maezawa said that "we don’t know if that is still going to be the case in 10 years, 20 years’ time." Worth just under $2 billion, Maezawa and his very lucky assistant Yozo Hirano made history last week by becoming the first space tourists to enter the ISS since 2009. Their 12-day stay has followed the billionaire's [headline-grabbing quest]() to go to space led to [a canceled reality show]() and a pact with SpaceX to [send eight other lucky folks on a trip around the Moon]() on their dime. Earlier in his ISS voyage, the billionaire [claimed he's going to give away some of his vast wealth while he's in space](), but it remains unclear why, how much, to whom, or when such charity will occur — and the question of his proclamation did not come up in *AP*'s latest report. While he's clearly thrilled to be among the 0.00000000001 percent of people who can afford to send themselves and their friends to space, it hasn't been all fun and games so far, as Maezawa told the *AP* that he's had difficulty sleeping and experienced motion sickness since entering the ISS. But rest assured, the billionaire is "getting over the motion sickness so I can enjoy the remaining days." "I am returning on the 20th and starting to miss Japan," he said. "Once I return, I want to have sushi!” Wouldn't we all like to have what he's having! **READ MORE:** [The AP Interview: Japanese tourist says space trip ‘amazing’]() \[*Associated Press*\] **More on Maezawa**: [*Billionaire Playboy Shares Video of Himself Frolicking in Outer Space*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've often been drawn to unpacking the narratives that underlie technological, scientific and medical progress, with a special interest in areas of conflict and ambiguity that end up setting agendas and steering the fates of both elites and the hoi polloi. I'm a committed generalist, but I often find myself returning to work involving NASA and the private space sector, the effects of AI on media and society, and the mechanics of the pharmaceutical industry, with a specific focus on the spread of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Prior to Futurism, I worked for publications ranging from Media Matters and Truthdig to Raw Story and Bustle. I'm also the author of "Myspace Scene Queens," a 2024 title in Instar Books' acclaimed "Remember the Internet" series. My work at Futurism has been cited by outlets including the New Yorker, Slate, Nieman Lab, the Verge, the MIT Technology Review, the Sunday Times, and the Daily Beast. I grew up in North Carolina, attended the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and now live in Brooklyn, New York. In my free time, I'm an avid reader and music fan; you can probably find me at a local poetry reading, concert, underground rave, or DJ set. I'm the proud parent of an ineffable orange cat named Mee-Mow. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()