Elon Musk is demanding investment banks advising on SpaceX's historic IPO subscribe to Grok, his AI venture's chatbot, according to the Financial Times. Banks reportedly spend 'tens of millions of dollars' integrating the software to secure the mandate. This overt quid pro quo marks a stark escalation in Wall Street's customary back-scratching, where firms often expect clients to reward loyalty with lucrative deals. SpaceX is poised for the world's largest IPO, making banks desperate to win the multi-billion dollar fees.

The move highlights how the company's immense leverage forces unprecedented concessions from major financial institutions.