When the creators of a raunchy party game take on the world’s richest man, you know things are going to get weird. Honestly, it sounds like the setup for a joke or a very specific expansion pack. But for the folks at Cards Against Humanity, the situation was dead serious. They weren’t just looking for a headline; they were looking to protect a piece of land they’d spent years defending.
Basically, it started as a middle finger to a border wall and ended with a legal battle over "space garbage." If you’ve been following the news, you know that Cards Against Humanity sues Musk isn't just a catchy headline—it was a high-stakes game of property rights played out in the Texas dirt.
The Plot of Land That Sparked a War
Back in 2017, Cards Against Humanity (CAH) did what they do best: a massive, crowd-funded stunt. They asked 150,000 fans to chip in $15 each. The goal? To buy a vacant plot of land on the U.S.-Mexico border. They wanted to make it as legally difficult and expensive as possible for the Trump administration to build its promised border wall. They even hired a law firm specializing in eminent domain.
The land sat there, pristine and untouched, for years.
Fast forward to 2024. The game company discovered that their neighbors at SpaceX—Elon Musk’s massive aerospace firm—had apparently decided that property lines were more like suggestions. According to the lawsuit filed in a Texas state court, SpaceX treated the CAH land like their own personal staging ground.
We aren't talking about a few stray tire tracks. The lawsuit alleged that SpaceX cleared natural vegetation, laid down gravel, and parked heavy construction equipment on the property. Photos included in the filing showed a dramatic "before and after." What was once a lush meadow was suddenly a dusty parking lot for "space junk" and tractors.
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Why Cards Against Humanity Sues Musk Matters
You might think a card game company suing a billionaire is just theater. It’s not. At the heart of this is a fundamental question about property rights and corporate accountability.
The lawsuit, which sought $15 million in damages, claimed that SpaceX never asked for permission. Not once. When CAH finally confronted them, the company claims SpaceX gave them a "12-hour ultimatum" to accept a lowball offer to buy the land for less than half its value.
The response from CAH? "Go f*** yourself."
The Legal Reality of Trespassing in Texas
Texas takes its land seriously. In the legal world, this was a clear-cut case of "permanent trespass" and property damage. While SpaceX argued that the game company didn't have standing to sue, the evidence was hard to ignore.
- Destruction of Vegetation: The land was stripped of its natural state.
- Unpermitted Use: Six months of using private property as a construction site without a lease or agreement.
- Reputational Harm: CAH argued that their brand is built on not being associated with people like Elon Musk. Having their supporters' land turned into a SpaceX staging area was a PR nightmare.
The Settlement: Who Actually Won?
By late 2025, the dust finally started to settle. Literally.
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Court records from October 2025 show that the two parties reached a settlement just weeks before a jury trial was set to begin. If you were hoping for a public courtroom drama where Musk had to explain why he dumped gravel on a satirical game company's lawn, you're out of luck. The terms are mostly confidential.
However, we do know a few things.
Cards Against Humanity sent a characteristically blunt email to their supporters. They admitted that while they didn't get the massive $15 million payout they wanted for their fans, they did force an admission. SpaceX "admitted on the record" to trespassing.
The "space garbage" is gone. The tractors are moved.
Instead of a $100 check for every donor, CAH is using the settlement funds to restore the land to its natural state. They hired a local landscaping company to fix the damage. And, in true CAH fashion, they released a "Musk-themed" expansion pack for the donors as a consolation prize.
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Lessons From the Space Garbage Saga
This wasn't just a quirky news story. It’s a reminder that even the biggest companies in the world have to play by the rules—eventually.
When Cards Against Humanity sues Musk, it highlights a growing tension in South Texas. SpaceX’s Starbase has brought jobs and prestige to the area, but it’s also faced constant criticism from locals and environmental groups for its "move fast and break things" approach to land use.
For the average property owner, the takeaway is simple: document everything. CAH won (at least in the sense of getting their land back) because they had clear "before" photos and a legal team ready to fight a war of attrition.
Actionable Insights for Property Disputes
- Keep Records: If you own land near a major construction site, take high-resolution photos of the boundaries every few months.
- Post Signs: CAH had "No Trespassing" signs up, which made SpaceX’s "we didn't know" defense much harder to maintain.
- Don't Settle for Lowballs: If a large corporation offers to buy you out after they've already damaged your property, that's a red flag. Consult a lawyer before signing anything.
- Know Your Rights: In many states, including Texas, you can sue for both the cost of restoration and the "loss of use" of your land.
The land near Brownsville is quiet again, for now. No border wall. No space garbage. Just a small plot of grass that proved even a billionaire can’t just park his tractors wherever he wants.
To stay updated on the restoration of the Texas site or to see if you're eligible for the special edition card pack, check your original donation email from the "Cards Against Humanity Saves America" campaign. You can also monitor the Cameron County property records for any future land transfers involving SpaceX and its subsidiaries.