[Asraelite]

I don't think it is. The hard part is building Starship, which is being done anyway.

After that, it's conceivable that the cost to travel there will eventually fall to a few million or tens of millions of dollars per person. At that point, a handful of rich people could drive enough demand for the development of colonization technology that it becomes self-funding.

[michaelmrose]

We can't live on mars without living inside massive radiation shielding probably underground. There won't be enough industry this century for Mars to be self sustaining if we start tomorrow.

For the non-scientist living on mars would be living in a cave worse than that enjoyed by most poor people in absolute boredom 99.5% of the time.

Your martian adventure will cost an appreciable portion of a billion dollars, include a return ticket, and continual support from home. It will be a very high cost ammortized over few units and it will never be self funding.

[troyvit]

Hmmm "Eat the rich" has failed, but I like this "Send the rich to Mars" alternative ... where do I donate?