Japanese billionaire looking for companions on a free trip to the moon

Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa is looking for eight to join him on an all-expenses-paid trip to the moon for Elon Musk's SpaceX.

Maezawa was initially planning to invite artists for the week-long trip, scheduled for 2023.

And the billionaire adjustments to the project because that will give more people the opportunity to join him on this journey.

The first phase of the application process will continue until March 14.

Maezawa, who sold the fashion retail website Zuzu to Softbank in 2019, will take care of all costs of the trip with a reusable launch vehicle for the new generation of SpaceX vehicles called Starship.

Two recent prototypes of that spacecraft exploded during testing, underscoring the risks faced by Maezawa, 45, and his companions, who will also have to face the hassle of traveling into space on their first private flight outside Earth's orbit.

Maezawa is known for his art collections, luxury cars, and material gifts to his Twitter followers, making him the most followed Japanese on the site.

Last year, Maezawa launched a documentary program in search of a new girlfriend to join him on his journey, before quickly backing down, citing the presence of "mixed feelings" inside.