SpaceX has long captivated global attention, driven by its pioneering reusable rocket technology, the expanding Starlink satellite internet constellation, and the charismatic leadership of its founder and CEO, Elon Musk.
However, nothing in the company's 24-year history rivaled the magnitude of its recent initial public offering. The sheer scale of the IPO generated widespread interest, as SpaceX priced 555.6 million shares at $135 each, raising an initial $75 billion. This monumental debut not only marked the largest IPO in history but also propelled Elon Musk to become the world's first trillionaire. The total capital raised ultimately surged to an impressive $85.7 billion.
Our publication has chronicled SpaceX's journey from its inception, through its challenges and triumphs. We remain committed to covering its ongoing evolution. This serves as your essential resource for all pertinent SpaceX IPO news, including significant developments post-listing.
Just days following its public debut, SpaceX announced a substantial acquisition, agreeing to purchase Cursor for $60 billion in stock.
SpaceX's valuation rapidly swelled to $2.7 trillion, positioning it as the fifth most valuable company globally. This surge followed a 20% climb in its stock price on June 15, coupled with an additional gain of over 8% in early trading the following Tuesday.
The historic SpaceX IPO ultimately expanded beyond its initial record-setting figures, with the total capital raised increasing to $85.7 billion.
Shares of SpaceX commenced trading on the Nasdaq public exchange on June 12 at $150, marking an 11% premium in what was arguably the most anticipated market debut ever. The stock continued its upward trajectory throughout the day, soaring 30% during midday trading before closing at $160.95, an overall increase of 19%.
As anticipated, the debut was met with exceptionally heavy trading volume. Robinhood reported "record-breaking traffic" on its trading platform in the hours immediately following SpaceX's landmark entry into the public markets.
In a CNBC interview on June 12, SpaceX COO Gwynne Shotwell made several noteworthy remarks. Among them, a comment likely to resonate with Tesla shareholders was her suggestion that "a merger between SpaceX and Tesla might make Elon’s life a little easier."
The financial institutions involved were among the significant beneficiaries, collectively earning approximately $500 million in fees. According to the WSJ, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley emerged as the primary winners.
As the stock price climbed, Musk utilized X, the social media platform he owns, to convey his profound appreciation for SpaceX employees. "I love the incredible people of SpaceX beyond words," he posted on Friday afternoon. He also reposted several IPO-related updates, including an image of insiders wearing green shoes, an apparent nod to the "green shoe option"—a provision in IPO underwriting agreements allowing underwriters to sell up to 15% more shares than initially planned if demand proves strong.
For a more in-depth exploration of these events and the far-reaching implications of SpaceX's new status as a publicly traded entity, Senior Reporter Sean O’Kane and AI Editor Russell Brandom hosted a special episode of our Equity podcast, available for listening directly on our site, via your preferred podcast player, or on YouTube.
Given the immense scale of this offering, a complex financial infrastructure operates behind the scenes. A key initial question revolved around the timing of the stock's market debut. SpaceX began trading on Nasdaq, and the official Nasdaq listing, which will feature the definitive price, is accessible online. Nasdaq also provides video footage of the SpaceX team participating in the traditional bell-ringing ceremony.
However, the share price represents only one facet of the story. For the most current information, dedicated financial news outlets such as Bloomberg and CNBC, both of which operate liveblogs and offer comprehensive coverage of any market fluctuations, remain your best resource.
We now delve into some of the more substantial, consequential, and staggering figures detailed within the company’s S-1 registration form.
For instance, SpaceX reported a $4.9 billion loss on revenues exceeding $18 billion in 2025. This figure, however, is a mere fraction of the cumulative losses, which have surpassed $37 billion since SpaceX's inception.
As CEO, Elon Musk maintains a dominant position, controlling approximately 85.1% of the company’s voting power. Further details on this, and other interesting figures, will be explored in the subsequent section titled “Who wins and who doesn’t.”
Another compelling statistic that drew our attention is the figure 4,400. This represents the estimated number of SpaceX employees who could achieve millionaire status, according to the NYT.
A recent episode of the Equity podcast offered commentary on Elon Musk's monumental $1.75 trillion IPO, humorously suggesting that its scale eclipses any dissenting voices.
SpaceX's IPO stands as the largest in history, guaranteeing substantial financial windfalls for various investors, employees, and, most notably, Elon Musk.
Elon Musk's paper wealth soared past $1 trillion following SpaceX's historic IPO, cementing his status as the world's first trillionaire at a time when his influence and public scrutiny are at an all-time high. The IPO significantly amplifies Musk's power, granting him over 50% of the voting power, thus establishing a near-monarchical control over the publicly traded SpaceX—a level of authority far surpassing that typically enjoyed by other tech founders.
The primary beneficiaries of the SpaceX IPO are overwhelmingly Elon Musk and a select group within his inner circle. While Musk holds the largest stake by billions of shares, others also stand to gain significantly. A detailed breakdown of ownership is available.
Lower-tier investors in SpaceX Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) will not ascertain their precise holdings until post-IPO lock-up periods conclude. Following SpaceX's market debut, these investors face potential hidden fees, protracted payout delays, and even the risk of outright fraud.
The S-1 registration document offered an unprecedented internal view of SpaceX, encompassing its financial health and diverse business operations. The S-1 underwent continuous amendments as the IPO date approached, and our team diligently tracked these updates.
The SpaceX IPO filing provides a comprehensive overview of a business heavily reliant on its Starlink satellite internet service, revealing over $37 billion in cumulative losses, and outlining future business prospects through its xAI division, all with Elon Musk at its core.
Following the SpaceX IPO and a recent Starship rocket test flight, the path to Starship’s full reusability appears less clear. These two significant data points present a more realistic outlook for the coming years, one that may temper expectations for both the company's ardent supporters and its critics.
SpaceX introduced new language into its S-1 filing, cautioning prospective investors about the potential for significant stock dilution after the company goes public. This disclosure has further fueled speculation regarding a potential merger with Tesla.
In the lead-up to the IPO, SpaceX strategically secured a series of deals, primarily involving the sale of computational resources to bolster its balance sheet.
Initial reports on May 20 detailed a significant agreement for Anthropic to pay xAI $1.25 billion per month for compute services.
However, the exact duration of Anthropic’s contract with SpaceX remains a subject of varying opinions, with Elon Musk consistently downplaying its long-term nature.
Another substantial compute deal saw Google agree to pay SpaceX $920 million per month. A Google representative characterized this as a short-term arrangement designed to address unexpected demand for its recently launched AI products.
This article was originally published at 10 a.m. ET on June 12, 2026, and has since been updated with ongoing coverage of the SpaceX IPO, subsequent share price movements, the Cursor acquisition, and other related developments.
The Editorial Staff at AIChief is a team of professional content writers with extensive experience in AI and marketing. Founded in 2025, AIChief has quickly grown into the largest free AI resource hub in the industry.