SpaceX made history on Friday, June 12, 2026, as the aerospace company began trading publicly on the Nasdaq stock exchange in what has become the largest initial public offering ever recorded. The company raised $75 billion, and shares surged more than 15 percent in early trading, pushing the company’s market value above $2 trillion and making founder Elon Musk the world’s first trillionaire.
The company trades under the ticker symbol SPCX. Shares were priced at $135 for the IPO, opened at $150, rose as high as $175 during the trading session, and settled around $160 by midday. Musk rang the Nasdaq opening bell from SpaceX headquarters in Starbase, Texas.
Main developments
The SpaceX IPO represents a watershed moment for global capital markets and the aerospace industry. The $75 billion raised eclipses all previous initial public offerings, establishing a new benchmark for companies going public. Prior to trading, SpaceX had a valuation of approximately $1.77 trillion.
The offering was led by Goldman Sachs as the primary underwriter, with Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Citigroup also participating in the deal. In a move to broaden access, 30 percent of the IPO was offered to retail investors through various brokerages.
Goldman Sachs President John Waldron commented on the significance of the offering, stating that it shows the willingness of capital markets to finance infrastructure development in both artificial intelligence and space exploration. He said the U.S. capital markets are leading global markets in demonstrating this commitment.
SpaceX, which was founded in 2002, produced roughly $19 billion in revenue last year. However, the company has yet to generate a profit, a fact that has drawn attention given its massive valuation. Investment research firm Morningstar values SpaceX at $780 billion, significantly below the market valuation achieved in the IPO.
What we know so far
The IPO price was set at $135 per share before markets opened. When trading began, shares immediately jumped to $150, representing an opening premium of more than 11 percent. Throughout the morning session, the stock climbed as high as $175 before settling around $160 by midday, maintaining a gain of more than 15 percent above the IPO price.
The surge in SpaceX stock pushed the company’s market capitalization above $2 trillion, a valuation that made Elon Musk, who serves as chairman, CEO and controlling shareholder, the world’s first trillionaire. SpaceX Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell also holds a leadership role at the company.
In February 2026, SpaceX acquired xAI, expanding its portfolio beyond aerospace into artificial intelligence. This acquisition positions SpaceX within the broader AI sector, which has seen significant investor interest.
The SpaceX IPO comes as other major artificial intelligence companies, including Anthropic and OpenAI, are also preparing their own initial public offerings, signaling strong market appetite for technology and AI-related investments.
Musk reflects on company origins
During the IPO launch ceremony, Musk reflected on the early days of SpaceX and the skepticism the company faced. He acknowledged that he initially gave SpaceX a less than 10 percent chance of succeeding at all.
Musk was characteristically candid about his early doubts. He said that if people had told him the company would reach this point, he would have questioned their judgment, recalling that he believed the company was going to fail.
Despite the massive valuation and public listing, Musk emphasized that SpaceX would maintain its focus on long-term goals rather than short-term financial metrics. He stated that he does not want to focus on quarterly earnings and that investors in SpaceX need to understand the company is pursuing futuristic objectives. He added that while he is not saying SpaceX will not do right by investors, the company’s mission remains paramount.
Company vision and future goals
SpaceX leadership outlined ambitious plans for the future of space travel. Musk expressed the company’s goal to enable anyone who wants to travel to the moon or Mars to do so. He extended this vision to include travel anywhere in the solar system, and potentially beyond the solar system at some point.
Shotwell reinforced confidence in SpaceX’s ability to execute on its ambitious plans. She pointed to the company’s track record and history, emphasizing that SpaceX has demonstrated the ability to accomplish very difficult things.
What happens next
As a newly public company, SpaceX will now face the scrutiny that comes with trading on a major stock exchange, including quarterly reporting requirements and increased transparency obligations. However, Musk has already signaled that the company will prioritize its long-term mission over short-term earnings pressures.
The broader market will continue watching how SpaceX shares perform in the days and weeks following the IPO. The significant gap between the current market valuation of more than $2 trillion and Morningstar’s assessment of $780 billion suggests there may be differing views on the company’s appropriate value.
The success of the SpaceX IPO may influence the timing and reception of upcoming IPOs from other technology and AI companies, including Anthropic and OpenAI, which are preparing their own public offerings.
Important details
Investors and market watchers should note several key figures from the SpaceX IPO. The company raised $75 billion in the offering. The IPO price was $135 per share. Shares opened at $150 and traded around $160 by midday after reaching as high as $175. The company’s market value exceeded $2 trillion following the surge.
SpaceX reported approximately $19 billion in revenue last year but has not yet achieved profitability. Retail investors had access to 30 percent of the IPO through various brokerages, providing broader public participation in the historic offering.
The IPO was managed by a consortium of major financial institutions, with Goldman Sachs serving as lead underwriter alongside Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Citigroup.
Frequently asked questions
What is the SpaceX stock ticker symbol?
SpaceX trades on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the ticker symbol SPCX.
How much did the SpaceX IPO raise?
The SpaceX IPO raised $75 billion, making it the largest initial public offering in history.
What was the SpaceX IPO price?
The IPO price was set at $135 per share. Shares opened at $150 and traded around $160 by midday, after rising as high as $175.
Is SpaceX profitable?
SpaceX produced roughly $19 billion in revenue last year but has yet to generate a profit.
What is SpaceX’s market value after the IPO?
Following the stock surge of more than 15 percent in early trading, SpaceX’s market value exceeded $2 trillion.
The SpaceX IPO marks a historic moment for both the company and the broader financial markets. The offering’s success establishes new records for capital raised in a public listing while catapulting Elon Musk into unprecedented wealth territory as the first person to reach trillionaire status. Trading continues on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol SPCX.