SpaceX’s Record-Breaking IPO: Elon Musk on the Brink of Trillionaire Status

SpaceX has made headlines by raising a staggering $75 billion (£56 billion) from financial firms, just before it transitions into a publicly traded company this Friday. This event is anticipated to be the largest stock market listing in history, folks! In a recent filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, SpaceX confirmed it had sold shares priced at $135 each. This pricing aligns with the estimates provided by the company last week, pushing its anticipated initial stock market value to nearly $1.8 trillion. At this remarkable valuation, Elon Musk, already recognized as the richest person on the planet, is poised to become the world’s first trillionaire.

But here’s the catch: SpaceX is only selling a mere 5% of its total shares initially. Once trading kicks off, the value could fluctuate wildly based on supply and demand for these shares in the Initial Public Offering (IPO). If those shares hit or exceed that $135 mark when trading opens on Friday, SpaceX will instantly secure its spot among the most valuable public companies globally. However, the big question is whether investors will see the worth in those shares.

Interest in owning a piece of SpaceX is soaring among both investment funds and individual “retail investors.” Many analysts are betting big on this IPO, with some already projecting target prices above SpaceX’s $135 estimate. For instance, the global brokerage Oppenheimer has forecast that the share price could climb to as high as $190. Just imagine that! The ultimate public share price will be determined through an auction-style process on the stock market, which adds an extra layer of excitement to the whole situation.

Take Peta Cooper, a 43-year-old copywriter from Cornwall, who’s ready to dive into this investment. Growing up in California and already having a portfolio filled with tech and crypto stocks, she intends to invest around £750. “It’s really exciting. I really love the space industry. SpaceX has a fantastic track record with their launches and innovation,” she expressed enthusiastically. While she anticipates some fluctuations in the share price down the line, her plan is to hold onto the stock for the long haul, letting it grow with time.

Now, this IPO is viewed by many as a substantial gamble on artificial intelligence, sparking some skepticism among analysts. “It’s a huge roll of the dice,” said Sinead O’Sullivan, an economist with NASA experience. She pointed out, “There’s so much built into one company, one share price here. Do I think Elon Musk is great at driving technological innovation? Absolutely. But do I believe the share price reflects the future value he’s going to generate? Probably not…”

On the other hand, SpaceX’s Chief Operating Officer, Gwynne Shotwell, shared with CNBC that she wasn’t initially convinced about going public, but now feels “it’s the right time.” She mentioned, “We’ve been feeling a lot of pressure from everyday Americans and our friends who want to buy stock.” Shotwell emphasized SpaceX’s long-term aspirations, stating she isn’t focused on quarterly results. “I’m not saying we won’t do right by our investors, but folks investing in SpaceX need to know that what we’re doing is very futuristic,” she added.

Let’s take a moment to appreciate the journey. Tom Mueller, SpaceX’s first official employee and now the founder of Impulse Space, reminisced about the early days. He recalled when SpaceX got its first rocket engine running, the explosions, and the crashes, until they finally achieved a successful launch to orbit in 2008. “It’s just been an incredible ride,” he remarked. Mueller, who departed from SpaceX in 2020, still holds a significant financial interest in the company.

The upcoming listing on the Nasdaq index, which focuses on technology, is seen by some as a pivotal test case for other companies nearing private valuations of $1 trillion, like Anthropic and OpenAI, both of which are preparing to go public this year.

Despite the scrutiny that comes with becoming a public entity, Musk will retain almost total control. He holds about 40% of SpaceX’s total equity through various share types, which come with additional voting rights, effectively giving him control over 85% of the company. This level of control means that SpaceX won’t even require independent members on its board of directors, raising potential risks for investors. Analysts from Harvard Law School have pointed out that insiders will have the authority to make decisions on business deals, including possible acquisitions of other Musk-owned entities, as well as his compensation.

For instance, SpaceX has already acquired Musk’s startup xAI, which in turn acquired the social media platform X back in 2025. Elon had purchased Twitter, which is now known as X, in 2022. When asked about the governance structure, Shotwell was candid: “There is no one who can run this company other than Elon, frankly. We want Elon to have that kind of control.”

Musk has stirred public opinion in recent years, using his wealth and influence in some controversial ways. He funded Donald Trump’s second presidential campaign before their relationship soured, secured billions in government contracts, and even dabbled in the politics of other nations. His comments about various international matters, particularly in the UK and Germany, have often ruffled feathers among politicians, sometimes seemingly at a cost to his businesses.

So, as the world watches this monumental IPO unfold, what lies ahead for SpaceX and Elon Musk? Only time will tell…

Kaynak: Orijinal Haber