SpaceX makes historic Wall Street debut after record-breaking $75bn IPO

Elon Musk’s SpaceX officially entered the public markets on Friday following a record-setting initial public offering (IPO) that raised more than $75 billion, making it the largest stock market debut in history.

The landmark offering positions the aerospace and technology giant among the most valuable companies in the world, with a market valuation approaching $1.8 trillion.

Trading in SpaceX shares commenced on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “SPCX,” drawing intense attention from investors eager to gauge market appetite for one of the most anticipated public listings in recent years.

Speaking at a launch event in Starbase, Texas, Musk reiterated his long-term vision of expanding human presence beyond Earth.

“SpaceX wants to take humanity to the Moon, Mars and beyond,” he told employees and supporters gathered at the company’s headquarters, expressing confidence in the firm’s ability to achieve those ambitious goals.

The company offered more than 555 million shares at $135 each, with additional share options capable of increasing the total value of the fundraising exercise to over $86 billion.

The listing places SpaceX ahead of several corporate giants in market value, including social media and technology firms, underscoring investor confidence in Musk’s futuristic vision and the company’s growth prospects.

Founded in 2002, SpaceX has evolved from a private rocket manufacturer into a major player in satellite communications, space exploration and artificial intelligence. The company recently integrated Musk’s AI venture, xAI, into its operations, bringing together its satellite internet business, Starlink, and AI technologies under one corporate structure.

The successful IPO is also expected to pave the way for other high-profile technology and artificial intelligence companies considering public listings in the coming months.

Analysts believe investor enthusiasm has been driven largely by expectations surrounding SpaceX’s long-term projects, including the expansion of Starlink, advances in artificial intelligence and plans for future missions to Mars.

Reports indicate that demand for the offering significantly exceeded available shares, with strong participation from both institutional and retail investors. Approximately 20 per cent of the shares were reserved for individual investors.

The public offering is expected to create substantial wealth for thousands of current and former employees as well as early investors who have supported the company throughout its more than two decades of operation.

Despite the excitement surrounding the listing, some market analysts have expressed caution, noting that SpaceX continues to invest heavily in future technologies. Although the company generated revenue of $18.7 billion in 2025, it also reported a net loss of $4.9 billion, largely due to spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure and expansion projects.

Much of the company’s valuation is tied to Musk’s ambitious projections, which include developing advanced space-based infrastructure, expanding global internet connectivity through Starlink and eventually transporting humans to Mars.

The IPO also strengthens Musk’s position as the world’s richest individual and has fueled speculation that the entrepreneur could become the first person in history to amass a personal fortune exceeding $1 trillion if SpaceX’s market performance continues to rise.

Investors and analysts will now closely monitor the company’s early trading performance as Wall Street assesses one of the most ambitious and closely watched corporate listings of the modern era.