In a historic moment for both the space industry and the stock marketSpaceX made its long-awaited debut on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and Nasdaq Texas under the ticker SPCX. The company’s initial public offering (IPO) not only marked the end of a 24-year run as a private entity but also set new benchmarks for market valuations and investor enthusiasm.
The IPO, which priced at $135 per share, saw an impressive surge, opening at just above $150 and reaching a peak of $175 before settling at $161.11 by the end of the first trading day. This remarkable performance valued SpaceX at over $2.1 trillion, making it the most valuable company in the world and catapulting Elon Musk’s net worth above $1 trillion.
SpaceX’s Historic Trading Debut
Friday, June 15, 2026, was a day of unprecedented activity in the stock market. SpaceX’s IPO generated immense interest, with trading turnover exceeding $11.4 billion at the open. The stock’s valuation soared, surpassing all expectations and setting new records. By noon, the stock was hovering between $162 and $165, and by 1 PM, it had reached $175, up nearly 30% from its target price.
The official trading start was delayed due to intense order matching activity, as investors rushed to get their hands on the highly anticipated stock. By midafternoon, more than 360 million shares had been traded, a volume that dwarfed the first-day trading of other major IPOs. The stock remained steady at just over $162 thirty minutes before market close, with more than 172 million shares traded on Nasdaq alone.
Elon Musk’s Vision and Address to Employees
Ahead of the debut, Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, addressed the company’s employees at Nasdaq’s Starbase in Texas. He reiterated the company’s ambitious goals, stating, “SpaceX wants to be able to take you to the moon. I am confident at this point that with the incredible team that we have here at SpaceX, that we will do that for you.”
Musk shared his initial skepticism about the company’s chances of success, admitting that he had given SpaceX less than a 10% chance of succeeding at all. However, he highlighted the company’s achievements, including the development of the Falcon 9 Block 5, the world’s most reliable rocket. “That’s what SpaceX is all about, is take science fiction and create an exciting, inspiring future for everyone,” Musk said.
He emphasized the company’s vision to make space travel accessible to everyone, not just a few astronauts. “We want to be able to take anyone who wants to go to the moon, anyone who wants to go to Mars… not just a few astronauts, I mean, you, literally you,” Musk stated. He concluded his address by acknowledging the challenges on Earth but emphasizing the importance of looking forward to an inspiring future.
Public Reaction and Market Implications
The IPO generated a mix of reactions from the public and political figures. Sen. Bernie Sanders criticized the wealth disparity, calling it an “absurdity” that Musk, as a trillionaire, pays the same amount into Social Security as someone making $184,500. Sen. Elizabeth Warren also expressed concern about Musk’s wealth, highlighting the vast difference between his net worth and that of the typical American household.
On the other side, supporters of Musk and the company celebrated the historic moment. Eric Trump reposted a comment that read, “JUST IN: SpaceX is now worth more than Canada,” while A16Z general partner Katherine Boyle congratulated Musk on achieving the American Dream. The IPO also sparked discussions about the future of space travel and the potential for SpaceX to revolutionize the industry.
The road to Wall Street for SpaceX was long and filled with speculation. Musk had repeatedly hinted at a possible IPO over the years, only to dismiss it almost immediately. However, the rise of orbital AI compute and the maturation of Starship ultimately led to the decision to go public. The IPO was met with overwhelming demand, with investors placing more than $250 billion in orders, roughly three and a half to four times the shares on offer.
Despite the excitement, there are concerns about the future of Starship, which is currently grounded while the FAA conducts a mishap investigation into its most recent test flight. However, the IPO’s success signals strong investor confidence in SpaceX’s long-term vision and potential.
