TLDR
SpaceX is planning an IPO in mid to late 2026 that could value the company at $1.5 trillion, raising over $30 billion in one of the largest public offerings ever.
Elon Musk previously told Tesla shareholders he wants to give them access to SpaceX stock, raising questions about whether TSLA investors might get priority access to the IPO.
SpaceX is already cash-flow positive with projected revenues of $15 billion in 2025 and $22-24 billion in 2026, driven primarily by Starlink satellite internet.
Tesla shareholders recently voted on a nonbinding proposal that would authorize Tesla to invest in Musk’s AI company xAI, fueling speculation about combining his tech ventures.
EchoStar, which owns roughly $11 billion in SpaceX stock, jumped 6% on the IPO news and climbed another 5.5% the following day.
Tesla investors might get more than just electric vehicles and robotaxis in their portfolio. SpaceX is reportedly planning to go public in mid to late 2026 with a valuation that could hit $1.5 trillion.
Bloomberg reports the space exploration company plans to raise over $30 billion. That would make it one of the largest IPOs in history. SpaceX has started talking with banks about a potential listing as early as June or July 2026.
Here’s where it gets interesting for Tesla shareholders. At Tesla’s November 6 shareholder meeting, Musk said he’s been thinking about how to give Tesla investors access to SpaceX stock. His exact words were “I’ve been giving a lot of thought to how to give people access to SpaceX stock.”
That comment has sparked plenty of speculation. Could Tesla shareholders get priority access to the SpaceX IPO? Or might Tesla itself buy a stake in SpaceX?
Wedbush analyst Dan Ives thinks Tesla taking a stake in SpaceX is likely. “We would be shocked if Tesla does not take a stake in SpaceX as part of its process,” he said. Ives rates Tesla at Buy with a $600 price target.
SpaceX is already the most valuable aerospace and defense company in the world at $400 billion. The company handles more than half of all global orbital launches. Its Starlink satellite internet service now has over 8 million subscribers.
The Money Behind SpaceX
SpaceX doesn’t actually need the cash right now. Musk pointed out the company has been cash-flow positive for years. The company runs stock buybacks twice a year to give employees and investors liquidity.
Revenue tells the story. SpaceX expects to bring in about $15 billion in 2025. That number jumps to $22-24 billion in 2026. Starlink accounts for 60% to 70% of that revenue. Falcon 9 contracts and the Starship program make up the rest.
The IPO funds would go toward developing space-based data centers. SpaceX plans to buy the chips needed for these facilities. Musk mentioned this project at a recent Baron Capital event.
Tesla’s Possible Role
Tesla shareholders already showed interest in Musk’s other ventures. They recently voted on a proposal that would let Tesla invest in xAI, Musk’s artificial intelligence company. The vote was nonbinding and many shareholders didn’t vote at all.
But it opened the door. Some analysts think this could be the first step toward combining Musk’s companies under one umbrella. Capital Alpha Partners analyst Byron Callan wrote that SpaceX could use its public equity to make acquisitions, though that hasn’t been its style in the past.
Market Reaction
The market liked the IPO news. EchoStar, which owns roughly $11 billion in SpaceX stock, jumped 6% when the reports came out. The stock climbed another 5.5% the next day to $98.72.
Other space stocks had mixed reactions. Rocket Lab USA, Firefly Aerospace, and Intuitive Machines all traded differently on the news. Mark Boggett, CEO of space investment firm Seraphim, called a potential SpaceX IPO “a seismic event for the space economy.”
The Challenges
Musk knows going public comes with headaches. At a recent meeting, he listed the problems: more lawsuits, pressure to hit quarterly numbers, and extra regulatory work. Still, he admitted it might be good for SpaceX.
This isn’t the first time SpaceX IPO rumors have circulated. Musk shot down earlier reports about an $800 billion valuation. This time he’s stayed quiet, which might mean something.
Tesla stock currently has a Hold rating from analysts. The consensus price target of $383.54 suggests 13.8% downside from current levels. TSLA is up 10.2% year-to-date.
