SpaceX has set the price for its initial public offering at $135 per share, aiming to raise $75 billion in what would be a record-breaking stock market debut. The space exploration company founded by Elon Musk announced the pricing structure as it prepares to go public after years of private operations.
The offering represents one of the largest capital raises in market history. SpaceX has been operating as a privately held company since its founding in 2002, building a business around satellite launches, space station resupply missions, and the development of its Starship vehicle designed for Mars missions. The company has grown its revenue through contracts with NASA and commercial satellite operators, as well as its Starlink satellite internet service.
The $135 share price values the company at approximately $1.77 trillion according to preliminary calculations. The capital needs for SpaceX continue to grow as the company expands its operations, including the buildout of its Starlink constellation and development of next-generation spacecraft. The company has been launching Starlink satellites at a rapid pace to expand global internet coverage.
The IPO comes as investor appetite for space-related companies has fluctuated over recent years. Several space companies that went public through mergers with special purpose acquisition companies saw their stock prices decline after initial trading. SpaceX's offering differs by going through a traditional IPO process and by bringing an established revenue base to public markets.
The timing of the offering allows SpaceX to tap public markets for funds to support ongoing projects that require sustained capital investment. The company operates launch facilities in Florida and Texas and maintains a growing workforce across multiple states. A source confirmed the pricing structure, though SpaceX has not yet specified the exact number of shares to be sold in the offering.
The news comes amid significant activity in the technology and space sectors. OpenAI is reportedly in early discussions about a secondary share sale that would value the artificial intelligence company at around $500 billion, potentially surpassing SpaceX's current valuation. Existing investors, including Thrive Capital, have reportedly approached OpenAI about purchasing shares from current and former employees. The transaction would increase OpenAI's value by approximately two-thirds from its previous $300 billion valuation.
Both companies represent the substantial capital requirements needed to operate at the forefront of their respective industries. SpaceX requires ongoing investment to maintain its launch operations and develop advanced spacecraft, while AI companies like OpenAI need significant funding to train increasingly sophisticated models that require expensive computer chips and data center resources.