SpaceX Sets $800bn Valuation Amid Possible IPO Next Year

SpaceX has opened a secondary share sale that values the company at $800 billion, as it prepares for a potential public listing next year, according to a letter sent to shareholders by Chief Financial Officer Bret Johnsen and reviewed by Reuters. The move signals a major step toward what could become one of the largest initial public offerings globally.

In the letter dated December 12, Johnsen said SpaceX has approved an arrangement under which new and existing investors, alongside the company, will purchase up to $2.56 billion worth of shares from eligible shareholders at $421 per share. He noted that the company is preparing for a possible IPO in 2026, although the timing, valuation and final decision remain uncertain.

The push toward a public listing has been largely driven by the rapid expansion of Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet business. Growth plans include direct-to-mobile connectivity, alongside progress in the Starship rocket programme, which is central to future missions to the Moon and Mars.

Johnsen said any capital raised would be used to accelerate Starship’s flight rate, deploy artificial intelligence data centres in space, support the development of Moonbase Alpha, and fund both crewed and uncrewed missions to Mars. Elon Musk also hinted at a possible IPO in a recent post on social media platform X, while Reuters reported the company could seek to raise more than $25 billion in a listing as early as June.

Investors have welcomed reports of a potential IPO, viewing it as a pathway to fund SpaceX’s long-term space exploration ambitions. With the new valuation, SpaceX ranks as the world’s second-most valuable private startup, behind OpenAI, underscoring its growing influence in the global aerospace and technology sectors.