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New York, June 12, 2026 — Elon Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies Corp., known as SpaceX, made its long-anticipated debut on the public markets Friday, completing the largest initial public offering in history and sending shares skyrocketing higher in their first day of trading.

The company priced its IPO at $135 per share, raising approximately $75 billion by selling roughly 555.6 million shares. It listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol SPCX. Shares opened at $150, climbed as high as around $176 during the session, and closed at approximately $160.95–$161, representing a gain of about 19% from the IPO price. The strong debut pushed SpaceX’s market capitalization above $2 trillion.

The offering far surpassed the previous record set by Saudi Aramco’s 2019 IPO. Intense demand from both institutional and retail investors contributed to the outcome, with reports of more than $250 billion in total orders, including substantial retail participation.

SpaceX, which has grown from a rocket startup into a major player in satellite communications via Starlink, government contracts, and emerging AI initiatives, reported revenue of about $18.7 billion last year.

The IPO is expected to create thousands of employee millionaires across the company’s workforce. It also solidifies Musk’s status as the world’s first trillionaire, as his substantial ownership stake in the now-public company vaults his net worth into unprecedented territory.

Musk has long resisted taking SpaceX public but pursued the listing amid growing scale and capital needs for ambitious goals, including Mars colonization efforts. The roadshow and pricing process drew massive attention from Wall Street. Analysts offered mixed views, with some highlighting strong growth potential in Starlink and space infrastructure, while others questioned the high valuation. Trading volume was heavy, reflecting broad investor enthusiasm for the space, satellite, and technology conglomerate. SpaceX shares continued to see activity in after-hours trading.

This marks a new chapter for one of the most prominent private companies in recent decades, transitioning to public ownership while Musk retains significant control and influence over its future direction.

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