SpaceX reportedly eyes June 2026 IPO at $1.5 trillion valuation
By Cygnus | 28 Jan 2026
NEW YORK / HOUSTON — SpaceX is reportedly considering an initial public offering (IPO) in June 2026 that could value the space and satellite company at around $1.5 trillion, people familiar with the discussions said, in a move that would make it one of the largest debut offerings in history.
The potential offering reflects a strategic shift for Elon Musk, who has long preferred to keep the company private, and underscores growing investor interest in space infrastructure and adjacent technologies such as satellite broadband and AI-linked data services.
Summary
- SpaceX is reportedly exploring an IPO in June 2026 with a $1.5 trillion valuation, potentially raising up to $50 billion from public markets.
- The valuation would place SpaceX among the most valuable companies globally at debut.
- Starlink’s recurring revenue and broader space infrastructure offerings are cited as factors supporting the shift.
- No official filing has been made and plans could still change.
IPO plans underscore evolution of SpaceX
According to sources familiar with the discussions, SpaceX has held early talks with bankers and advisers about a potential IPO as early as June 2026, though no formal regulatory filing has been made. The company could seek to raise up to $50 billion in equity, depending on market conditions and final pricing.
A listing at a $1.5 trillion valuation would place SpaceX’s market cap alongside the largest technology and energy leaders globally — a remarkable scale for a company that began as a launch-services provider.
Starlink’s role and revenue profile
A major factor in the public market appeal is SpaceX’s Starlink business, which provides global satellite broadband services. Starlink’s subscription revenues and long-term contracts with governments and enterprises are seen as helping create a more predictable earnings base for investors, compared with earlier, hardware-centric years.
The diversification into space infrastructure — including low-Earth-orbit satellites, ground-station networks and related services — aligns with broader investor appetite for high-growth, mission-critical technologies.
Why Musk may be reconsidering
Elon Musk has historically resisted taking SpaceX public, arguing that the focus on quarterly earnings could undermine long-term, capital-intensive innovation such as crewed Mars missions or next-generation launch systems. However, as Starlink’s revenue base has grown and valuations have climbed, the calculus may be shifting.
Industry analysts say stronger recurring revenue streams and improving capital market conditions — especially for large technology IPOs — could make a public listing more attractive now than in earlier years.
Market context and investor appetite
A SpaceX IPO would come at a time when investors are seeking exposure to infrastructure themes tied to communications, defense, data transmission and AI. Few pure-play space companies of global scale trade publicly, and a SpaceX listing could become a cornerstone holding for funds targeting next-generation technology and infrastructure sectors.
That said, space and satellite businesses are still capital-intensive and subject to regulatory and geopolitical risks, including spectrum allocation, government contract dependencies and international trade considerations.
FAQs
Q1. Is SpaceX officially going public?
No — as of now, SpaceX has not filed an IPO prospectus. The company is reportedly exploring plans for a mid-2026 listing, but nothing has been finalized.
Q2. Why would SpaceX go public now?
The reported timing reflects growing investor interest in space infrastructure, recurring revenue from Starlink and improving conditions for large IPOs after a period of market caution.
Q3. How large could the IPO be?
Sources suggest a potential fundraising target of up to $50 billion, depending on market appetite and final pricing.
Q4. What would a $1.5 trillion valuation mean?
It would place SpaceX at a scale comparable with the world’s most valuable companies upon debut, a rare feat for a space-focused enterprise.
Q5. How does Starlink factor into the IPO story?
Starlink’s recurring subscription and enterprise revenue is viewed as strengthening SpaceX’s financial profile and making it more attractive to long-term public investors.
Q6. What are the risks for investors?
Space businesses are capital-intensive and subject to regulatory, technological and geopolitical uncertainties, including spectrum rights and government contract dependencies.
Q7. Would Musk still control SpaceX after an IPO?
Details of any governance structure would depend on final deal terms, but founders often retain strategic voting power through special share classes.
