Elon Musk becomes world’s first trillionaire as SpaceX goes public
Elon Musk has officially become the world’s first trillionaire after SpaceX raised $75 billion in its long-awaited IPO.
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images.
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- Elon Musk has reportedly become the world’s first trillionaire after SpaceX went public and reached a valuation of about $1.77 trillion.
- SpaceX opened on the Nasdaq under the ticker SPCX at $150 a share, lifting Musk’s roughly 40% stake above $800 billion.
- Musk’s fortune now exceeds the GDP of most countries, helped by his SpaceX and Tesla holdings and a massive Tesla performance-based pay plan.
Key Takeaways by nexos.ai, reviewed by Cybernews staff.
Elon Musk has officially become the world’s first trillionaire after SpaceX raised $75 billion in its long-awaited IPO.
SpaceX, which was valued at roughly $1.77 trillion at its IPO price, began trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker SPCX. The stock opened on the Nasdaq at $150 a share on Friday, pushing Musk’s stake in the company above $800 billion.
He owns roughly 40% of SpaceX, and together with his Tesla stake, the holdings bring Musk’s fortune above $1 trillion.
Musk’s net worth now eclipses the GDP of most countries in the world, including Singapore, Taiwan, Ireland, and Sweden. Only around 20 countries have economies larger than his fortune. His wealth is also more than double the annual GDP of his home country, South Africa.
Last year, Tesla shareholders approved a $1 trillion performance-based pay plan for Musk, the largest corporate pay package in history, tied to the company meeting a series of ambitious targets.
In 2025, SpaceX generated 61% of its revenue from its satellite internet service Starlink, but overall, the company remains unprofitable. It reported a staggering $4.3 billion net loss in Q1 2026, following a $4.9 billion loss in 2025.
The company’s revenue, which soared to $18.7 billion in 2025, is largely offset by massive spending on Starship development, Starlink expansion, and its launch business.
Investors are betting on Musk's long-term vision despite the current losses, willing to overlook cash burn and corporate governance concerns. Much of SpaceX’s valuation is tied to Musk’s track record of delivering ambitious projects and doing it faster than competitors.
“It’s hard to bet against Elon Musk in whatever he does,” retail investor Mikey Moran told CNBC, following news that SpaceX is targeting retail allocation of roughly 30%, far above the typical 5-10% seen in most IPOs. “It’s really hard to dispute that [Musk] is not the greatest entrepreneur of all time.”
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