Business
SpaceX IPO Could Make Elon Musk First Trillionaire, Cementing Richest Status
A potential SpaceX initial public offering at a valuation exceeding $1.75 trillion could push Elon Musk’s net worth past the $1 trillion mark in 2026, solidifying his position as the world’s richest person and making him humanity’s first trillionaire, analysts and market observers say.

Musk, already the wealthiest individual with an estimated net worth of around $839 billion as of early 2026, owns roughly 42-44% of SpaceX following its merger with xAI. At a $1.75 trillion IPO valuation, his stake alone could be worth more than $770 billion, according to Bloomberg and other estimates. Adding his holdings in Tesla and other assets would likely catapult him well above $1 trillion, far outpacing rivals like Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin or Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
SpaceX is preparing to file paperwork for what could become the largest IPO in history as soon as this week, with a potential June debut, sources familiar with the matter told The Information and Bloomberg. The company could seek to raise more than $75 billion, shattering the previous record set by Saudi Aramco’s $29.4 billion listing in 2019. Earlier projections had targeted a $1.5 trillion valuation and $50 billion raise, but recent reports indicate even loftier ambitions driven by Starlink’s rapid growth.
Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet service, has emerged as the primary engine of the company’s soaring valuation. With thousands of low-Earth orbit satellites deployed and millions of subscribers worldwide, the business generated substantial revenue in 2025 and offers recurring high-margin income. Combined with SpaceX’s dominance in commercial launches via reusable Falcon 9 rockets and the ambitious Starship program for deep-space missions, the company has attracted sky-high investor interest.
The recent all-stock acquisition of Musk’s xAI further boosted the merged entity’s private valuation to around $1.25 trillion earlier in 2026. This integration positions SpaceX as more than a space company — a broader platform blending satellite infrastructure, AI capabilities and potential orbital data centers. Musk has signaled plans to use IPO proceeds for an “insane flight rate” of Starship, massive constellation expansion and other visionary projects.
Musk already became the first person to surpass $600 billion and later $800 billion in net worth, largely on the back of SpaceX’s private valuation surges and Tesla stock performance. Forbes and Bloomberg Billionaires Index figures show him hundreds of billions ahead of the next richest individuals. His lead widened after SpaceX secondary share sales valued the company at $800 billion late last year, up dramatically from earlier rounds.
If the IPO prices at the high end of expectations, Musk’s wealth could more than double from current levels in paper terms, though actual liquidity would depend on selling restrictions, lock-up periods and market reception. Public market scrutiny could introduce volatility, as investors assess risks including regulatory hurdles for massive satellite deployments, competition from Amazon’s Project Kuiper, technical challenges with Starship and Musk’s divided attention across multiple ventures.
Prediction markets and analysts give high odds that Musk will become a trillionaire soon after a successful listing. Some forecasts suggest it could happen as early as 2026 or 2027, assuming continued execution on Starlink subscriber growth and Starship milestones. Tesla shareholders have occasionally voiced concern about Musk’s focus on SpaceX and other projects, but a SpaceX IPO could provide partial liquidity and diversification for his overall fortune.
The move would mark a significant shift for SpaceX, which Musk long preferred to keep private to pursue high-risk, long-term goals like Mars colonization without quarterly earnings pressure. Growing demands for liquidity from employees and early investors, coupled with the company’s enormous valuation, appear to have tipped the balance toward going public.
Wall Street banks including Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan and Bank of America have been involved in preparations. A confidential filing could allow gauging investor appetite quietly before a full registration. SpaceX did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and Musk has not publicly detailed the latest timeline beyond confirming IPO plans for 2026.
Success is far from guaranteed. Public investors may balk at multiples exceeding 90 times trailing revenue, even for a company with proven launch dominance and a scalable satellite network. Governance questions around Musk’s control, national security reviews tied to government contracts with NASA and the Pentagon, and environmental or astronomical concerns over satellite constellations could complicate the process.
Still, excitement is building. Reports of the impending filing sent shares of other space-related companies higher, with firms like Rocket Lab and AST SpaceMobile gaining in trading. The broader space economy could benefit from validation of high valuations and increased capital flow into the sector.
Musk’s path to trillionaire status highlights the extraordinary wealth creation possible in technology and space industries. From founding SpaceX in 2002 with a vision to reduce space travel costs, he has overseen reusable rocket technology that slashed launch prices and enabled Starlink’s global reach. The company now launches more payloads than any other entity and plays a critical role in U.S. space ambitions.
For Musk, the IPO represents both validation of two decades of bold bets and fresh capital to accelerate interplanetary goals. Whether public markets embrace the ambitious valuation will test investor appetite for visionary, capital-intensive businesses in an era of rapid technological change.
As of late March 2026, Musk remains comfortably the world’s richest person, with his fortune already dwarfing those of the next several billionaires combined. A successful SpaceX debut at anywhere near targeted levels would extend that gap dramatically and likely make him the richest individual in recorded history by a substantial margin.
The development comes amid Musk’s multifaceted empire, including Tesla’s electric vehicle and autonomous driving efforts, ownership of X (formerly Twitter), and xAI’s work on advanced artificial intelligence. Synergies across these ventures, particularly AI and space infrastructure, could further enhance long-term value.
Critics caution that net worth figures based on private valuations or post-IPO market caps are paper wealth subject to sharp swings. Musk has seen his fortune rise and fall with Tesla stock volatility in the past. Public listing would introduce greater transparency and quarterly reporting, potentially altering dynamics.
For now, anticipation around the SpaceX IPO dominates discussions of Musk’s wealth trajectory. If realized, the listing would not only reshape his personal fortune but also mark a milestone for the commercial space industry, potentially unlocking new investment and innovation.
Observers will watch closely for the formal filing, roadshow details and eventual pricing. In the meantime, Musk’s status as the wealthiest person on the planet appears secure, with a SpaceX IPO offering a plausible route to becoming humanity’s first trillionaire.
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DOJ seeks dismissal of corruption charges against billionaire Gautam Adani
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The U.S. Department of Justice has formally asked a federal court to dismiss criminal charges against Gautam Adani, an Indian billionaire accused of misleading U.S. and global investors while raising billions of dollars to finance a major solar energy project in India.
Adani, considered one of Asia’s richest individuals, allegedly promised to pay more than $250 million in bribes to Indian officials to secure lucrative contracts. He and his executives further raised money from investors by falsely claiming the company maintained strict anti-corruption policies — all while allegedly continuing the bribery scheme and later attempting to conceal the evidence, prosecutors alleged in 2024.
Despite the severity of the allegations, the Justice Department has requested the case be dismissed “with prejudice,” indicating that the charges would be permanently dropped and may not be brought again in the future, according to court records filed Monday. Adani Group has denied the allegations, calling them baseless.
“The Department of Justice has reviewed this case and has decided, in its prosecutorial discretion, not to devote further resources to these criminal charges against individual defendants,” prosecutors wrote in a court filing.
INDIA BILLIONAIRE SCANDAL A ‘HITJOB’ BY US FIRM ATTACKING FINANCIAL SYSTEMS, SUPPORTERS CLAIM

Gautam Adani has a conversation during an all-party prayer meeting on February 23, 2026, in Mumbai, India. (Bhushan Koyande/Hindustan Times via Getty Images / Getty Images)
The decision to drop the charges follows an announcement from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that it moved for entry of final judgments by consent, subject to court approval, in a related lawsuit involving Adani. The proposed resolution would not require Gautam Adani or Sagar Adani to admit or deny the SEC’s allegations.
Beginning in 2020, Adani Green Energy Limited, led by Gautam Adani, secured a major contract to develop solar power projects in India.
However, some Indian state governments allegedly declined to purchase the electricity from the project due to high costs.

Gautam Adani, chairman of Adani Group, attends a festival in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India, on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (Indranil Aditya/Bloomberg / Getty Images)
As a result, Gautam Adani and his nephew, Sagar Adani, allegedly resorted to bribery, including promises of more than $250 million in payments to Indian officials, in order to secure power purchase agreements for the expensive solar energy.
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| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADANIGREEN | NO DATA AVAILABLE | – | – | – |
During the same period, the company required significant capital to finance the projects and raised approximately $750 million through bond sales to U.S. and global investors.
Federal prosecutors alleged that Adani Green and related entities raised more than $3 billion through loans and bond offerings while making false and misleading statements about the company’s anti-bribery and anti-corruption practices.
Prosecutors added that, to attract investors, the company falsely portrayed itself as an industry leader in corporate governance with a strict “zero tolerance” policy on bribery.

Indian billionaire Gautam Adani speaks during an interview at his office in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad on April 2, 2014. (Reuters/Amit Dave/File Photo/File Photo / Reuters Photos)
When U.S. authorities, including the FBI and the SEC, began investigating the alleged corruption, several executives were accused by prosecutors of attempting to obstruct the inquiry by deleting emails and electronic messages, concealing information during internal investigations, and making false statements to federal agents.
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The case dismissal is contingent upon approval by Judge Nicholas Garaufis, according to the documents.
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Precious Metals Royalty And Streaming Companies – April 2026 Report
Peter Arendas is an associate professor at the University of Economics in Bratislava. He has over 15 years of investing experience. Peter specializes in covering small and mid-cap companies in the resource sector with an in-depth insight into the precious and industrial metals royalty & streaming industry.Peter is the leader of the investing group Royalty & Streaming Corner where he offers in-depth analysis of long-only investment ideas, actionable research, model portfolios, discussions of the latest news, and direct access for questions in chat. Learn More.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of RGLD, ELE either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
Business
Oil Price Today (May 19): Crude oil retreats from $110 as Trump delays planned strike on Iran. Where are prices headed?
Trump said on Monday that he had put on hold a “scheduled attack of Iran tomorrow” after appeals from the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Earlier in the day, Trump told the New York Post that Iran knows “what’s going to be happening soon,” though he did not provide further details.
Crude oil price on May 19
International benchmark Brent crude futures for July delivery dropped more than 2% to $109.15 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate futures fell 1.27% to $107.28 a barrel. Axios had earlier reported that Trump was considering renewed military action after Tehran’s latest proposal in negotiations aimed at ending the conflict failed to meet expectations.
Prior to his remarks on Truth Social, there had been little public indication that Washington was preparing imminent military action against Iran, a move that would likely have ended the fragile ceasefire reached on April 8.
Speaking later at a White House event, Trump said, “we were getting ready to do a very major attack tomorrow.” “I put it off for a little while, hopefully maybe forever, but possibly for a little while,” he said, adding that “we’ve had very big discussions with Iran, and we’ll see what they amount to.”
Tensions between Washington and Tehran have flared up once again and, while the ceasefire technically remains intact, expectations of a quick reopening of Hormuz have weakened considerably.
What are experts saying?
Analysts at Morgan Stanley said the oil market is in “a race against time,” warning that the factors keeping crude prices from rising further may fade if the Strait of Hormuz remains shut into June.
Despite disruptions impacting nearly 1 billion barrels of oil supply, crude prices remain below the highs seen in 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Analysts led by Martijn Rats said the market entered the current crisis with stronger supply buffers, while investors continue to expect that the strait will eventually reopen.
Morgan Stanley also said higher U.S. crude exports and softer Chinese imports have helped cushion the market from a deeper supply shock so far. However, the brokerage warned that a prolonged closure of Hormuz could once again tighten global supplies if disruptions continue beyond what China or the United States can absorb comfortably.
Haitong Futures said markets remain cautious and warned that the ceasefire may not hold for long. The brokerage added that stalled negotiations between Washington and Tehran could trigger another round of escalation and push oil prices even higher.
Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser said earlier this month that disruptions to shipments through Hormuz could delay stability returning to oil markets until 2027, with around 100 million barrels of oil supply per week potentially affected.
(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)
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