In a bombshell update that's got the finance and space worlds buzzing, Elon Musk has thrown his weight behind reports of SpaceX going public in 2026. The Tesla and xAI boss, who's no stranger to shaking up markets, dropped a simple but loaded reply on X late Thursday: "As usual, Eric is accurate."
That nod went straight under a post from Ars Technica's sharp-eyed editor, Eric Berger, who broke the news citing heavy hitters like The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg.
Berger's scoop? SpaceX is gearing up for an initial public offering (IPO) next year that could value the rocket powerhouse at a jaw-dropping $1.5 trillion. That's right—trillion with a T. The offering might pull in over $30 billion, smashing the current record held by Saudi Arabia's Aramco, which raked in $29 billion back in 2019.
If it pans out, this wouldn't just be big; it'd be historic, cementing SpaceX as the king of IPOs and underscoring Musk's knack for turning sci-fi dreams into cold, hard cash.
This confirmation marks a real pivot for Musk and his crew. For years, the billionaire has been cagey about taking SpaceX public, often stressing the need to stay nimble away from Wall Street's quarterly grilling. Remember his 2021 quip about Starlink's potential spin-off? It fizzled amid market jitters.
But with SpaceX's valuation skyrocketing—last private round hit $210 billion in mid-2024—the timing feels ripe. The company's cranking out reusable rockets like Falcon 9 at a clip no one else can touch, and Starlink's beaming internet to remote spots worldwide, with over 6 million users hooked.
Why now? Investors are salivating over the space economy's explosive potential. Analysts peg it at $1 trillion by 2040, fueled by everything from satellite swarms to Mars missions. SpaceX isn't just playing; it's dominating. In 2025 alone, it's nailed 100+ launches, outpacing rivals like Blue Origin and even NASA partners.
That $30 billion war chest? Expect it to supercharge Starship's development—the mega-rocket that's key to Musk's moonshot of colonizing Mars. Plus, more sats for Starlink to blanket the globe in high-speed connectivity, and maybe even orbital habitats or lunar bases.
Musk's "accurate" stamp isn't just hype—it's a green light for dreamers and deal-makers alike. Wall Street's already whispering about the frenzy: institutional giants like BlackRock and Vanguard lining up, retail traders on Robinhood itching for shares.
But risks loom. Regulatory hurdles from the FCC on Starlink spectrum, plus geopolitical tensions over space debris, could snag the ride. And let's not forget Musk's own volatility—his X feuds and political tweets have torched Tesla stock before.
Still, for SpaceX, this IPO spells acceleration toward the stars. It's not just about money; it's Musk's bet on humanity's multi-planetary future.
As Berger put it, this could "fund the next era of exploration." With the clock ticking to 2026, eyes are locked on Hawthorne, California. Will it eclipse Aramco? Deliver on Starship? Only time—and maybe another Musk meme—will tell.
