FT: Musk Wants to Time SpaceX IPO With Rare Space Event and His Birthday

SpaceX, the company founded by the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, is preparing to launch an initial public offering (IPO) in June 2026, the Financial Times reported, citing sources.

According to people familiar with the matter, Musk has suggested timing the offering to coincide with a rare planetary alignment and his birthday. On June 8–9, Jupiter and Venus will appear unusually close to each other for the first time in more than three years, and a few days later Mercury will align diagonally with them. Musk turns 55 on June 28.

Sources said SpaceX is seeking to raise up to $50 billion at a valuation of about $1.5 trillion, which could make it the largest IPO in history. By comparison, Saudi Aramco raised $29 billion in its 2019 listing. The figures are preliminary and could change, the sources cautioned.

At the same time, some bankers and investors believe June may be an overly ambitious timeline, as SpaceX would still need to file an S-1 registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

They added that any IPO depends heavily on market conditions and investor sentiment, which remain unpredictable — particularly amid former President Donald Trump’s frequent tariff threats and his attempts to influence U.S. Federal Reserve policy.

Some sources also told the publication that one reason for going public is Musk’s effort to secure funding for development of the Starship rocket system, designed for missions to Mars.

• In December 2025, Musk became the first person whose fortune reached $600 billion.
• SpaceX has become the most expensive private company in the world: in December, it was reported that it would buy back shares as part of a deal that estimates it at about $800 billion.