The fervor surrounding investment in Elon Musk’s aerospace firm, SpaceX, has reached frenzied levels, making it challenging to discern the truth from the noise.
SpaceX remains a privately held company, with its shares not available for sale on any public exchange. Current shareholders comprise a mix of financiers, company executives, and staff.
It is widely believed that Tesla CEO Elon Musk holds a substantial ownership stake, estimated to be between 40-50%.
Opportunities for Private Share Sales
For select individuals, there exists the possibility of acquiring shares through SpaceX’s internal trading program or via platforms where private investors can purchase shares from willing owners.
One such platform, Rainmaker Securities, has reportedly facilitated over $4 billion in SpaceX shares transactions, although its services are exclusively available to accredited investors.
However, for the majority, the reality is that SpaceX shares are not accessible to private investors through conventional means.
Spin-Off Speculation
Recent rumors about a potential initial public offering (IPO) emerged following reports of discussions to spin off SpaceX’s Starlink satellite subsidiary. However, Elon Musk promptly refuted these claims, stating that an IPO would only materialize once Starlink met certain financial milestones.
Amidst the speculation, caution is advised.
The cryptocurrency frenzy of 2018, where an overwhelming majority of initial coin offerings were revealed to be scams, serves as a stark reminder. Now, with SpaceX’s soaring valuation exceeding $180 billion, scammers are seizing the opportunity to prey on eager investors drawn to Musk’s ventures.
“A common strategy among online scammers is to entice victims with the promise of investment opportunities, only to abscond with their funds,” remarked Jordan Liles of Snopes, a fact-checking website that has observed a surge in SpaceX-related scams.
Recently, a Facebook group purportedly offered an avenue to invest in SpaceX, highlighting the allure Musk’s enterprises hold for the unscrupulous. However, exercising vigilance is imperative, as such offerings may not be genuine.
The prospect of a Starlink IPO remains a possibility, with some analysts suggesting that it may have already attained the financial benchmarks outlined by Musk.
In the meantime, alternative avenues for investors to participate in the burgeoning U.S. corporate space race have been identified, offering interim opportunities.
