The biggest IPO in history! Elon Musk's 1.5 trillion unicorn controls 2/3 of the world's satellites

SpaceX’s largest IPO in history, raising over $30 billion, with a valuation of $1.5 trillion, surpassing Tencent by double and becoming the world’s largest unicorn. Celestrak data shows SpaceX controls nearly two-thirds of active satellites worldwide. Musk’s wealth soars to $752 billion, earning $7.85 billion daily, making him the first billionaire in history to surpass a $5 trillion net worth.

SpaceX IPO Valuation Surge Behind Capital Frenzy

Bloomberg reports that Musk is pushing forward with the SpaceX IPO, setting the new stock offering price at $421 per share, doubling the previous price. In early December, Bloomberg stated that SpaceX plans to raise over $30 billion next year (about RMB 210 billion). If the company successfully goes public, its valuation will be around $1.5 trillion. This astonishing valuation, breaking the current IPO record for listed companies, has exceeded one trillion dollars.

Two years ago, this company’s valuation was less than $200 billion. In just two years, it has increased sevenfold. Such aggressive capital operations raise questions: Is Musk and his financiers collectively creating a “super space pie,” or is there substantial support? The answer may lie somewhere in between.

Three Pillars Supporting SpaceX’s Trillion-Dollar Valuation

Technological Monopoly Advantage: Controls nearly two-thirds of active satellites globally, one of the few companies meeting ITU regulations

Commercial Success: Annual revenue around $15 billion, long-term cooperation with NASA, breakthroughs in manned lunar landing technology

Market Imagination Space: Infinite potential in satellite internet, space resource development, orbital computing, and other trillion-dollar markets

Senior investor Gavin Baker posted on social media that Musk is not just building “Starship,” but is monopolizing the “space highway” for next-generation AI computing. This strategic vision far exceeds simple rocket launch services; SpaceX is building a complete ecosystem including satellite internet, space transportation, and orbital computing.

Compared to Tencent’s market cap of RMB 4.96 trillion, SpaceX’s $1.5 trillion valuation is more than twice Tencent’s latest market value. Although this comparison spans industries, it highlights the capital market’s imagination for space economy far surpassing traditional internet.

11 Test Flights, 10 Failures, Finally Triumph

Founded in 2002, this aerospace giant experienced hundreds of test flights of the “Starship,” with the recent painful lessons of 10 failures, until the 11th flight, which was a “triumphant return.” The previous 10 test flights either saw the Starship “disappear” less than 3 seconds after launch, or enter space with no return, or disintegrate on takeoff.

This successful test flight completed Musk’s “space dream” cycle and was widely reported by media worldwide. CCTV reported that this is not only a successful test flight but also a major breakthrough in NASA’s manned lunar landing technology, once again fulfilling Musk’s original intention for the Starship to “return alive.” Aerospace professionals know that SpaceX’s “Starship,” in both design and thrust, is at the forefront of the world. It is no longer just a device for exploring the cosmos but a comprehensive aerospace transportation system.

Musk has invested over $5 billion in R&D, enduring many “waterfalls” of failure, finally winning a few successful test flights. This is a victory of long-termism; scientific research and technological development are time-consuming, costly, and labor-intensive, but Musk remains the “most stubborn entrepreneur.”

Net Worth $752 Billion, Earning $7.85 Billion Daily

Musk’s personal wealth has also soared. According to Forbes’ global billionaire rankings, considering his investments and shareholdings, his net worth has surged to $752 billion (about RMB 52.8 trillion), making him the first person in history to surpass a $5 trillion fortune. In other words, Musk’s daily income is about $2.06 billion. Based on net worth, his wealth grew nearly $410 billion in one year, earning close to $11.2 billion daily (about RMB 78.5 billion).

Musk’s latest net worth far exceeds the combined wealth of Google’s Larry Page, Oracle’s Larry Ellison, and former Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. If SpaceX successfully goes public next year, Musk could become the world’s first trillion-dollar billionaire. Musk owns several major companies; he personally holds nearly 40% of SpaceX, valued at about $630 billion. This does not include his holdings in Tesla, social platform X, SolarCity, OpenAI, and other eight major business ventures.

Musk previously responded on social media that if SpaceX successfully connects AI satellite factories and a giant lunar base, the company could become the world’s first company with a market value of $100 trillion. Although this grand vision sounds crazy, with Musk’s execution ability and SpaceX’s technological accumulation, it is not entirely impossible.

Global Competition for Space Resources

Countries’ exploration in aerospace has shifted from competing over satellite launch numbers to competing over technology. This has long risen to the level of national strategic planning, with underlying battles over new energy and space resources. According to Celestrak data, China’s satellite launch count and share are actually behind overseas, while SpaceX’s technological lead is evident. The company controls nearly two-thirds of active satellites.

Satellite internet is the foundation of digital infrastructure for all nations and a key factor for future development. SpaceX is expected to be developed into the “Tesla” of space, with future potential in space resource development and data transmission being infinitely amplified. This covert exploration is a major expansion of Musk’s capital empire.