What is SpaceX? Elon Musk founded the private aerospace manufacturer and space transportation company SpaceX to colonize Mars and make life multi-planetary. Since its inception, SpaceX has made significant strides in rocket and spacecraft design, revolutionizing the space exploration industry. One of SpaceX's most notable achievements is the development of the Falcon 9 rocket, a reusable launch vehicle that has significantly reduced the cost of space access. The Falcon 9 has successfully launched numerous satellites, cargo and even astronauts to the International Space Station. Another groundbreaking project is the Starship, a fully reusable spacecraft designed for interplanetary travel to transport humans to Mars. SpaceX's innovative approach and technological advancements have garnered significant attention and investment. As of September 2024, the company had a market valuation of approximately $210 billion, making it one of the most valuable private companies in the world. Notable investors include Founders Fund and Valor Equity Partners. While SpaceX has not yet gone public, its substantial valuation and ambitious goals position it as a significant player in the future of space exploration. Can You Buy SpaceX Stock? SpaceX remains a private company, meaning its shares are not available for purchase on public stock exchanges. This means individuals cannot directly buy or sell SpaceX stock like they would with publicly traded companies. While it’s not impossible to acquire shares of SpaceX, The ability to purchase them is primarily limited to: Accredited Investors: These are individuals or entities with a net worth of at least $1 million (excluding their primary residence) or an annual income of $200,000 or more (or $300,000 for joint filers) for the past two years. Institutional Investors: These include entities like hedge funds, mutual funds, pension funds and insurance companies. Purchasing Shares in Companies that Hold Stakes in SpaceX: Some publicly traded companies may hold stakes in SpaceX. By buying shares of these companies, individuals can indirectly gain exposure to SpaceX, although each company likely has a different level of exposure and process. While SpaceX has achieved remarkable success, its shares remain privately held and direct purchase is generally restricted to accredited investors, institutional investors or indirect investment through publicly traded companies that hold SpaceX stakes. When Will SpaceX IPO? Want to learn how to buy SpaceX stock? Unfortunately, SpaceX has not indicated any plans for an Initial Public Offering (IPO) as of this writing. The company has been financially stable and prosperous without public investor money, demonstrating an ability to fund operations and growth without raising capital through an IPO. While there has been speculation about SpaceX potentially going public soon, Elon Musk has emphasized that the company's primary focus is achieving predictable and sustainable revenue growth. Before considering an IPO, SpaceX aims to establish a consistent and reliable business model that can withstand market fluctuations and maintain long-term value. While an IPO may be possible for SpaceX in the future, as of September 2024, the company has no immediate plans to go public. Its strong financial position and focus on sustainable growth suggest that any future decision regarding an IPO will be carefully considered based on the company's long-term strategic goals. Can You Invest in SpaceX? Investing in SpaceX is tricky if you aren’t an accredited investor with access to private companies. While you may not be able to claim any actual shares, you can still gain indirect exposure through public companies or mutual funds that hold SpaceX shares or through companies that supply the space exploration firm with its parts and materials. For example, the Ark Venture Fund holds shares in several private tech companies, including SpaceX, OpenAI and Discord. To see if you can purchase shares of funds like the Ark Venture Fund, contact your advisor or visit Ark Invest’s website for more details. SpaceX Alternatives Space exploration is a growing investment theme in the tech sector and SpaceX isn’t the only company making exciting advances. Here are five other public space companies that you can add to your portfolio today: