World's Richest Man, 'Silicon Valley Iron Man' Musk, to Take SpaceX Public in 2026!
Elon Musk, the world's richest person and CEO of SpaceX, plans to take the company public in 2026 with a target valuation of approximately $1.5 trillion. The IPO is expected to raise "significantly more than $30 billion," potentially making it the largest in history, surpassing Saudi Aramco's 2019 offering.
A key driver of this ambitious valuation is a new narrative: **space-based AI computing**. Musk introduced the concept of "space AI compute" at a recent investor conference, arguing that within five years, running AI training and inference in space could become the lowest-cost solution. The core advantages include near-uninterrupted solar power and the vacuum of space acting as an ultimate heat sink. Additionally, with its reusable Starship rockets, SpaceX aims to drastically reduce launch costs to as low as $200–300 per kilogram.
This vision, however, faces significant technical hurdles. Challenges include managing extreme heat radiation in direct sunlight, protecting hardware from cosmic radiation, and the economic risks associated with potential launch failures. Competitors are also entering the arena, including Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, which is developing its own orbital data centers, and Sam Altman’s OpenAI, which is reportedly considering acquiring a rocket company.
Despite the challenges, Wall Street has responded positively. Firms like Ark Invest are now valuing SpaceX as a high-growth AI infrastructure company rather than a traditional aerospace firm, projecting that its space-based compute business could generate $80–120 billion in high-margin revenue by 2030. The success of this new "space dream" hinges on the continued development of Starship, overcoming technical barriers, and navigating future regulatory landscapes.
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