You've probably seen the headlines. SpaceX just hit an $800 billion valuation. Then, suddenly, people are whispering about a $1.5 trillion target. It's wild. If you're like most investors, you’re staring at your brokerage app, wondering why there’s no "buy" button for the most successful rocket company in history.
Well, that’s because the SpaceX tender offer isn't a stock market free-for-all. It's an invite-only party.
Honestly, buying SpaceX right now is kinda like trying to get into an underground club where the doorman only takes gold bars. But it isn't impossible. You just have to know which doors are actually unlocked. As of January 2026, the company is still private, but the secondary market is moving billions of dollars while we wait for the rumored IPO later this year.
The Mystery of the SpaceX Tender Offer
Basically, a tender offer is just a fancy way of saying "controlled buyback." Since SpaceX isn't on the NYSE or Nasdaq, employees can't just sell their shares to buy a house or a new car whenever they want. To fix this, Elon Musk’s team organizes these "liquidity events" every six months or so.
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In December 2025, we saw a massive one. The company firmed up an insider share sale that valued the whole operation at roughly $800 billion. Shares were changing hands at about $420 a piece. That’s nearly double what they were worth in July 2025 ($212 per share).
Why the jump? Starlink is printing money. It has over 8 million subscribers now. Plus, the Starship booster catch in late 2024 proved the tech is years ahead of the competition.
But here is the catch: these official tender offers are usually for insiders. Employees and early venture capital backers like Founders Fund or Sequoia. They get to sell a slice of their holdings—usually capped at 10% to 25%—to a group of hand-picked institutional buyers. If you aren't a billionaire or a massive hedge fund like D1 Capital Partners, you aren't on that list.
So, How Do You Actually Buy In?
If you aren't a SpaceX engineer, you’ve basically got three realistic paths to get a piece of the action. None of them are as easy as buying Apple, but they work.
1. The Secondary Market Hustle
This is where most of the action happens for "regular" wealthy people. Platforms like Forge Global, EquityZen, and Hiive act as the middlemen. They find former employees or early investors who want to cash out and match them with buyers.
You’ve got to be an accredited investor though.
In the U.S., that means you either made $200,000 a year for the last two years (or $300,000 with a spouse) or you have a net worth of $1 million (not counting your house). If you meet that bar, you can sign up for Forge or Hiive and look for SpaceX listings.
Be warned: it isn't cheap. These platforms often have high minimums—think $25,000 to $100,000 per trade. Also, SpaceX usually has a "Right of First Refusal" (ROFR). This means if you find a seller, the company can step in at the last second and buy the shares back themselves, leaving you with nothing but a refunded deposit.
2. The ETF Side Door
Don't have a million dollars? Join the club. Most people get their SpaceX exposure through "proxy" investments.
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The most famous one lately is the Destiny Tech100 (DXYZ). It’s a closed-end fund that trades on the NYSE just like a regular stock. As of late 2025, SpaceX makes up about 23% of its portfolio. It’s the easiest way to "buy" SpaceX in a Robinhood account.
Another big player is the ARK Venture Fund (ARKVX). Cathie Wood has been gobbling up SpaceX shares for years. Because it's a "finter" (an interval fund), retail investors can actually buy into it with relatively low minimums. It’s got about 7.4% of its assets in SpaceX.
3. The "Cousin" Strategy
Sometimes, you buy the neighbors to get into the neighborhood. Alphabet (Google) and Fidelity both own significant chunks of SpaceX. While buying Google won't give you the same 10x potential as direct SpaceX stock, it does provide a safety net.
Then there are the "SpaceX-adjacent" stocks. Think Rocket Lab (RKLB) or AST SpaceMobile (ASTS). They aren't SpaceX, but they tend to trade based on the same industry sentiment.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 2026 IPO
There is a ton of noise about the SpaceX IPO. Bloomberg is reporting that the company is eyeing mid-to-late 2026 for a massive listing that could raise $30 billion. They’re targeting a $1.5 trillion valuation.
Most people think an IPO is the "beginning." For SpaceX, it’s more like the middle.
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The reason Elon has kept it private for 24 years is simple: public markets hate risk. If a Starship explodes on the pad, a public company’s stock price tanks. Private companies just call it "data collection" and keep moving.
If the 2026 IPO happens, it might not be the whole company. There’s a lot of talk about a Starlink spinoff. Starlink is the "utility" part of the business. It’s predictable. It has cash flow. It’s perfect for the stock market. The Mars-bound rockets? Those might stay private for a lot longer.
The Hidden Risks You Won't Hear About
Buying SpaceX stock isn't a guaranteed moon mission. There are real risks that people gloss over because the rockets look cool.
- Liquidity: If you buy through a secondary market like EquityZen, your money is locked. You can't just sell it on a Tuesday morning if you need rent money. You might be stuck for years until the IPO.
- The "Elon Key-Man" Risk: Love him or hate him, SpaceX's valuation is tied to Musk. If he steps away—or gets distracted by his other dozen companies—the "vision premium" could evaporate.
- The Valuation Gap: Private market prices are often higher than what the public market is willing to pay. We’ve seen this with companies like Uber and WeWork. Just because a tender offer says $420 doesn't mean the IPO will open at $500.
Actionable Steps for 2026
If you're serious about getting in before the 2026 window closes, here is what you should actually do:
- Check your accreditation status. If you qualify, register for Hiive or Forge Global immediately. Don't wait for a tender offer to be announced; the deals happen fast, and the paperwork takes weeks.
- Monitor the "Bake-off." Keep an eye on news about which Wall Street banks are pitching to lead the IPO. If you see names like Goldman Sachs or Morgan Stanley getting involved, the 2026 timeline is real.
- Watch the $DXYZ and $ARKVX premiums. These funds often trade at a massive premium to their actual Net Asset Value (NAV). If the hype is too high, you might be overpaying for the SpaceX shares they hold. Wait for a dip.
- Set aside "Patience Capital." Only use money you don't need for at least 3 to 5 years. Private equity is a long game.
SpaceX is currently the "crown jewel" of the private world. Whether you get in through a secondary SpaceX tender offer or wait for the ticker symbol to hit the big boards, just remember: space is hard, and the markets are harder. Be smart about how much of your portfolio you're willing to launch into orbit.
Keep an eye on the Starship flight schedule for the rest of 2026. Every successful mission is a tailwind for that $1.5 trillion valuation. If they land a Starship on the moon this year, all the current price targets will probably look like bargains.