SpaceX is currently a private company, so you are unable to purchase shares of SpaceX or trade it in the same manner of other public stocks. For this reason, you can’t buy SpaceX shares through regular brokerage accounts. There are ways to get indirect exposure, but they have drawbacks.
Or Why It’s Not Possible to Invest Directly
SpaceX is not planning to go public (IPO) anytime soon, as it remains focused on long-term goals without the pressure of shareholders. However, as internal share sales are not available to the general public, recent data shows SpaceX achieving a valuation of some $350 billion as of December 2024 (SpaceX valuation soars to $350 billion).
Indirect Investment Options
If you qualify as an accredited investor (meaning you have a net worth over $1 million or meet certain income requirements), one option is to buy SpaceX shares through a company such as Hiive, EquityZen, or Forge, which allow trading with current SpaceX shareholders. For those looking for indirect investment opportunities in SpaceX, consider space-related ETFs like ARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETF (ARKX) or iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) which offer indirect exposure to the space industry. Investing in the likes of Tesla, another Musk-owned company, offers a modicum of indirect exposure, but nothing connected to SpaceX’s performance.
Unexpected Detail: Growth Projections
As satellite services and space tourism help push the space industry to more than $1 trillion by 2040 (Global Space Economy Projected to Grow 41% Over Next Five Years), indirect investments could prove appealing.
Survey Note: Comprehensive Analysis on Investing in SpaceX
So, this note explores the possibility, capability, and nuances of investing in SpaceX — and for investors, here are oodles of intricacies and nuances. It builds on the short answer with all the additional content needed from the analysis and is laid out in such a way that a business audience that might be looking at possible investment opportunities in the space industry to digest easily.
Introduction and Context
Founded in 2002, SpaceX has become the leader in a new space race, its rockets reusable and its Starlink satellite internet service a household name. Valued at close to $350 billion in December 2024, it is one of the most valuable private companies in the world (SpaceX valuation leaps to $350 billion). Due to its prominence, many investors may ask themselves the question of how to invest in SpaceX, especially given its private status and absence of public trading.
Thus, the analysis first addresses the direct investment question, before addressing indirect methods to achieve this, evaluating pros and cons of each route, including paying off debt directly versus bonds, and comparing different avenues to gain exposure to the cases.
Direct Investment Feasibility
The general public cannot directly invest in SpaceX at this time. SpaceX is a private company, which means its shares aren’t traded on public stock exchanges, like NYSE or NASDAQ. This is intentional; Elon Musk has already stated that he prefers to not have public shareholders drawing attention to shortsighted profits at the expense of long-term goals, like colonizing Mars. According to recent filings, including an internal tender offer in late 2024 at $185 a share, no IPO is in sight, with Musk claiming that the company can fund its growth internally (How to Buy SpaceX Stock in 2025 | The Motley Fool).
This status as a private company restricts access to shares, which are mainly controlled by Musk (more than 40 percent), employees and venture capital investors. The most internal trading programs such as 2024 agreement allowing insiders to sell shares provide cash to existing stakeholders but does not open doors for retail.
Indirect Investment Methods
While direct investment is not an option, a few indirect ways exist to get exposure to SpaceX or the wider space industry
- 1 Platforms For Accredited Investors
Secondary markets, including Hiive, EquityZen and Forge, allow accredited investors to buy pre-IPO shares from existing shareholders (those who own them prior to the IPO) of SpaceX. Accreditation requires a net worth of at least $1 million (excluding primary residence) or at least $200,000 annual income ($300,000 with a spouse) for the last two years. These platforms enable secondary market trades, but they require large minimum investments and are not as liquid as public stocks. For example, EquityZen states that the shares are traded subject to availability in the market (Invest In SpaceX Stock | Buy Pre-IPO Shares | EquityZen).
2 space-Related ETF
Exchange-traded funds focusing on the space sector provide another avenue. Examples include:
- Your space ETF — the ARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETF (ticker: ARKX), which invests in companies involved in space exploration and innovation.
- iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA), which contains companies with space-related operations.
- Procure Space UCITS ETF, listed on the London Stock Exchange, tracks global space stocks.
They trade on stock exchanges like any other stock, provide easier diversification than direct ownership but do not provide exposure to SpaceX itself, only the broader industry. Performance data on ARKX, for example, labels it as an actively managed fund that invests in technology stocks, but recent returns weren’t specified in the analysis (ARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETF (ARKX))
3 Investing in Associated Companies
Some investors are looking at companies with ties to SpaceX, including Tesla (also owned by Musk) or companies such as Bank of America and Alphabet (Google), which have invested in SpaceX. But this approach is indirect and less focused, since performance of stock with these companies is driven by their general operations, not SpaceX one, particular success. The $250 million investment Bank of America made in SpaceX in 2018 is now worth close to $1 billion, for example, but buying its stock taxes you with all of its financial services business, not just SpaceX (How to Buy SpaceX Stock – SmartAsset).
Pros and Cons of Space-Related Investments
- Pros
Investing in space-related ventures, whether directly tied to SpaceX or not, involves significant potential and risk:
- High Growth Potential: The space economy is forecasted to grow significantly, with experts estimating it will reach north of $1 trillion by 2040 due to satellite communications, space tourism and exploration. For example, Bloomberg reported in 2023 that 2022 global space economy was at $546 billion and that would grow 41% over five years (Global Space Economy Projected to Grow 41% Over Next Five Years).
- Innovation: With firms such as SpaceX on the cutting edge of technology, there could be great rewards for early investors, especially given the additional potential market for reusable rockets and satellite networks
- Cons
- High Risk – Missions to space are complicated and failure-prone, with potential for financial loss. Many of the companies are not yet profitable, making investment in it more risky since it is still emerging as an industry
- Regulatory Uncertainties:the regulatory landscape for the space industry is still developing, and companies might encounter legal roadblocks while operating. For instance, the FAA proposed civil penalties against SpaceX in 2023 for license violations, potentially impacting its financials (Invest In SpaceX Stock | Buy Pre-IPO Shares | EquityZen).
- Volatility: Space is a volatile market, where companies’ stock prices can rise and fall dramatically depending on the success or failure of missions, government contracts, and general investor sentiment, making it a potentially risky investment.
Comparative Analysis of Investment Methods
To aid decision-making, here’s a comparison table of the indirect investment methods discussed
| nvestment Method | Description | Pros | Cons |
| Accredited Investor Platforms | Platforms like Hiive, EquityZen, Forge for buying private shares Direct exposure to SpaceX | Direct exposure to SpaceX | High minimum investment, only for accredited investors, less liquidity |
| Space ETFs | Funds investing in a basket of space-related companies | Diversification, easier access | No direct exposure to SpaceX, performance depends on overall space sector |
| Investing in Associated Companies | Like Tesla or companies that have invested in SpaceX | Some indirect exposure | Not directly tied to SpaceX’s performance, other business risks involved |