Key Points
The initial public offering of Space Exploration Technologies (NASDAQ: SPCX) was a huge success for Elon Musk. As the stock (SpaceX for short) soared in the days after it went public, Musk officially became the world’s first trillionaire.
A sharp correction in the stock price, however, has brought his net worth down closer to earth. His estimated net worth is now under $900 billion. Most of Musk’s fortune is tied up in publicly traded companies like Tesla and SpaceX. So his exact net worth changes dramatically with every market session.
How much impact does Musk’s net worth have on SpaceX’s business? More than you might think.
Here’s how Elon Musk’s net worth relates to SpaceX’s valuation
While it’s difficult to quantify exactly how the shifts in Musk’s net worth will affect SpaceX, there are a few obvious effects. The first is that his net worth is now disproportionately impacted by swings in the company’s stock price. So if Musk’s net worth falls, there’s a good chance the decline will also be reflected in the company’s valuation.
Usually, lower valuations make it more difficult to raise capital. However, with a valuation of nearly $2 trillion, SpaceX likely won’t have difficulty raising additional capital if needed. But if the company needs to raise additional capital, it may have to pay higher borrowing costs.
Second, Musk’s net worth changes also impact his ability to self-fund SpaceX, which now enjoys external funding from a variety of sources. However, as the controlling shareholder, Musk can inject additional capital into the business on more favorable terms.
Case in point: Following the explosion of one of Jeff Bezos’ rockets, he recently turned to outside investors for the first time to help fund his Blue Origin rockets business, proving that even the world’s richest people still don’t have unlimited funds if a capital-intensive business of theirs struggles.
Finally — and perhaps most difficult to quantify — Musk’s falling net worth may have indirect negative public relations effects. SpaceX prospects are, in some way, less bright when Musk is poorer. This can have an effect on talent recruiting, perceived prestige, and perceived market dominance.
The space economy is still very much in its early stages. Competition is nascent, but rapidly emerging. So, SpaceX needs all the help it can get to maintain its leading market position.
Musk having more capital to deploy is undoubtedly a good thing for the company’s overall growth trajectory. That’s especially true given that it remains unprofitable. In 2025, it posted a net loss of $4.94 billion on $18.7 billion in revenue. Last quarter alone, however, losses accelerated to $4.28 billion on $4.7 billion in revenue.
Capital expenditures are expected to remain high for years to come. That means SpaceX will likely continue tapping the market for more capital. Musk’s private wealth makes that an easier and more predictable feat.
Should you buy stock in Space Exploration Technologies right now?
Before you buy stock in Space Exploration Technologies, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Space Exploration Technologies wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $397,351!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,304,257!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 934% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 210% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
Ryan Vanzo has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Tesla. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
