SpaceX might be ready to go public soon, and if its $1.5 billion IPO is up, the aeronautics and satellite connection firm may make someone else richer than CEO Elon Musk – Google-parent Alphabet. The IPO, which is set to make Musk the world’s first trillionaire, could help Google earn up to $111 billion in profits.
If you re wondering why Google gets to benefit from SpaceX’s IPO, the reason dates back to an investment made by Google nearly a decade ago. In 2015, Google invested approximately $900 million in SpaceX, acquiring an estimated 7% stake in the company when its valuation stood at a comparatively modest $12 billion. That investment, which was initially directed towards the Starlink satellite internet project, has multiplied exponentially. As of today, the company’s current estimated value is already providing a significant boost to Google’s finances.
SpaceX and Google: How they depend on each other
Earlier this year, Google reported an $8 billion gain attributed to “non-marketable equity securities,” a figure which Bloomberg reported was directly tied to the rising value of its SpaceX holding. This gain alone accounted for a quarter of Google’s net income in the first quarter of 2025, highlighting the critical financial importance of the space company to the tech giant.
Beyond the financial returns, the partnership between these two is strategic – SpaceX utilises Google Cloud to power its Starlink services, which makes both of them dependent on each other.
Wealth for Musk amid Starlink’s India expansion
Investor enthusiasm for SpaceX remains high, driven by the profitability of Starlink and its multi-billion-dollar agreements with NASA. The company is currently operating at a profit, which is a rare feat for a commercial space venture. Hence, if SpaceX goes public, Elon Musk could see his overall valuation touch a figure of almost a trillionaire.
Musk is presently interested in bringing Starlink’s satellite-based internet to India after clearing government approvals and passing regulations. While SpaceX has yet to reveal the subscription price, you can expect the prices to be set at a premium.
