SpaceX CFO Bret Johnsen became a billionaire following the company’s historic $75 billion initial public offering on June 12, 2026, with his stake now exceeding $1.4 billion, according to multiple financial sources.
The IPO priced at $135 per share, raising the full $75 billion target and valuing SpaceX at approximately $1.77 trillion, making it the largest IPO in history. This surpassed the previous record held by Saudi Aramco’s 2019 offering, which raised $29.4 billion, according to Reuters and financial analysts.
Johnsen, who joined SpaceX in 2011, held about 9.6 million shares before the offering. His wealth gain reflects the broader impact of the IPO across SpaceX’s workforce. More than 4,400 current and former SpaceX employees are expected to become millionaires following the listing, according to analysis by Hill.com cited by The New York Times. About 400 of those employees will hold stakes worth over $100 million each.
The company distributed equity across all employee levels, meaning the windfall extended beyond executives to engineers, welders, machinists, and other workers who had taken stock options as part of their compensation packages over the years. SpaceX has approximately 22,000 current employees, many of whom received equity grants.
The IPO drew more than $250 billion in investor demand, more than three times oversubscribed, according to sources including Reuters and Bloomberg. Shares opened at $155 on the Nasdaq and closed the first trading day at $161, up 19 percent from the IPO price, according to CNBC.
For Johnsen specifically, the IPO represented the culmination of his long tenure at the company. His role as CFO involved leading SpaceX’s financial strategy and, in the months before the offering, conducting the IPO roadshow to pitch investors on the company’s vision and financial prospects.
Sources
- Reuters — Confirmed SpaceX IPO pricing at $135 per share, raising $75 billion, and $1.77 trillion valuation
- Dealroom — Reported Bret Johnsen became a billionaire with stake exceeding $1.4 billion after IPO
- Fortune — Confirmed Johnsen’s billionaire status and stake value following IPO
- Observer — Detailed Johnsen’s 9.6 million share stake valued at $1.4 billion at $2 trillion valuation
- Forbes — Listed Johnsen’s SpaceX stake at $1.4 billion and estimated net worth as billionaire
- Business Insider — Reported Johnsen’s stake worth approximately $1.4 billion at opening price
- The New York Times — Confirmed more than 4,400 current and former SpaceX employees expected to become millionaires
- CNBC — Reported IPO opening price of $155 and closing price of $161 on first trading day
- CNN — Documented Saudi Aramco’s 2019 IPO raising $25.6 billion as previous record
- Investing.com — Confirmed Saudi Aramco raised $29.4 billion in 2019, previous largest IPO
