Max Chafkin, Bloomberg Businessweek columnist, compares the SpaceX IPO to Tesla's 2010 IPO, noting that Elon Musk was more popular then without the current political polarization. He argues the AI story has swamped everything else, and the S-1 clearly states the entire plan depends on Musk. He also notes that US federal contracts are about 20% of SpaceX's revenue, and that Musk's political alignment may have been crucial for the IPO's success. He draws a parallel between SpaceX's legacy launch business (a near-monopoly) and its futuristic AI/data center ambitions, similar to Tesla's split between auto sales and robotaxi/humanoid robot dreams.

Ross Gerber, president of Gerber Kawasaki, personally owns SpaceX shares and is holding them long-term. He believes a Tesla-SpaceX merger is a foregone conclusion, arguing that Tesla is 'worthless' without it because XAI owns the brains (AI/FSD IP) that Tesla needs. He advises retail investors to wait for lockup expirations and buy gradually, warning that IPOs are volatile and most investors panic-sell. He also notes that SpaceX has better management than Tesla and would survive without Elon Musk.

Professor Kam Harvey from Duke University provides an academic perspective on IPO valuation. He notes that IPOs are typically underpriced to ensure all shares go out, leading to a first-day pop that retail investors often miss. Historically, over three years, IPOs do not outperform the S&P 500. He argues that the explosive upside is already captured by pre-IPO investors, and retail buyers are buying at an expensive price with modest expected returns. He draws a distinction between today's tech leaders (willing to pivot) and the 1999 bubble (rigid), suggesting this time may be different.

Bailey Lipschultz, Bloomberg News IPO reporter, discusses the smooth opening of the SpaceX IPO, noting the stock opened 11% higher and is now up near 30%. He highlights that 300 million shares have traded, the float is 555 million, and there were no major plumbing issues. He contrasts this with Facebook's 2012 IPO which opened 11% but finished flat, suggesting SpaceX's debut is more robust. He also notes the unusual lockup structure: Elon Musk's 6.4 billion shares are locked for a full year, while others are staggered, with 20% of existing shares free after Q4 2026 earnings.