Elon Musk Can't Sell SpaceX Shares Until 2027. Here's Who Can, and When.
2026-09-29 13:30
•Ryan Vanzo •The Motley Fool
••••• ••••• Axe Cap view
SpaceX Lockup Expiries Could Pressure Shares Through 2027
Elon Musk can't sell SpaceX shares until 2027, but massive share unlocks before then could lead to volatility.
SpaceX’s recent IPO freed less than 5% of its shares to the public, with Elon Musk locked up until mid-2027. However, a staggered release of over 7 billion shares will hit the market between now and then. This creates a real risk of share price weakness as insiders might take profits despite the company still being unprofitable. For South African investors, this matters indirectly through USD/ZAR — should global tech sentiment waver, expect the rand to weaken as capital flows out of riskier assets. Bigger picture, SpaceX’s capital needs to keep pace with AI and space race rivals means any price weakness might force dilutive capital raises, adding pressure. Treat the hype with caution and don’t chase the stock blindly. Investors tempted by SA tech proxies like Naspers and Prosus should weigh this appetite for risk carefully. this is just our opinion and not financial advice
Avoid direct exposure to SpaceX-related shares due to near-term lockup expiries and earnings uncertainty. Watch USD/ZAR for rand weakness in case of tech risk-off sentiment. For local tech exposure, remain selective and consider trimming speculative positions.
- SPCX
- USD/ZAR
- Naspers
- Prosus
- Heavy share unlocking depressing SpaceX share prices
- Rising capital needs forcing dilutive raises
6/10
SpaceX went public with less than 5% of shares available, with Elon Musk's 366-day lockup expiring June 12, 2027. Multiple interim lockup expirations will release billions of shares through 2027, potentially creating selling pressure. While some analysts view this as a buying opportunity, SpaceX's unprofitability and need for capital raises amid AI competition could make share price weakness particularly impactful.
Our take is based on reporting first published by The Motley Fool.