In June 2026, SpaceX pulled off the largest IPO in history. Over the coming months, two more giants, OpenAI (maker of ChatGPT) and Anthropic (maker of Claude), have reportedly filed to follow, in listings that could be just as record-breaking. It's the biggest wave of mega-IPOs the market has ever seen.
But SpaceX didn't just set a record; it captured the public's imagination and reshaped what a modern mega-IPO can look like, while also teaching investors a valuable lesson about the difference between a great listing and a smooth ride. This guide uses what actually happened with SpaceX to think clearly, and optimistically but realistically, about the AI listings still to come. If it leaves you wanting to explore the listed companies already riding the AI and space booms, you can do that from just $1 with zero commission on the Nemo Money app.
Investors around the world are searching:
- "OpenAI IPO date" / "Anthropic IPO date"
- "Can I buy OpenAI or Anthropic stock?"
- "How did the SpaceX IPO perform?"
- "Are the AI IPOs worth buying?"
- "How to invest in the AI IPOs"
What Actually Happened with SpaceX
SpaceX's June 2026 listing was, by almost any measure, a triumph, and a genuine landmark in market history:
- It raised $75 billion, the largest IPO ever, smashing Saudi Aramco's long-standing ~$29 billion record from 2019.
- It priced at $135 a share, valuing the company at around $1.77 trillion, instantly one of the most valuable companies on earth.
- Demand was extraordinary. The offering was heavily oversubscribed, with an unusually large slice, reportedly around $15 billion, going to retail investors (far more than a typical IPO), and the stock jumped roughly 19% on day one, briefly pushing SpaceX's value above $2 trillion.
- That enthusiasm showed up on investing platforms too: on the Nemo.money app, SpaceX was the single most-traded stock around its launch and in the couple of months since, ahead of Nvidia and other "Magnificent 7" and AI names, a sign of just how much investor excitement the listing generated.
It also did something bigger than its own numbers: SpaceX effectively rewrote the playbook for the new generation of mega-IPOs, proving there's enormous public appetite for giant, cutting-edge tech and AI listings, and paving the way for OpenAI and Anthropic to follow. It turned "can a company this big and this new actually go public successfully?" into "who's next?"
What Came Next: The Balanced Picture
The debut was a genuine success. But the months since also carry a lesson worth learning before the next wave of listings. After the euphoric open, SpaceX shares eased back, ending up around 36% below their post-listing high, as investors weighed some sobering fundamentals against the excitement: the company is still lossmaking (a roughly $4.3 billion loss in a single recent quarter), and at that valuation it's priced for near-flawless execution across rockets, satellites and more.
None of that diminishes what SpaceX achieved, it's an extraordinary company and a historic listing. But it's a useful reminder that a record-breaking, hugely popular debut and a smooth ride afterwards are two different things. The excitement is real; so is the volatility. That balance, not blind optimism or blind caution, is exactly the mindset to bring to the AI IPOs still to come.
The Four Lessons for the OpenAI and Anthropic Listings
Both OpenAI and Anthropic have reportedly filed confidentially, at valuations approaching or around $1 trillion each, and both could produce record-breaking listings of their own (reports suggest Anthropic may go first, possibly late 2026, with OpenAI perhaps into 2027). Here's what SpaceX teaches us to keep in mind:
1. "Record-breaking" describes the deal, not the investment. A huge raise and a sky-high valuation tell you how big and hyped the listing is, not whether the shares will do well afterwards. SpaceX was the biggest ever, and still fell 36% from its high. Don't confuse the two.
2. Watch the losses, not just the growth. SpaceX, OpenAI and Anthropic share a profile: spectacular growth and spectacular cash burn. A trillion-dollar valuation on a lossmaking company prices in years of perfect execution, leaving little margin for disappointment.
3. Bigger is not safer. It's tempting to assume the most famous, most valuable companies are the "safe" bets. SpaceX showed the opposite can be true: the larger the hype, the further there is to fall if reality doesn't match expectations.
And One More Thing: You Can't Buy OpenAI or Anthropic Yet Anyway
Unlike SpaceX (which is now public and trades under the ticker SPCX), OpenAI and Anthropic are still private. A confidential filing is not a listing, so for now you can't buy either directly on Nemo or any mainstream brokerage. The indirect "side doors", listed backers and specialist funds, all come with real catches, which we cover in our companion guides on the AI IPO wave and getting exposure to private AI companies.
A Calmer Way to Engage with the AI and Space Booms
If your interest is these themes rather than a single hyped debut, a great deal is already investable through ordinary listed companies, the chipmakers, cloud providers and software firms powering AI, and, in space, the listed launch, satellite and defence names. That lets you research the themes through regulated, transparent, liquid stocks and ETFs today, rather than betting on a record-breaking IPO you may not even be able to buy.
How to Track and Prepare for the AI IPOs on Nemo Money
SpaceX is now public, but OpenAI and Anthropic are still private, so you can't buy them yet. What you can do is get ready. On the Nemo Money app:
- 🔍 Follow AI, space and tech news and monitor the listed ecosystem
- 📊 Track AI- and space-exposed stocks (chips, cloud, launch, satellites and the big listed players)
- 🧠 Use the AI assistant to understand IPO trends and market sentiment
- 📈 Monitor market sentiment in real time
- 💸 Trade eligible US stocks and ETFs from $1 with zero commission
- 🏦 Earn 6% AER interest, paid daily in USD on uninvested cash in your wallet
If and when OpenAI and Anthropic list, you'll be able to track their performance and availability directly in the app.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How did the SpaceX IPO perform?
SpaceX went public in June 2026 in the largest IPO ever, raising $75 billion at a valuation around $1.77 trillion, priced at $135 per share. The stock jumped about 19% on its first day, but has since fallen roughly 36% from its post-listing high, as investors weighed its heavy losses against a very high valuation. Past performance is not a guide to the future.
When will OpenAI and Anthropic go public?
Both reportedly filed confidentially in mid-2026. Reports suggest Anthropic could list first, potentially as early as late 2026, while OpenAI may move into 2027. Nothing is confirmed, timing depends on regulatory review and market conditions and can change.
Will the OpenAI and Anthropic IPOs be as big as SpaceX?
Possibly. Both carry private valuations approaching or around $1 trillion and could produce record-scale listings. But "record-scale" refers to the size of the deal, not the quality of the investment, SpaceX was the biggest ever and its shares still fell sharply after debut. Bigger doesn't mean safer.
Can I invest in OpenAI or Anthropic now?
Not directly, they're still private companies, so their shares don't trade publicly. You can only get indirect, imperfect exposure (via listed backers or specialist funds, each with catches), or wait for an eventual listing. SpaceX, by contrast, is now public.
Should I buy a big IPO on its first day?
That's a personal decision, and this isn't advice. History (including SpaceX) shows hype and price often peak around the debut, so buying on day one can mean overpaying. Many investors prefer to wait for trading history and public financials before deciding.
How do I buy SpaceX stock?
SpaceX is now publicly listed (it went public in June 2026 and trades on the Nasdaq under the ticker SPCX), so, unlike OpenAI and Anthropic, its shares can be bought through brokers and investing apps that offer it. As with any stock, check availability on your chosen platform, and remember the share price is volatile and has already fallen well off its post-listing high. This is general information, not a recommendation, and your capital is at risk.
What are the OpenAI and Anthropic stock symbols and share prices?
Neither has one yet. Because OpenAI and Anthropic are still private, they don't have public stock tickers or a live share price, and can't be bought on a normal brokerage. Any "price" you see quoted comes from private funding rounds (recent valuations were reported at roughly $852 billion for OpenAI and around $965 billion for Anthropic), not a public market. They'll only get tradable tickers if and when they complete an IPO. This is general information, not advice.
Final Thoughts: Learn From the Last One
The AI IPO wave could be one of the most exciting, and lucrative-sounding, market events in years. But the smartest preparation is to study the listing that just happened. SpaceX was the biggest IPO in history and, for those who bought the hype at the top, a swift lesson in the gap between "record-breaking" and "good investment."
If and when OpenAI and Anthropic list, that same discipline applies: judge the business, not the headline; mind the losses, not just the growth; and remember you can't buy either yet anyway. Meanwhile, the broader AI and space themes are already investable through ordinary listed stocks.
Explore the listed AI, space and tech landscape from $1 with zero commission on the Nemo.money app.
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This is not investment advice. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Your capital is at risk. See website for Risk Disclosure. Exinity ME Ltd (https://nemo.money) is regulated by ADGM's Financial Services Regulatory Authority.
