12 June 2026

SpaceX, valued at around 1.8 trillion US dollars, launches its initial public offering today on June 12. Founder and lead shareholder Elon Musk, long the planet's wealthiest individual, is set to reach trillionaire status for the first time. The scale of these numbers draws both respect and concern from outlets across Europe.

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Le Figaro states clearly:

"The United States continues to lead in shaping tomorrow's innovations. SpaceX exemplifies this strength. Approaching a two-trillion-dollar valuation, the firm prepares for the largest public offering ever seen. ... A key US advantage lies in rallying vast capital behind ambitious future visions. ... SpaceX has evolved beyond rockets alone. Through Starlink, lunar and Martian goals, and AI developments, it turns space into a fresh domain for economic and strategic competition."

Politiken cautions:

"Musk represents a fresh form of authority: private, worldwide, and largely free of democratic oversight. Allowing such power to expand without limits could foster a world where tech giants outweigh democratic bodies. No one person should hold political and economic sway at this level."

De Standaard highlights Musk's approach:

"The implications of such wealth and authority gathered in one individual have received little attention amid the excitement before the launch. ... With Tesla sales climbing, it is worth recalling the thinker's troubling aspects. Under the banner of free expression, he often promotes divisive ideas like population replacement theory on his platform X."

The taz expresses alarm:

"How should society address a firm that manages vital systems in a realm the Outer Space Treaty deems shared by all? ... One option is public ownership: essential services should rest in communal hands rather than private holdings. Finance circles celebrate Musk as a market leader, overlooking his role in a cross-border network with extreme views. The British East India Company lost its grip only after its overreach became too costly to ignore. History need not repeat."