Starlink is a satellite internet service powered by a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation. Starlink was first announced in 2015, and started offering service to customers in 2020. One common question I receive is how a person can buy stock in Starlink. It’s not surprising, as many people see the huge potential for high speed, low latency satellite internet.
In this article, I will explain who owns Starlink, and give you a brief overview of the corporate structure. I will also explain why you can’t buy stock in Starlink.
So, who owns Starlink?
Starlink is owned and operated by SpaceX. Starlink isn’t an individual company, but rather a division of SpaceX. Elon Musk founded SpaceX in 2002, and remains the CEO and controlling stakeholder, putting him in control of Starlink.
Elon Musk is the public face of Starlink. Since he runs SpaceX, he has a lot of control and oversight over everything that goes on with the Starlink division.
Who owns SpaceX?
As I mentioned, Starlink is a division of the company SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies Corporation). Elon Musk is the founder and CEO of SpaceX, and owns the controlling stake in the company.
Can I buy stock in Starlink or SpaceX?
SpaceX isn’t a publicly traded company. It has private shares, but unless you have some deep pockets and good connections, you won’t be able to buy stock in SpaceX. Since Starlink isn’t a separate company, you can’t buy stock for it either.
Elon Musk has previously stated that he aims to make SpaceX public, but there is no timeline set for an IPO. If Starlink or SpaceX did ever go public with an IPO, you would be able to buy stock at that time. But until then, regular investors like you and me can’t own a piece of Starlink.