The SpaceX IPO has officially happened, and for current and former employees, one question has quickly moved to the top of the list:
When can I actually sell my SpaceX stock?
The answer isn’t as simple as “six months after the IPO.”
Unlike many traditional public offerings, the SpaceX IPO lockup schedule uses a graduated release that allows employee shares to become eligible for sale over several different stages.
Understanding how that timeline works is important because it can directly impact your tax planning, investment decisions, and overall financial strategy. To make the schedule easier to follow, we’ve put together a visual SpaceX IPO Timeline that highlights each key milestone and unlock window. You can view it here, then come back as we walk through what each stage means for employees and alumni.
How Most IPO Lockups Work
With a traditional IPO, employees and early investors are typically required to wait 180 days before selling their shares.
The purpose is to prevent a large number of shares from hitting the market immediately after a company goes public, which could create unnecessary volatility.
Many SpaceX employees expected a similar timeline. Instead, the company’s S-1 filing introduced a more gradual approach.
Understanding the SpaceX IPO Lockup Schedule
Rather than releasing all employee shares at once, SpaceX plans to make eligible shares transferable in stages over several months.
The first opportunity is expected shortly after the company’s second-quarter earnings release in early August. Beginning on the second full trading day following the earnings announcement, up to 20% of eligible SpaceX employee shares may become transferable.
The filing also includes an interesting performance-based provision. If the stock trades at least 30% above its $135 IPO price (approximately $175.50 per share) for five out of ten consecutive trading days, an additional 10% of eligible shares could unlock early.
After that initial release, additional shares become eligible on a staggered schedule around Days 70, 90, 105, 120, and 135, with approximately 7% unlocking at each milestone.
Following the third-quarter earnings release, currently expected in November, another 28% of eligible shares becomes transferable.
Finally, at 180 days after the IPO, any remaining eligible employee and alumni shares become available. While many people think of this as the lockup expiration, for SpaceX employees, it’s actually the final phase of a much longer release schedule.
Not Everyone Has the Same Timeline
One important detail that’s easy to overlook is that not all shareholders are subject to the same restrictions.
According to the filing, Elon Musk and certain major investors are subject to a separate 366-day lockup period. While SpaceX employee stock gradually becomes eligible for sale over the first six months, founder-level holdings remain restricted for approximately one year.
This staggered approach helps balance employee liquidity while maintaining long-term alignment among the company’s largest shareholders.
Why Planning Matters Before Your Shares Unlock
For many current and former SpaceX employees, equity compensation represents one of the largest financial opportunities they’ll ever experience.
That’s why it’s important to think beyond simply deciding whether to sell.
Each unlock window creates an opportunity to evaluate how your SpaceX equity compensation fits into your overall financial picture. Questions around taxes, diversification, cash flow needs, concentrated stock risk, and long-term investment goals all become increasingly important as shares become available.
Having a strategy before those decisions arrive can often lead to better outcomes than making choices under pressure once your shares are eligible to sell.
Planning for What’s Next
Every shareholder’s situation is different. Your financial goals, tax circumstances, and overall investment strategy should all play a role in deciding what to do when your shares become transferable.
If you’re a current or former SpaceX employee and would like guidance on your equity compensation, the SpaceX IPO timeline, or building a personalized strategy around your stock compensation, Babin Wealth Management can help you understand your options and make informed decisions with confidence.
Schedule a complimentary 30-minute Explore Meeting to discuss your situation and develop a plan that’s built around your goals.