<div id="readability-page-1"><div> <h2>Key Points</h2><ul><li>Earlier this year, Elon Musk merged two of his largest businesses: xAI and SpaceX.</li><li>Investors who may not have access to the SpaceX IPO can still invest in the company through a number of different ways.</li><li>Certain companies and money managers offer investors exposure to SpaceX stock.</li><li>10 stocks we like better than Alphabet ›</li></ul>Following a monster performance in 2021, the initial public offering (IPO) market has cooled down over the last few years. But thanks to soaring valuations among private companies -- primarily artificial intelligence (AI) start-ups -- several unicorns are considering making their public market debuts this year.<img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://g.foolcdn.com/image//query-dXJsPWh0dHBzOi8vZy5mb29sY2RuLmNvbS9lZGl0b3JpYWwvaW1hZ2VzLzg2MTExMS9pcG8tdHJlbmRzXzIwMDAtdGhyb3VnaC0yMDI1LmpwZyZ3PTcwMA?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="700" height="455" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://g.foolcdn.com/image//query-dXJsPWh0dHBzOi8vZy5mb29sY2RuLmNvbS9lZGl0b3JpYWwvaW1hZ2VzLzg2MTExMS9pcG8tdHJlbmRzXzIwMDAtdGhyb3VnaC0yMDI1LmpwZyZ3PTcwMA"/>Image source: Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an &#34;Indispensable Monopoly&#34; providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue » In late January, Elon Musk's AI start-up xAI completed a $1.25 trillion merger with SpaceX. Following the deal, discussions are swirling around a potential IPO of the combined business. A SpaceX IPO will almost undoubtedly come with enormous investor demand and exclusivity -- preventing retail investors from enjoying the action.But guess what? You don't need to wait for SpaceX to hit the public exchanges. Believe it or not, anyone can own a piece of Musk's trillion-dollar empire right now for just a few hundred bucks. Here's how.<h2>What is the best way to invest in SpaceX?</h2>To date, SpaceX has raised $11.9 billion of funding. While much of this has come from venture capital and private equity firms, a number of corporations have also invested in the company.Perhaps the most recognizable brand on SpaceX's investor roster is Alphabet's (NASDAQ: GOOGL) (NASDAQ: GOOG) Google. The internet giant has been an investor in SpaceX since 2015 -- participating in a $1 billion funding round at the time. If you're a retail investor, I think investing in Google parent Alphabet is both the easiest and best way to gain exposure to SpaceX.Alphabet is an incredibly diversified company whose ecosystem spans advertising, consumer electronics, autonomous driving, cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and, of course, space exploration via its ownership stakes in SpaceX and AST SpaceMobile.<img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://g.foolcdn.com/image//query-dXJsPWh0dHBzOi8vZy5mb29sY2RuLmNvbS9lZGl0b3JpYWwvaW1hZ2VzLzg2MTExMS9nZXR0eWltYWdlcy0yMTUxNTQyNTE4LmpwZyZ3PTcwMA?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="700" height="466" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://g.foolcdn.com/image//query-dXJsPWh0dHBzOi8vZy5mb29sY2RuLmNvbS9lZGl0b3JpYWwvaW1hZ2VzLzg2MTExMS9nZXR0eWltYWdlcy0yMTUxNTQyNTE4LmpwZyZ3PTcwMA"/>Image source: Getty Images. <h2>What ETFs own SpaceX?</h2>Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are baskets of stocks that investors can buy to gain passive exposure to market themes and industry sectors. Some ETFs carry more complex structures -- holding equity in private companies in addition to public stocks.Some ETFs that hold positions in SpaceX include Cathie Wood's ARK Venture Fund and the XOVR ETF. In addition, the KraneShares Artificial Intelligence and Technology ETF (NASDAQ: AGIX) now owns a slice of SpaceX through its prior investment in xAI.Bear in mind that ETFs come attached to management fees. Moreover, these funds have loads of holdings -- meaning you won't be purchasing a stake in SpaceX in isolation.<h2>Can you buy SpaceX in secondary markets?</h2>If you're an accredited investor, you should have access to secondary market platforms like Forge Global, EquityZen, or Hiive. These platforms facilitate transactions in the secondary market (off public exchanges) for those willing to assume the added risk of investing in a venture-backed company.Here's the thing smart investors need to know: Oftentimes, investing through secondary market platforms does not guarantee that you acquire a direct stake in the stock you're looking for. Rather, it's more likely that you're buying a piece of a special purpose vehicle (SPV) or a company that owns equity in SpaceX.<h2>The bottom line: Investing in SpaceX is both easy and hard</h2>At the end of the day, it's incredibly difficult to buy shares in SpaceX directly -- regardless of your income or net worth. That said, there are loads of easy, credible ways to invest in the broader space theme, all while owning indirect, passive exposure to SpaceX.Those looking to buy SpaceX stock before the IPO may want to consider a more diversified (and less expensive) approach through a combination of stocks and ETFs.<h2>Should you buy stock in Alphabet right now?</h2> Before you buy stock in Alphabet, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Alphabet wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $494,747!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,094,668!* Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 911% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 186% for the S&amp;P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of March 20, 2026. Adam Spatacco has positions in Alphabet. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends AST SpaceMobile and Alphabet. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc. </div></div>

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Elon Musk's merger of xAI and SpaceX has sparked interest in a potential IPO, but retail investors may find it challenging to buy shares directly. Alternatives include investing in Alphabet, which has a stake in SpaceX, or through ETFs like ARK Venture Fund and KraneShares AI and Technology ETF. Accredited investors can explore secondary markets, but direct ownership of SpaceX shares remains difficult. Overall, while investing in SpaceX is complex, there are accessible options for gaining exposure to the space sector.

Want to Invest in SpaceX Before Its IPO? Here's How.