SpaceX Short Sellers Amass $15.5 Billion Paper Profit as Shares Continue Post-IPO Decline
Short sellers of SpaceX (NASDAQ:SPCX) have accumulated an estimated $15.5 billion in unrealized gains as the company's stock continues to fall from its post-Initial Public Offering (IPO) highs, according to Ortex Technologies data cited by Reuters. The shares are now trading below their IPO price and roughly 49% lower than their peak following a strong debut on June 11, 2026. Short interest in SpaceX has surged significantly since its market entry, with nearly 196 million shares sold short as of late July—representing about 31% of the company's free float. This sharp increase reflects growing bearish sentiment among investors amid concerns over debt-financed AI spending and a recent Starship launch abort that cost SpaceX around $100 billion in market value. The stock is expected to face further volatility as it prepares for its first earnings report on August 4, followed by the expiration of lock-up periods two days later. These events could trigger increased selling pressure from insiders holding up to 911.5 million shares.
Tickers: $SPCX