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ProPublica: China-linked investors acquired SpaceX stakes before IPO

financeJun 18, 20264210,005

ProPublica obtained court records showing at least a dozen investors with addresses in mainland China, Hong Kong, or Russia acquired SpaceX shares years before the company's IPO by buying through a U.S. middleman, Tomales Bay Capital. One of those previously unreported investors has documented ties to Chinese military contractors. SpaceX later banned Chinese investors from its IPO on national security grounds, but these earlier private transactions mean foreign-linked stakeholders held equity in a company that contracts with the U.S. government. The disclosure matters because foreign-linked ownership in a U.S. aerospace firm could create risks around technology transfer, board influence, or access to sensitive data.

ProPublica
@propublica.org

NEW: Records obtained by ProPublica detail at least a dozen SpaceX investors with addresses in mainland China, Hong Kong or Russia who acquired stakes in SpaceX years ago through a middleman firm in the U.S. called Tomales Bay Capital.

741145d ago
tamy262

Unbelievable. SpaceX holds US defense contracts but let investors from China 🇨🇳 & Russia 🇷🇺 buy in via middlemen. No wonder Musk suppresses critical voices on X. Massive national security risk if these regimes get access to sensitive data! 🚨

pammageddon.bsky.social98

I think we know musk will sell the government secrets and data on Americans he acquired while directing DOGE… he has zero loyalty to any one, any nation.

llaw1.bsky.social63

Taxpayers PAY for Musks Space X waste, but China and Russia profit, and so does MUSK...ON OUR TAX DOLLARS,🤬🤷 As US Hospitals close, and kids starve, US wasted on Musk..

Pamelia Valentine29

This is why taking it public is a problem. Get rid of SpaceX. NASA can handle our space exploration.

T Antony 🏳‍🌈25

And anyone is surprised by this. Your tax dollars at work. The American people should put a lien on his rockets.

BananaPancakesCanSaveYourSoul19

Xi and Putin are pals because they have the same goal in mind. Destroy Western Democracy and embarrass US on a global scale.

Barry Hochberg19

Interesting that they're making money on SpaceX's U.S. government contracts. So WE are paying for their profits. Anyone else see anything wrong with that?

Dr Jane in GA17

Elon Musk and Donald Trump are a dangerous combination of weirdos who will sell this great nation to the highest bidder for their own profit. 250 of existence and this is what we have come to? Tax the rich! Secure our country! Liberty and JUSTICE for ALL!

WorldOnFi/Re16

Why is musk, who led doge and gutted our countries govt And programs infrastructure, secret soliciting money from china!?!

marcosantana13

SpaceX is a national security risk. @aoc.bsky.social @elizabeth-warren.bsky.social

factsonly007.bsky.social13

are we shocked??? no this is one big racketeering presidency

David11

China has more influence over America than we like to admit. cbwrong.blogspot.com/2026/06/the-...

Jennifer Keith9

Everyone anywhere close to power and money is a fucking liar these days. There is no honor amongst the elite.

Fella T 🇨🇿🇪🇺8

I wrote yesterday on one US forum about stocks that SpaceX is owned by russians. Mods never approved this post.

Anon8

Tax this out of existence.

Al Olmsted8

Where's there's obscene amounts of money, there are obscene gluttonous felons behind it.

the_lion_of_anacostia 🦁7

Musk built a company on U.S. government contracts and Chinese money. The firewall was supposed to be the Pacific. It was actually a shell company in Delaware.

frankb01.bsky.social7

I sure hope the dems are strong enough to deal with this.

beornblack.bsky.social7

these are the people who have funded him all these years.

Amy Mode Activated 🪷 ᓚᘏᗢ ಇ.6

This is my surprised face...

John Brown’s daughter6

We let the fox destroy our henhouse while he’s been selling shares on eggs to his friends.

Brad6

“It’s a big club and you ain’t in it.”

Shadowkings6

We know Trump is a con man, we know Elon is a charlatan parasite. Now we know he is selling tech to other countries weakening our defense. The enemy within

Fresh Prince of Wallachia5

The oligarchy transcends national borders, and is trying to consolidate its power.

Greg5

Musk is a direst threat to National Security.

BionicBlonde5

ELoan has always done sleazy business and taken money from anyone willing to give it. Now he's like an ALIEN with a strangle hold on much of the US Government.

Bob Knows Northern Virginia5

Musk is an international racist asshat who profits from the support of American taxpayers.

gabrielgambino5

Republicans soft on China. 🤣🇺🇲

Smarine7775

I Hope NASA is Smart enough to not use SpaceX, given Elon ugly history.

Nyx Cipher5

and yet residents arent allowed to contest the environmental impacts of X data centers because of national security.. we have to wonder whose national security? China/Russia/Israel are certainly embedded in those systems but its fine as long as nobody talks about the files

DragonHawk19595

That makes SpaceX having government contracts at least a potential security issue. But this administration won't investigate.

Amy4

National security risk and a Very clear and present danger.

TweetJohnnyBoy4

Quelle surprise! Just as a mafia organisation would operate.

K. Moore 🦋📚🎼4

Taxpayer subsidies, huge US govt. contracts, and all the while foreign govts., and investors on the adversarial list, get rich. imo during the pump and dump Iran war, that Iranian leaders also got rich investing through middlemen.

Deb4

SpaceX? More like let’s start a company that likes to blow up crap. Would you get in one of their rockets?

pigznzen.bsky.social4

So sick of these assholes and the greed at our expense

llaw1.bsky.social4

Our tax money is funding a China, Russian money maker with Musk. NOT what we signed up for as Hospitals close, and Iran WAR WASTE goes on.

Wild West🦬4

US space program must be independent of musk

MidsommarHeyQueen3

More people finding trees in the forest.

Marco the Maker3

In any other country in the world, this would be called treason.

mrtoads.bsky.social3

Like Wernher von Braun (who actually knew how to build stuff, rather than just buying things and slapping his name on them), old Muskie doesn’t care where the money comes from, as long as it comes.

Chas11373

Elon cannot be trusted. He’s the best showman/conman. He has convinced thousands of people (marks) to over value his companies. SpaceX actuals: $102 billion in total assets against $60.5 billion in reported total liabilities/debt. Not worth $175 per share.

aegeanjohn.bsky.social3

Is it really true that Elon Musk is co-President and that Elon Musk has the same "immunity" that the Supreme Court gave Trump? Seems Elon Musk has been acting that he can get away violating laws including Social Security, possibly disclosing information that he may be required to keep confidential.

Rick of this Shit3

I feel so bad for ProPublica. They are doing Woodward & Bernstein level reporting and nothing is coming of it. In previous times, these stories would have resulted in investigations and accountability but thanks to Biden's inept DOJ and Trump's corrupt one, nothing will ever happen.

rhythmfiction.bsky.social3

Oh so basically just another day that ends with Y? Let's just admit it.....this world is run by cretins

Matt3

The US government can seize and nationalize SpaceX on the grounds of national security and should absolutely happen when the pendulum swings, which it absolutely will.

BayouBear3

Sounds like the Trump model!

Granted3

Better them getting fleeced than unwitting US 401K holders. Especially when this tulip wilts. Such a grift.

kstrand.bsky.social3

A 1.5 trillion dollar company that loses money. What's wrong with this picture? Is Elon channeling P.T. Barnum?

Dave3

REPUBLICANS IN POWER DON'T GIVE A SHIT ABOUT THE SECURITY OF THE UNITED STATES.

A Horse of Course3

Weren't there a period before the pandemic where China was producing a lot of SpaceX designed styled rockets? It wouldn't be shocking for SpaceX to have a leak, or a CEO who leaks for access. arstechnica.com/space/2025/1...

robertjeff57-58.bsky.social3

Did trump acquire shares Did the idiot sons too Everybody was jumping on the trillionaire bandwagon

Messy Cook3

Get Musk out of America. He just pollutes it and robs us blind doing so. That he gets a pass is outrageous. Free to interfere in elections again. Why?

truthntransparency.bsky.social2

Too bad the SEC, DOJ, FBI, WH, Cabinet, SCOTUS, POTUS & Congress are #CORRUPTasFUK.

Maria ✨️2

One of the first acts needed by a new administration is to either take control of Musk's financial holdings or immediately cancel all his contracts.

arlenetrebbefowler.bsky.social2

We knew it couldn’t all be on the up and up.

myaidog.bsky.social2

Space X should not be given any of our government contracts (which comes from our tax dollars) until those Chinese & Russian investors are removed. Deport Musk.

Keith2

Until non Chinese people understand this, all of Chinese major manufacturing has ties to the military. Just my opinion but they are communist at the core

kebidoor.bsky.social2

But we can’t have Chinese EVs because of “national security risks“…..

Horn Slack2

So how did this get by the SEC?

Marie In Atlanta2

Didn't Huawei get banned by the US government (and specifically DOD) for concerns that the Chinese government may have had access to the company's technology?

Rob2

Hmmm. With all the government contracts this doesn't seem good. 🤔

[email protected] 🇵🇱🇺🇦🇨🇦🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿minus🇺🇸2

He should lose every government contract and every investigation in Elon Musk and all his companies need to be commenced immediately!!! aka...every investigation that he killed when he fired federal employees!

julzvc.bsky.social2

Why is this such a surprise. He has been close to China for a long time. He said he wanted X to be like their social media. Do EVERYTHING through his app. Including social capital. Meaning if you dont play by those rules you would lose ability to use. Ex - critical of govt, cant fly or similar

savefrogs2.bsky.social2

How much does SpaceX pay in state and federal taxes?

SolarAlly2

Yep. Takes our taxpayer $ & runs roughshod over any rule, regulation or law we have. He's counting on nobody in government holding him to account bc he has backdoor code to shut down everything if we/governments don't comply. And our govt was warned he would do this; they just gave him more $'s.

tsindilieu.bsky.social2

So, foreign entities of concern (FEOC) punishment for clean energy (got FEOC anywhere in your supply or ownership chain? No tax credits for you!). FEOC in space exploration and satellite communications? Have some more federal contracts! Cool cool cool.

brian3928.bsky.social2

Musk will take cash from anywhere.

s-askiatr.bsky.social2

the guy with classified government contracts and military satellites has Chinese and Russian investors. totally fine totally normal

fantasia54.bsky.social2

So much for make America great again. How much more do they need? For God’s sake.

Dom Ervolina
@dominicervolina.com

It's funny how SpaceX is $2T company run by a guy now worth $1T that had to issue $20B in bonds because the $86B they raised with their IPO immediately went to pay off debt accrued by their AI company that's built off of a fork of another AI company's code But it's definitely not a scam!

76344d ago
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