Google Emerges as SpaceX's Hidden Winner, Reaping $111B in Profits

[Para 1: The Lead] Google, the silent partner in SpaceX's monumental success, is now the largest beneficiary of the company's skyrocketing valuation. With SpaceX's IPO target set at $1.5 trillion, Google's initial $900 million investment in SpaceX, which held 7.4% of the company, has surged to an estimated $111 billion, a 120-fold return. [Para 2-3: Supporting details & Context] Prior to SpaceX's acquisition of AI firm xAI for $250 billion, Google, already a significant shareholder with 14% ownership in Anthropic, capitalized on SpaceX's rapid growth. Since 2015, when SpaceX was valued at $12 billion, its valuation has soared to $3500 billion, paving the way for its planned IPO. According to Bloomberg, if SpaceX proceeds with its $1.5 trillion IPO, Google's shares will be worth approximately $111 billion, a stark contrast from its initial $9 billion valuation. This monumental gain, previously hidden as non-marketable equity on Google's balance sheet, is now poised to significantly alter perceptions of Google's investment value upon SpaceX's IPO.