A businessman linked to Chinese military contractors and a Qatari royal family entity secretly acquired stakes in SpaceX, raising regulatory eyebrows. The private investor list reveals at least a dozen overseas investors, including those from mainland China, Hong Kong, or Russia, who bought into the company years ago through a US-based middleman firm called Tomales Bay Capital.
Despite such investments being relatively small, ranging from $800,000 to $40 million, SpaceX barred Chinese and Hong Kong investors from its recent IPO due to regulatory concerns. Musk’s business interests in China have been extensive; Tesla builds many of its cars there, adding another layer to the complex web of international investment.
The new records highlight how SpaceX operates in a delicate space, balancing US government work with sensitive investments. The company's largest ever IPO made Musk the world’s first trillionaire, but his firm must navigate the treacherous waters of global regulation and espionage concerns.
