More than two decades after he joined a startup with little more than a vision, Tom Mueller has watched the company he co-founded with Elon Musk prepare for a public market debut that values it at over $1.8 trillion.
Mueller, who was the first employee at SpaceX, told the BBC's Michelle Fleury about Musk's vision for the company. The interview comes as the rocket builder gears up to list on the stock market, a milestone that seemed almost unimaginable when the pair founded the business in 2002.
“SpaceX co-founder Tom Mueller, employee number one, reacts as firm nears $1.8tn market debut.”
'Employee number one' is how Mueller describes himself, reflecting his role alongside Musk in the early days. From that small beginning, SpaceX has grown into a behemoth of the space industry, with its valuation now eclipsing that of many traditional aerospace giants.
The company's market debut, expected to be one of the largest in history, marks a turning point for a firm that started with the audacious goal of making space travel affordable. Mueller's reaction to the impending listing offers a glimpse into the journey from a two-person operation to a global powerhouse.
While the exact date of the flotation has not been confirmed, the estimated worth of more than $1.8 trillion underscores the scale of what Musk and Mueller built. For Mueller, seeing the company reach this point must be a moment of reflection, even if the facts provided do not include his direct words on the matter.