A MAN WORKING AS A WELDER AT SPACEX FOR $28 AN HOUR HAS JUST BECOME A MILLIONAIRE. SPACEX GAVE HIM $10,000 IN STOCK WHEN HE WENT FULL TIME. HIS SHARES ARE NOW WORTH OVER $1 MILLION

Former SpaceX welder Juan Hernandez recently achieved millionaire status following the company’s historic initial public offering. When Hernandez first joined the rocket and satellite company in 2015, he viewed the position as just another contract job. He admitted in an interview that he had never even heard of the business before a friend recommended him for the role.

The company offered Hernandez $10,000 worth of stock as part of his initial hiring package. At the time, the welder did not think much of the equity because his previous hourly jobs never offered such benefits. He simply focused on his craft and began his decade-long career helping build the infrastructure required for space flight.

Throughout his ten years at the company, Hernandez worked on the essential structures that lift rockets onto the launch pad. He also specialized in the systems that hold the vessels in place during preparation for takeoff. His dedication eventually led to a promotion into a supervisory role within the organization.

The financial landscape for Hernandez changed significantly when SpaceX shares began trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol SPCX. By the time the stock reached its debut in 2026, Hernandez had accumulated approximately 6,500 shares. On the Friday following the IPO, the stock closed at $160.95 per share.

This closing price officially pushed the value of his holdings to $1,046,175. The successful market debut also solidified founder Elon Musk’s position as the first trillionaire in history. Despite this massive windfall, Hernandez remains grounded and continues to work at the rocket startup Blue Origin.

Hernandez now uses his personal experience to teach financial literacy to his three children. His 16-year-old daughter has already started her own investment journey with stakes in companies like Meta. He believes that giving employees a share in the company motivates them to perform better because they feel like true owners.

Reflecting on his journey, Hernandez expressed profound gratitude for the opportunities provided during his tenure. He noted that the company made it possible for everyday workers like cooks or electricians to improve their family’s lives. He remains committed to the same hard-working values he learned as a U.S. immigrant.

Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/spacex-spcx-stock-ipo-welder-employee-millionaire/