# Musk's backer gives away $8.5B in SpaceX stock

> Valor Equity Partners transfers massive SpaceX holdings to investors instead of selling.
- Title: Musk's backer gives away $8.5B in SpaceX stock · TechCrunch
- Summary: Valor Equity Partners transfers massive SpaceX holdings to investors instead of selling. Giving away shares instead of selling them avoids crashing the stock…
- Keywords: spacex, valor equity partners, antonio gracias, elon musk, ipo, venture capital, stock transfer, share distribution, technology, startups, Musk's, backer
- Source: TechCrunch — https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/16/musks-long-time-backer-is-giving-spacex-stock-to-its-investors
- Author: Julie Bort
- Published: 2026-09-16T23:50:07+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: spacex, valor equity partners, antonio gracias, elon musk, ipo, venture capital, stock transfer, share distribution, technology, startups
## SpaceX backer gives away billions
Valor Equity Partners, founded by longtime Musk supporter Antonio Gracias, transferred 8.5% of its SpaceX holdings to investors instead of selling them on the open market.
## Gracias made a fortune on SpaceX
Gracias' entities owned over 500 million SpaceX shares at IPO, second only to Musk's 6 billion shares. The giveaway was worth about $8.5 billion.
## Valor still owns 460 million shares
Even after giving away 8.5% of holdings, Valor retained more than 460 million SpaceX shares, keeping significant upside exposure.
## Tax benefits and price protection
Transferring shares directly to limited partners offers tax advantages and avoids dumping billions into the market, which could crash the stock price.
## SpaceX stock already sliding
SpaceX shares have dropped about 10% since the blockbuster IPO, making price protection through share transfers increasingly important.
## Key takeaway

Giving away shares instead of selling them avoids crashing the stock price while potentially offering tax benefits to investors.