Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon believes 2026 [1] will see a wave of mega-IPOs including SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic.
The prospect of these listings represents a significant shift in the public markets, as some of the world's most valuable private companies in artificial intelligence and aerospace potentially transition to public ownership.
Speaking on Bloomberg Television’s Odd Lots podcast, Solomon discussed the role of Goldman Sachs as a potential lead underwriter for these offerings. He said there is enough greed in the market to absorb the scale of these specific IPOs. This appetite for high-growth tech and space ventures could make the year a pivotal moment for the U.S. economy and the investment banking sector.
The competition for these mandates is intense. Market estimates place the value of the underwriting "horse race" between Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley for the lead-left position ahead of the OpenAI and Anthropic listings at $7 billion [3].
Regarding SpaceX, Solomon addressed the timeline for a potential public offering. He said the decision process for such a move could span 20 years [2] rather than a shorter six-month window. This suggests a more long-term strategic approach to the company's liquidity and governance.
Beyond the IPO market, Solomon highlighted other macroeconomic pressures. He said high oil prices could shift consumer behavior in the second half of 2026 [4]. Such shifts in spending could influence the broader economic environment in which these mega-IPOs would launch.
Goldman Sachs remains positioned to benefit from these trends if the anticipated investor demand persists. The firm's ability to secure lead roles in these high-profile listings would solidify its influence over the next generation of tech giants.
“there is enough greed to absorb the SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic IPOs”
The anticipation of these mega-IPOs signals a transition from the private venture capital phase to public market maturity for generative AI and commercial space flight. If Goldman Sachs and other major banks successfully underwrite these offerings, it would validate the current valuations of AI firms and potentially trigger a broader rally in high-growth tech stocks across the U.S. market.
