Friday's stock market debut of SpaceX worth $75 billion. caused a huge stir on the New York Nasdaq stock exchange, where the shares began to be traded under the symbol SPCX.
Read also: The fate of the CPN package is decided. The Prime Minister spoke on fuel prices
For the financial markets, it is a long-awaited event, but for many ordinary employees – a moment that irrevocably changed their financial status. Among them is Juan Hernandez, an immigrant from Mexico who worked for the company for ten years as a welder, preparing rockets for launch and building the infrastructure of launch sites.
“I don't know what SpaceX is”
Hernandez's story is a classic case of the American dream in which chance played a key role. He learned about the recruitment from a welder friend in 2015.
— Then I thought: I don't know what SpaceX is, but let's try it. It was just another contract job for me — Hernandez recalled in an interview with CBS News.
When he signed the contract, the company offered him a package of welcome shares worth PLN 10,000 to start with. hole. Having previously worked on an hourly basis, Hernandez had never encountered this form of gratification and did not attach much importance to it. However, over a decade of diligent work, he climbed the career ladder, eventually becoming a manager. Although he has now moved to Jeff Bezos' rival rocket startup, Blue Origin, his portfolio remains around $6,500. SpaceX shares.
On Friday, at the close of the trading session, the SPCX rate reached $160.95 (approximately PLN 590). This means that The Mexican immigrant's stake is currently worth exactly PLN 1,46,000. USD 175, i.e. over PLN 3.8 million.
Read also: The tension is rising. Ukrainian summit in Poland, loan dispute, SpaceX debut
Investing lessons for the next generation
Hernandez emphasizes that offering blue-collar employees shares in the company completely changes their approach to their duties. It makes them feel like co-owners and they work much better because they take care of the common property. Despite the fortune he has gained, the former SpaceX welder does not intend to give up his job. Raised to respect hard work, he now wants to pass on these values to his children.
Based on his own experience, he teaches his three children, including his 16-year-old daughter, how to invest wisely in the stock market. The teenager already owns shares in, among others, Meta group and runs his own small businesses. When asked about a message for Elon Musk, Hernandez answers briefly: he would thank him for the opportunity to fulfill a dream that he himself did not know about before.
– He makes the lives of many people better and more valuable, also for their families – sums up the newly minted millionaire.
