SpaceX IPO Lock-up Release Schedule

Buried deep in the SpaceX S-1 (IPO) filing is a very unique lock-up release timeline that early employees can use to sell shares.

Instead of the standard 180-day lock-up period from most companies, SpaceX shares from early shareholders will release gradually over the following checkpoints:

SpaceX Lock-Up Release Schedule · Modern Financial Planning
· IPO JUNE 12, 2026 · NASDAQ

SpaceX Lock-Up Release Schedule

Cumulative share unlock windows · IPO June 12, 2026 confirmed · Day-count dates confirmed · Earnings dates estimated

Modern Financial Planning
Date Release event Incremental Cumulative
(if passes)		 Cumulative
(if fails)
Est. Aug 2026EARNINGS DATE TBD Q2 earnings +2 daysBase release +20% 20% 20%
Est. Aug 2026EARNINGS DATE TBD Q2 earnings +2 daysPerformance
early release≥30% above IPO price
for 5 of 10 consecutive
trading days ending on/
including Q2 earnings date		 +10% 30% 20%
Aug 21, 2026 70 days post-offering +7% 37% 27%
Sep 10, 2026 90 days post-offering +7% 44% 34%
Sep 25, 2026 105 days post-offering +7% 51% 41%
Oct 10, 2026 120 days post-offering +7% 58% 48%
Oct 25, 2026 135 days post-offering +7% 65% 55%
Est. Nov 2026EARNINGS DATE TBD Q3 earnings +2 days +28% 93% 83%
Dec 9, 2026 180 days post-offeringFull unlock ·
All remaining
180-day shares		 All remaining 100% 100%
366-Day Lock-Up holders: The S-1 specifies that only __% of 366-day lock-up shares qualify for the early release windows above. The remaining shares in that bucket are locked until June 13, 2027 (366 days post-offering). The exact percentage was not disclosed in the draft S-1 — confirm in the final prospectus before advising clients with 366-day restricted shares.
www.modernfp.com · Modern Financial Planning · Schedule a Call For informational purposes only · Not investment advice

After 180-days, all shares will be released.

The only exception is for certain early shareholders who may be subject to a separate 366-day release program (not outlined yet in S-1).

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A 'Double Tax' on Stock Options and RSUs

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A 'Double Tax' on Stock Options and RSUs

Tech employees can make great money, but they also get hit with one of the worst taxes imaginable.  It is not AMT, State income tax, or anything to do with Capital Gains.

We call it the 'Double Tax' on Stock Compensation. For new clients, this is one of our favorite wins to get right off the bat.  We've amended too many tax returns that were hit by the 'Double Tax'. 

Have you ever heard someone say this? “I feel like all of my money is going to taxes.” Well, in some cases they are right.

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“Mega Backdoor” Roth 401(k) Contributions

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“Mega Backdoor” Roth 401(k) Contributions

If you are maxing out your regular 401(k) deferrals, making annual “backdoor” Roth IRA contributions, and still have additional funds to be put away for retirement, then making after-tax “mega backdoor” Roth 401(k) deferrals could be your next savings step. Those contributions can be incredibly impactful in helping you arrive at retirement with a large tax-free account.

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“Backdoor” Roth IRA Contributions

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“Backdoor” Roth IRA Contributions

In a perfect world you would arrive at retirement with both pre-tax (such as traditional 401(k)s and IRAs) and post-tax (Roth 401(k)s and Roth IRAs) retirement accounts to allow for tax bracket optimization and wider tax planning opportunities. Let’s take a look at the difference between traditional and Roth IRAs, and see how you can contribute to a Roth IRA even when you are over the income limits.

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Salary Negotiation: A Detailed Guide

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Salary Negotiation: A Detailed Guide

A higher starting salary can lead to thousands (or millions) more dollars over the course of a career. Meanwhile, salary negotiation is often approached without the intention and thought it deserves.

In this piece, we take a deep dive into the art of compensation negotiation. We’ve drawn on research and feedback from recruiters, hiring managers, and employees.

Estate Planning: The Basics

Estate Planning: The Basics

Estate planning is setting up a framework for directing your affairs and assets after you have either become incapacitated or passed away. You are trying to ensure that:

  • Your wishes are honored (assets, healthcare decisions, legacy)

  • Your children/dependents are cared for by designated people

  • Your estate avoids the probate process to preserve privacy and minimize legal fees

  • Estate taxes (if any) are minimized.

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Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)

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Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)

If you could buy something at a discount and immediately sell it for the full price without much effort, would you do it? Participation in an ESPP could end up working out just like that. But as with all tax-related and benefit-related things, the devil is in the details. We are going to go through ESPP timelines, limits on salary deferrals and buying, and tax rules for dispositions of ESPP shares.

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Wash Sale Rule and Equity Compensation: Options, RSUs, and ESPP

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Wash Sale Rule and Equity Compensation: Options, RSUs, and ESPP

If you sell an asset at a loss, you might be entitled to either claim the loss as a deduction or use it to offset eligible gains. However, the wash sale rule sometimes comes into play, and it can be particularly pesky for those with multiple types of equity compensation from the same company (say, when you have those pre-IPO ISOs, there are RSUs vesting, and you also participate in the ESPP).

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Leaving California with RSUs or Stock Options: Tax Implications

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Leaving California with RSUs or Stock Options: Tax Implications

With California’s tax rate topping out at 13.3%, many residents are asking questions like this: How can I minimize my California tax hit when my company IPOs or I have a large windfall? Or this: If I leave California with all of my stock options, do I avoid paying California taxes?

Here is an extensive guide on the topic of California taxation of your equity.

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AMT and the AMT Tax Credit

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AMT and the AMT Tax Credit

AMT (“Alternative Minimum Tax”) is one area of the tax code that a start-up employee knows a lot more about than your average taxpayer, since incentive stock options are a common AMT trigger. Though many know about AMT, or at least have heard of it, few truly understand its mechanics due to the many moving parts in the analysis. We will address AMT calculations and credits, and explain why AMT isn’t as bad as it is commonly made out to be.