SpaceX shares jumped nearly 50% in their first days of trading, pushing the rocket and satellite company ahead of Amazon in market capitalization. The stock added another 4.8% on Tuesday, reaching the fifth-largest public company globally. The rally followed SpaceX's announcement of a $60 billion acquisition of AI-coding startup Cursor, signaling aggressive expansion into artificial intelligence.

The sudden surge left many early sellers with regret. Allen Tran, a 28-year-old investor, made a five-figure profit from day trading SpaceX shares on Friday but estimates he missed out on an additional $60,000 by not holding. 'I would much rather have done nothing and made more,' he said. Social media filled with memes of individual investors celebrating unexpected windfalls, some holding just one or two shares.

SpaceX's meteoric rise underscores the intense demand for AI-related assets. The 50% gain reflects investor enthusiasm for SpaceX's dual role as both a space infrastructure leader and an AI player through its Starship program and recent acquisitions. The Cursor deal positions SpaceX to integrate AI coding tools, potentially accelerating development across its rocket and satellite operations.

For retail investors, the SpaceX phenomenon highlights the unpredictable nature of hyped IPOs. While institutional buyers likely secured shares at lower valuations, individual traders face steep learning curves in volatile new markets. The lesson is clear: missing a half-million-percent move can sting far worse than taking profits.