Juan Hernandez, who previously worked as a welder for SpaceX, has seen his investment in the rocket and satellite company grow to over $1 million following its Wall Street debut. SpaceX shares began trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol SPCX.
A Leap of Faith
Hernandez joined SpaceX as a welder in 2015, initially viewing it as just another contract job. A friend had recommended him for the position, and Hernandez accepted despite not knowing much about the company. At the time of his hiring, SpaceX offered him $10,000 worth of stock, an incentive he did not fully appreciate then, as his previous hourly jobs had not included stock options.
“I thought in my head, I don’t know what SpaceX is, but let’s go,” Hernandez told CBS News. “It wasn’t a big deal. I didn’t know anything about it then. I didn’t know it was gonna be this big, at this point.”
Rising Through the Ranks
Over his ten-year tenure at SpaceX, Hernandez progressed from welder to supervisor. In his role, he was responsible for building structures and infrastructure crucial for rocket launches. He believes that offering employees a stake in the company fosters a sense of ownership and encourages greater performance.
“They will perform a lot better because, I mean, it is, it’s their company as well,” he explained.
A Humble Outlook
As of Friday, Hernandez, who now works for rocket startup Blue Origin, held approximately 6,500 SpaceX shares. With SpaceX stock closing at $160.95 on Friday, his holdings were valued at $1,046,175. Despite this significant financial gain, Hernandez remains humble.
An immigrant, Hernandez stated he was raised with a strong work ethic that his newfound wealth will not alter. He plans to continue working and intends to pass on the lessons he has learned about investing to his three children. His 16-year-old daughter, already an investor in Meta and other companies, is described by her father as a “little entrepreneur herself.”
Hernandez expressed gratitude to SpaceX founder Elon Musk, stating that Musk made such opportunities possible for individuals from various backgrounds, including cooks and electricians, improving their lives and those of their families.
Mitchell Landsberg is the senior reporter for News Raise and focuses on Technology. Mitchell regularly writes about social media platforms and how influencers, industry and general people use them to communicate and make money.
