SpaceX locks in $40 billion GPU financing with Apollo
Apollo-managed entity will buy the chips and lease them to SpaceX.
Money#05
$40B
Binding financing for AI chips and data center gear
Image: TechCrunch
$40BBinding financing for AI chips and data center gear
The short version
- SpaceX has reached a binding commitment for roughly $40 billion in financing for AI chips and related data center equipment, according to a regulatory filing.
- An entity managed by Apollo Global Management will buy the chips and server hardware, then lease the equipment to SpaceX.
- The leases will last about five to five-and-a-quarter years, starting as each tranche of equipment is delivered.
- SpaceX expects the deal to close by year-end, with leases starting in the first half of 2027.
Why it matters
The deal gives SpaceX another way to fund AI infrastructure without relying only on traditional debt markets. It shows how large compute buildouts are being financed through leases, which matters for developers tracking the cost of AI capacity. SpaceX said its AI infrastructure investments show less than one-year payback periods.
“This lease diversifies our funding sources and addresses a notable portion of the funding required to deliver on our growth plans”