SpaceX debuts Starlink ad during Super Bowl, a first for Elon Musk

SpaceX presented its Super Bowl advertisement just before a potential groundbreaking IPO.

The rocket enterprise unveiled its initial Super Bowl commercial for Starlink's satellite internet on Sunday, with this being the debut of any of Elon Musk's companies advertising at the prime event.

The 30-second commercial includes audio from a speech by renowned sci-fi writer Arthur C. Clarke, showcasing clips of SpaceX's Falcon 9 and Starship rockets landing back on Earth.

It illustrates Starlink in various remote areas and emphasizes the service's goal of providing "swift, affordable internet available everywhere."

This commercial represents a shift for Musk's ventures, which have historically eschewed advertising, opting instead to capitalize on the billionaire's prominent public image for media attention.

Tesla reportedly eliminated its complete marketing team amid large-scale staff reductions in 2024, while SpaceX has largely relied on captivating rocket launches, such as its Starship booster recovery, to heighten its visibility.

Both enterprises have recently begun advertising across various platforms, including Musk's X, and Starlink has previously appeared in Super Bowl ads conducted by partners like T-Mobile.

SpaceX having its own independent Super Bowl commercial is a noteworthy milestone, with 30-second ad slots averaging $8 million to $10 million this year, according to broadcaster NBCUniversal.

This development comes as SpaceX prepares for a public offering this year, which might appraise the rocket firm at up to $1.5 trillion.

Musk announced last week that SpaceX would merge with his AI startup xAI.